Free Outdoor Advent Calendar
There are TWO OPTIONS below - a COLD and WARM version :)
The busier we get, the more we need nature. During a season that is notoriously stress-filled, purposefully adding nature elements to our daily routines will help our health and our moods.
This year we have TWO versions - one for warmer weather and one for cooler weather. Mix and match the activities if you’d like!
These free outdoor advent calendars incorporate 29 nature ideas that you can choose from and arrange in any order to fit your schedule. It also includes an extra square to add your own unique twist. There are many ways you can set them up. We have a small calendar with pockets and we slide an activity into each slot. You could put your activities in envelopes and label them from 1 - 24 or you could tape them right onto your calendar. No matter which way you chose, weaving outside experiences throughout the month of December will add a delightful breath of fresh air.
What makes this calendar extra special is that it includes a small sun on each square that you can color in if you are able to get some morning sunlight exposure on that day. We began advocating for morning sunlight exposure several years ago. You can follow along with our journey and the journey of others over on Instagram with #sunlightbeforenoon.
Light is the principal control of our day and night cycle and influences everything from body temperature to metabolism to sleep. Prioritizing morning sunlight does radical things for our health and our moods and can be especially beneficial during the busy holiday season.
If you join in, post your outdoor adventures in our official facebook group that has almost 140,000 families in it or on Instagram with #1000hoursoutside or #1000hoursoutsideadvent.
COLD WEATHER CALENDAR - Fill Out The Form Below To Get It!
Activity explanations:
One mile hike: Hike approximately one mile.
Lantern hike: Hike with a lantern (homemade or store bought).
Hot cocoa hike: Hike with some hot cocoa on hand. We love this thermos that has cups built into each end.
Popcorn hike: Take a hike and bring some popcorn along for a snack.
Hike with friends: The best kind of hike there is :). Call up some friends and head out to a nearby trail!
Make stars out of twigs and twine: Use five or six sticks on similar length. Lay them out in a star shape (I visualize how I draw a star and then lay it out that way). Tie the ends together with twine, one at a time. For younger children, it may help to hot glue the ends together first and then this becomes a great fine motor activity as kids wrap the ends of the sticks with pretty colored twine. Use these as ornaments or as decor for packages.
Creating a hiking journey stick: Find a walking sticks and using rubber bands or yarn, tie fun finds on your journey stick along your hike. Once your hike is over, use your items to retell parts of your hike.
Winter bonfire: Warm up beside a winter bonfire.
Nature ornament: Make an ornament out of things you find in nature.
Nature table decor: Use things you find outside to create a pretty table display.
Make and hang bird feeders: There are so many ways to do this! Our favorite way is to smear sunbutter or peanut butter on a pinecone, roll it in bird see, and hang it with twine in a tree.
Search for animal tracks: Search for tracks in the snow or mud. See if you can identify what animals have been there. Follow the tracks if you can.
20 minute bird count: Spend time in one spot outside and count how many birds you see. How many different types did you see? Make a nature journal entry about what you’ve seen!
Decorate a tree with food for birds and squirrels: We love to dry fruit slices with a dehydrator or in the oven and hang them out for birds and squirrels. These make outdoor trees look very festive!
Holiday decorations walk: Take a walk through a neighborhood and be on the look out for holiday decorations. This is a great activity to do during the day and then repeat at night when the colorful lights come on!
Ice ornaments: Fill muffin tins with water and bits of seasonal nature. Add a loop of twine near the top and freeze outside or in your freezer. Hang in trees the next day.
Snow painting: Paint snow with food coloring and water. You can make a mixture and put it in a spray bottle, in jars, or in squeeze bottles. This activity can be done outside or inside (with a large amount of snow placed in a bowl).
Ice globes: There are many ways to create an ice globe. You can fill a bowl with water and place a smaller bowl inside so there is a ring of water around the smaller bowl. Freeze and place a tea light (or an electric tea light) underneath. You can also do this activity with a round water mold and then carve the bottom once it’s frozen and place a tea light underneath.
Snowball lantern: Make a bunch of snowballs. Stack them like a pyramid and place a tea light in the middle once it gets dark.
Unique snowman: How creative can you get with your snowman? Consider painting one with your snow paint!
Outdoor s’mores: Our favorite version is a marshmallow between two fudge stripe cookies.
