Go on a Night Hike
Grab a flashlight, a lantern, a cup of hot cocoa, or some popcorn to light your night and keep you warm as you hike about, taking notice of the night sights and sounds.
Make a Nature Ornament
Let nature be your inspiration by creating your own scavenger hunt of beautiful natural items.
Make an ornament or a wreath out of items in nature. Bring a little bit of the outdoors inside.
Build a Bonfire
Stack some logs on the firepit and take in the warmth of the fire as you connect with your loved ones around a winter warm bonfire.
Take an Animal Tracks Trek
Go on a walkabout in your backyard, neighboring woods, a local park, a sandy beach, or set your sights bigger with a state or national park. While you are on the move, take notice of the clues left behind from your animal friends. Who was here before you?
Decorate a Tree for the Birds & Squirrels
As winter swings into gear, the food can be harder to come by for your furry & feathered friends. Peanut buttered pine cones rolled in birdseed, dried fruit hanging from tree limbs, or popcorn & cranberry garland all make tasty treats for your backyard wildlife.
Have a Sit in a Sit Spot
A “Sit Spot” is a nature watching term where you find a place outdoors and sit for 20 minutes or so, just becoming one with nature. While sitting there, embrace your senses to see what you see, hear, and smell. Being still, nature may or may not take note of you, leading you to see more than you would if you were on the move or making noise.
Deliver a Treat to a Neighbor
Making someone’s day, especially someone who lives nearby, always brightens everyone’s day. Make a meal, design a treat, or brings some flowers to a neighbor or loved one. (Be thoughtful about Covid restrictions with masking and distancing in your delivery.)
Paint & Hide a Festive Rock
Find some stones on one walk, then grab your art supplies to create some festive pics or inspirational quotes. Create your own “pay it forward” scavenger hunt by leaving your kindness rocks along trails, sidewalks, or anywhere out in the world where they will bring a smile to whoever finds it.
Embark on a Bird Count
If you don’t have a bird feeder in your yard, your first step might be to get one and make sure it’s stocked. Then bundle up and sit back on your porch, counting the happy feathered friends that find you during a block of time.
Eat or Cook Outdoors Tonight
Make tonight a night for grilling out. Savor the flavor and the yummy aroma of dinner cooked over an open grill! Maybe it’s a s’mores night over an open fire. Or, be really daring and have a December outdoor picnic.
Celebrate In the Snow
To steal from Frozen: do you want to build a snowman… or make snow angels… or create snow pedestals & place tea lights on top. Use the snow as your medium to make something magical, bringing fun into your day.
No snow? Go bare foot in the grass to get literally grounded and connect with the energy of the earth.
Set Your Sights On Decorations & Night Lights
Walk the neighborhood, or drive to one that is filled with lots of lights. Take in the glory, walking among the sights with a night light hike.
Special Thanks to
1000 Hours Outdoors Blog Post written by Ginny Yurich
for the inspiration to create this visual & clickable Advent Calendar.
Adapted & Created by Green Team Gazette 2020