It’s hard to believe that summer is just around the corner. The Garden is already getting ready for one of its favorite programs – Summer Camp, registration is now open.
Parents and campers alike rave about this one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore the Garden’s trails and discover Sonoran Desert plants and animals.
One of the most popular nature craft activities involved creating a portrait out of natural materials found in the Garden.
Garden education staff love this activity because it gets kids outdoors and sparks their imagination. This is an easy activity to do on a trail, in your neighborhood or even in your yard. All you need is a bag and a pair of scissors; then, head outside!
Materials
- Bag for collecting natural objects
- Scissors for trimming plants
- Liquid Glue
- Piece of construction paper, card stock, or cardboard sized for your child’s artwork
Collecting Materials
As you walk, have your child collect interesting natural objects – twigs, flowers, leaves. Try to encourage your child to keep their mind open and collect anything that has an interesting color or shape.
TIP #1: You will be gluing everything to a piece of paper or cardboard at the end. Collect objects that are light enough to stick easily without tearing the paper or falling off… For example, rocks are beautiful but may not be the best for this project unless they are very small.
TIP #2: Bring a pair of scissors so you can trim leaves or small branches without damaging an entire plant. It is a good way to teach your child to treat the natural world with care.
Creating The Picture
Once you have collected plenty of natural material, head to your crafting area.
Lay out everything you collected next to the paper or carboard you will be using for the base. This will help your child see what is available and get the creative juices flowing.
Encourage your child to experiment with the materials and arrange them in different ways before gluing.
Some of our favorite designs are:
Portraits
Animals
Nature Scenes/Landscapes
Abstract Designs
Once your child has put everything together into a picture they like, pick up one object at a time and glue them into place. Let the entire piece dry for a sufficient amount of time before trying to pick it up.
Voila! Your very own masterpiece from Mother Nature.
If you want to learn more, or register for our upcoming summer camp season, click here before they fill up!
