Everyone knows that it can take real motivation to go outside in the winter. It’s cold, it gets dark early and you have to bundle up in so many layers. But, fresh air is important—especially now. Here are 20 outdoor winter activities that will get your family through the longest winter ever.
Become a winter artist
Begin by filling ice cube trays with colored water. Let the water freeze. Once done, take your colored cubes outside and make sculptures in the snow. Another fun medium is to spray paint snow. Just fill a spray bottle with water. Then, add food coloring and shake to mix. You can also use washable craft paint and paintbrushes to paint pictures on the snow.
Build a fort
Whether you call it a castle, an igloo or a fort, there is so much fun to be had when you build one. Use sand tools and buckets, garden tools, and even bread pans from the kitchen to create your design. There are also some great tools and kits out there you can buy. Imaginative play is endless with whatever you build. Storming with a snowball fight or even playing capture the flag are just some of the fun things you can do. No snow? You can still make forts with branches and other things in nature you can find.
Chalk it up
Sidewalk chalk is fun no matter the time of year. Bring a little cheer to the dog walkers and add a splash of color to the gray days of winter with art created with ice chalk. Mix a bowl with ½ cornstarch and ½ water. Add a bit more water if needed to help you mix it up. Squeeze food coloring into each batch for individual colors of chalk. Place the mixture in molds and freeze. Once frozen, take outside and create your works of art. For some added fun, consider freezing a surprise in the mixture that your little ones will discover as they work on their masterpieces.
Create an edible tree for animals
Tie apples to a tree or thread unseasoned popcorn to a fishing line and wrap around a tree to make an edible garland for animals to enjoy over the winter. Add honey to pine cones and cover with bird seeds and tie to branches. Slice oranges very thin (throw away the ends) and heat in the oven at 175 degrees for seven hours to dehydrate the fruit. Hang those from the tree. Apples and pears also make good dehydrated fruit to hang. Visit the tree throughout the winter to see what kind of visitors have been there by observing quietly from afar or checking out tracks in the snow. You can even refill the tree when the goodies are gone.
Dig for frozen treasure
Freeze plastic animals, jewels and other tiny treasures in ice molds (muffin tins, plastic Tupperware, ice cube trays). Hide the treasure under the snow, in trees or in other hiding places. Make sure to put on safety goggles when digging out the treasure. Use tools like garden shovels, sand tools, salt and even hot water in droplets to uncover what’s frozen inside.
Follow the tracks
Be a wildlife detective for the day and spend time outdoors looking for evidence of animal visitors.There are many ways you can track animals. The easiest way is to track footprints. Look for things like how many toes you see and any claw marks. Can you tell if the animal was running or walking by the pattern? Scat is another great clue as to what animals have passed the area or call the area home. Keen eye detectives may even be available to notice markings from wings or find feathers against the snow. Flattened vegetation, worn trails in the snow and bits and pieces of nuts and berries also show that animals were visiting the area.
Fly a kite
Kite flying isn’t just for the summer! Add some color to the sky as your kite takes to the wind. In fact, the winter weather actually makes it easier to bring your kite to new heights.
Go on a winter scavenger hunt
Whether you head to the woods or just walk around your neighborhood, it’s always fun to see how many things you can mark off on a scavenger hunt list—think icicles, frozen puddles, a snowman and chimney smoke. Add other senses to the hunt besides your eyes. Can you feel the wind on your face or a snowflake on your tongue? Can you hear a bird chirping or a squirrel chattering? Make your own hunt or print out this one.
Have a winter picnic
Fill thermoses with hot cocoa or warm soup and head out for a winter picnic. A plastic tarp or blanket you don’t mind getting wet can help set the scene as you enjoy the peacefulness of a winter setting while filling tummies with warm delights. Add a little campfire to keep extra warm.
Help a neighbor
One sure way to warm up this winter is by helping someone. If it’s cold or snowy, volunteer to walk a neighbor’s dog, or as a team shovel a driveway or sidewalk. Simple things like leaving chalk messages or even walking to a mailbox to deliver a card can get you outside and make someone’s day. Go through old books and see if you can take a winter stroll to stock any free libraries. Or volunteer at a farm helping keep animals warm through the winter.
Hike through a winter wonderland
It’s amazing how much the landscape changes from season to season. Taking a walk in the winter brings a whole new view and perspective. Look for animals scurrying across the frozen landscape, snow falling on the pines or icicles melting as you watch your breath loft in the air. If there’s enough snow, throw on snowshoes or spikes for your outdoor adventure!
Make your own snow ice cream
With four basic ingredients and plenty of snow, you can make your own ice cream. Whisk together one cup of milk (any kind including vegan options), one teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/3 cup granulated sugar and a pinch of salt. Bring the bowl outside with you and add about eight cups of clean snow. Don’t forget some sprinkles for a pop of color! You can also make simple snow cones out of clean snow by putting some in a cup and adding flavor syrup.
Participate in winter science
Make a snow volcano, study snowflakes or lift an ice cube with string and salt. Participate in an engineering challenge creating your own skier to see whose skier can make it down a hill fastest. Have you ever seen a bubble freeze in winter? There are many ways to combine outdoor time with learning throughout the winter.
Plant a winter garden
Based on location, you can plant certain vegetables and build a winter garden. Onions, leeks and potatoes are some of the heartier vegetables that you can sow seeds for in January, February and March.
Play snow games
Hangman, Tic Tac Toe and Pictionary are just a few of the games you can play on the surface of crusty snow—use a stick to draw X’s and O’s, or pictures. A stick or spray bottle paint also works for a hopscotch course. Other options: play freeze tag or snowball hot potato, have a good old fashioned snowball fight, or try sled races.
Snack on maple snow taffy
Read one of our favorite winter books—Little House in the Big Woods, Sugar Snow, The Maple Syrup Book or Maple Syrup Season—and then make your own taffy from snow and syrup. Click here for a recipe.
Go sliding!
Whether you choose to sled down a hill, slide across the ice on your knees or even bring out the Slip ‘N Slide (no water required!), there is something so fun about gliding across the snow and ice. You can even build your own sled.
Take in the skies
The winter cold brings clearer skies making sunset and stargazing better than other times of the year. Known as the winter sparkler, Sirius the Dog Star brightens the constellation Canis Major. Canis Minor, Taurus, Gemini and Orion are also bright in the sky—point those out to your kids, too! January is also prime viewing time for the Winter Circle of Stars in the Northern Hemisphere.
Try ice bowling
Begin by filling a balloon with water and letting it freeze overnight to create an ice bowling ball. (Want to add a splash of color to the ball? Add food color to the water before placing it into the balloon.) To make bowling pins, fill water bottles with colored water. If you have space in the freezer you can freeze the bottles, but it isn’t necessary. Once ready, set up your “bowling alley” with the pins in any formation you would like. If set up on the concrete, wet the bowling lane for the best rolling results.
Be a citizen scientist
Help the lives of feathered friends by participating in The Great Bird Count. From February 18 to 21, you can be a citizen scientist by tracking the type of birds you see—and the number of each type—for the Audubon Society in an effort to keep bird populations healthy and growing.
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