Climbing trees is fun and builds strength, confidence, and problem-solving skills. Though some worry it’s risky, injuries are rare with safe practices. Pick strong trees like oaks, avoid damaged ones, and check for wildlife. Dress right, follow safety tips like the rule of three, and only climb trees you can get into and out of on your own. Make sure it’s allowed where you are. Most of all, enjoy the adventure and freedom tree climbing offers.

Windy spring days can be perfect for outdoor fun! Try flying kites, spinning pinwheels, or blowing bubbles. Race clouds, spread seeds like dandelions or milkweed, and listen to how wind sounds in different places. Get creative by building sailboats, making wind chimes, or dancing with homemade streamers. Use the wind to play, explore, and enjoy nature in new ways.

Owling is a fun winter adventure. In Will County, you might spot great horned, barred, barn or eastern screech owls. Dress warmly, stay quiet and be patient. Go out at dusk or night, leave flashlights off, and try your own yard or neighborhood. Don’t play owl calls or get too close—February is nesting season. Watch, listen and enjoy the stars while searching for these amazing birds.

Shadows form when light hits an object and is blocked, creating darkness behind it. Shadows can be useful, like shade on a hot day and telling time and direction as they shift with the sun. You can trace shadows to watch them change or play games like shadow tag. For some fun, be creative and try making hand shadows or puppets. Shadows let us explore light and movement.

Head outside to catch snowflakes for fun and for science! Try catching them on your tongue or use frozen black construction paper to observe their shapes. Use a magnifying glass for a closer look and keep a journal of what you have observed. Are the flakes big or small? Falling fast, slow or at an angle? Snow is not just fun - it’s a great way to explore nature too!

The activities Firefly Flash! and Firefly Tag are ideas from Cindy Blobaum’s book, “Explore Night Science!”. In Firefly Flash, players pick secret “boy” or “girl” cards with light patterns of dots and dashes on the back. "Girls" stay put and flash lights, while "boys" search for their matching light pattern. If unmatched, the "boy" is out. In Firefly Tag, players run from a tagger and must reach a flashlight or glow stick to be safe. If tagged first, you're out. Play continue

Test if your jello critters can survive winter with this experiment! Pour Jello into small containers. Just like animals need insulation and a warm place to live, build “homes” using materials like mittens, leaves, or bubble wrap for insulation. Place your Jello critters outside in their homes and leave one out in the open. After 30 minutes, check if they stayed liquid (survived) or turned into jello (died). See which homes kept your critters warm!

Composting is nature’s way of recycling living things into soil. Anything once living can break down into compost, which looks like dark, crumbly soil and smells like forest floor. You can make compost in a cup using organic scraps, soil, water, and sunlight. Mix the ingredients, cover the cup with plastic wrap, and place it outside. Add water and shake it every few days to help it break down. Over time, you’ll see your scraps turn into compost!