Star Gazing & Looking for Constellations: Head out when it’s dark and count how many stars you can see. Can you find any constellations?
Cook an outdoor meal: There are so many options here!! Cook over a fire or use a grill or camp stove.
Winter tea party: Bring along your favorite friends and stuffed animals!
Deliver a meal or treat to a neighbor: And make sure you walk it over!
Sit spot day one: Find a spot to sit and observe for 15 or 20 minutes. Come back a day or two later and see what is the same and what is different. Often you may notice the same squirrels or birds!
Sit spot day two: What did you see that was similar to day one? What was different?
Outdoor book reading: Take your reading outside! Bring a favorite winter book or two.
Paint and hide a festive rock: Our kids love finding painted rocks when they are out and about. Paint your own and leave it around your neighborhood for someone to find later on. Avoid leaving them on trails so as not to impact the environment or animals.
Your choice: Put your favorite idea here!
WARM WEATHER CALENDAR - Fill Out The Form Below To Get It!
Activity explanations:
One mile hike: Hike approximately one mile.
Lantern hike: Hike with a lantern (homemade or store bought).
Sunset walk: View a December sunset.
Popcorn hike: Take a hike and bring some popcorn along for a snack.
Hike with friends: The best kind of hike there is :). Call up some friends and head out to a nearby trail!
Make stars out of twigs and twine: Use five or six sticks on similar length. Lay them out in a star shape (I visualize how I draw a star and then lay it out that way). Tie the ends together with twine, one at a time. For younger children, it may help to hot glue the ends together first and then this becomes a great fine motor activity as kids wrap the ends of the sticks with pretty colored twine. Use these as ornaments or as decor for packages.
Creating a hiking journey stick: Find a walking sticks and using rubber bands or yarn, tie fun finds on your journey stick along your hike. Once your hike is over, use your items to retell parts of your hike.
Winter bonfire: Warm up beside a winter bonfire.
Nature ornament: Make an ornament out of things you find in nature.
Nature table decor: Use things you find outside to create a pretty table display.
Make and hang bird feeders: There are so many ways to do this! Our favorite way is to smear sunbutter or peanut butter on a pinecone, roll it in bird see, and hang it with twine in a tree.
Search for animal tracks: Search for tracks in the snow or mud. See if you can identify what animals have been there. Follow the tracks if you can.
20 minute bird count: Spend time in one spot outside and count how many birds you see. How many different types did you see? Make a nature journal entry about what you’ve seen!
Decorate a tree with food for birds and squirrels: We love to dry fruit slices with a dehydrator or in the oven and hang them out for birds and squirrels. These make outdoor trees look very festive!
Holiday decorations walk: Take a walk through a neighborhood and be on the look out for holiday decorations. This is a great activity to do during the day and then repeat at night when the colorful lights come on!
Peppermint Ice Cream Sundaes: Make some sundaes using the most festive kind of ice cream there is!
Backyard sprinkler party: Bonus points if your bathing suit is red or green!
Red & green picnic dinner: How many red and green items can you add to your picnic?
Nature rainbow scavenger hunt: Can you find a nature item in every color of the rainbow?
BBQ Dinner Party: Don’t forget a festive desert!
Outdoor s’mores: Our favorite version is a marshmallow between two fudge stripe cookies.
Maple syrup snow candy: Pack down an area of snow. Carefully pour hot syrup (235 - 240 degrees) onto the snow in the shape of a line. Take a popsicle or craft stick and stick it right into the syrup. Roll your stick up along the line.
Cook an outdoor meal: There are so many options here!! Cook over a fire or use a grill or camp stove.
Winter tea party: Bring along your favorite friends and stuffed animals!
Deliver a meal or treat to a neighbor: And make sure you walk it over!
Sit spot day one: Find a spot to sit and observe for 15 or 20 minutes. Come back a day or two later and see what is the same and what is different. Often you may notice the same squirrels or birds!
Sit spot day two: What did you see that was similar to day one? What was different?
Outdoor book reading: Take your reading outside! Bring a favorite winter book or two.
Paint and hide a festive rock: Our kids love finding painted rocks when they are out and about. Paint your own and leave it around your neighborhood for someone to find later on. Avoid leaving them on trails so as not to impact the environment or animals.
Your choice: Put your favorite idea here!
