I watch him, a study in concentration and intensity. He works gently -- well, as gentle as my son can be -- rubbing the pencil on the paper, stopping to inspect his work from time to time. When finished, he pulls off the paper to reveal a very fine bark rubbing.

"Wow," he whispers, as if he can't believe that it really worked.

"That's beautiful," I tell him, pleased to see the pride he's taken in the effort.

Over the next hour, we walk through the park, stopping to do rubbings on a variety of trees and other natural objects. Some work better than others, of course, but it doesn't matter to him. He's just having a good time trying different colored pencils and seeing what makes the best imprint.

What a great way to spend an afternoon outside -- and now we have some new artwork to hang up in his room, too!

There's the Rub

You can try this activity with bark, leaves, rocks, and a variety of other things you might find outdoors. For a different kind of keepsake, try making your nature rubbings on a lightweight white fabric. Share your favorite nature craft ideas and creations in the Community Corner of the Green Hour website.

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Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

It's slow going at first, getting the entire family moving on their bikes, but we're getting the hang of it!

We're hitting our local Rail Trail today, getting a new perspective on nature from our bike seats. My daughter is finally old enough to ride independently, but my son is riding on a kid's bike extension hooked to my husband's bike. Better him than me, I think, as we chug up a slight incline.

We've packed a bag with everything we need: sack lunches, water, sunscreen, field guides, a pocket camera and the family nature journal. We've already spotted plenty of birds and even had the good luck to see a chubby woodchuck waddle across the path. About a mile up the trail is a park where we'll have our lunch in the shade of a giant oak tree. This will give us time to rest -- and to explore the sights and sounds of a new green space.

As always, I know my son will fill his pockets with new rocks for his collection. I wonder if his dad will notice the extra weight?

Hitting the Trail

Biking is a great way to explore your community with your family. Why not plan a family ride soon? Pack a picnic, do some bird watching and explore a new "neck of the woods." Not only is it a great way to get your Green Hour, it's also a fantastic way to get some exercise. Need help finding somewhere to bike in your area? Simply visit http://www.greenhour.org/naturefind

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

In honor of Earth Day, we're starting a family project where we all can make a difference for our planet. In a small corner of the yard, my husband and kids have set up a compost pile. In it, we'll put food waste and organic yard debris -- things that, just last week, we would have thrown away, adding to our local landfill. If you've never seen a landfill -- well, it's nothing you really want to add to.

The kids are very excited about this project. Each day, they're responsible for collecting the approved kitchen scraps -- things such as apple cores, egg shells, and vegetable peels -- and taking them out to the compost pile. Layer by layer, we'll build our pile and eventually have a rich organic material to add to our garden.

My daughter has taken a picture of our compost pile and will continue to document its growth and progress in her nature journal. Who knows? This just might turn out to be a really good science fair project!

Wildlife Watch

Composting is a great family project. Looking for another great way to get your family outside this week? Join people across the nation as they participate in National Wildlife Federation’s Nature Quest™ Wildlife Watch. To download your nature checklist, visit nwf.org/wildlifewatch.

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

Younger cousins are visiting and my kids are eager to share their love of the outdoors with them. The thing is, the weather hasn't been cooperating. Steady rain all day.

"Quack!" I say loudly.

"Quack! Quack!" my kids reply in unison.

This can only mean one thing -- it's time to go outside in the rain!

After getting everyone bundled into their rain gear, we all head out into the yard. The little cousins can't believe it -- outside, in the rain! It's almost too good to be true. They catch rain drops on their tongues, and giggle when I join in the fun. We play a game of splash tag, which is really just tag with the occasional puddle jump thrown in for good measure.

I have another trick up my sleeve -- spoons that I’d tucked in my raincoat pocket. We have a race to see whose spoon fills up with rainwater the fastest. The kids love this, and want to play again and again.

One last idea: I dash in for some food coloring and paper plates. Standing in a dry spot on the porch, we each add a few drops of food coloring to our plates. Then we step into the rain, holding our plates flat, long enough to count 60 seconds. Back inside, we shed our rain gear and warm up while the plates dry.

Oh, what beautiful rain paintings the kids have made -- splashes and swirls of color. Later, we’ll cut raindrops and flowers out of construction paper to make frames for our rainy day masterpieces!

Who says rainy days can't be fun?

April Showers

Rain is almost a given in April. Don't be glum -- remember those May flowers are right around the corner! Did you try rain painting? This activity also works with dry tempera paint and thick paper. What activities do you and your kids like to do outside when it rains? Log in to the Community Corner of the Green Hour website to share your favorite rainy day activities.

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

Spring is all about green. Leaves, buds, grass -- green as far as the eye can see. To honor this most natural of colors, today we are taking a green hike for our Green Hour. What could be more perfect?

Camera, nature journal, and crayons in hand, we're heading to our favorite park to see just how many greens await us. We're going to count the different green natural objects we find, as well as the different shades of green they come in. And, of course, the kids are turning it into a bit of a contest, as siblings will do. We're also planning to take photos for our family nature journal and will take breaks along the way to sketch, and make notes on, our green discoveries.

Spring into Green!

How happy we are to welcome spring! How about you? Did you take a green hike with your kids? Log in to the Community Corner of the Green Hour website to share your green adventures and your favorite tales of spring.

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

Like many children, my daughter is quite sensitive. And, what's really come to light the more we explore the natural world is her empathy for animals and her concern for their welfare. She's not naïve -- we've talked about the "circle of life" and she understands the concept -- but she's very much interested in whatever ways she can help or to give back to the creatures that bring her so much joy.

So, today we're putting up the black silhouettes of birds of prey that we've cut out of construction paper. These cutouts will help to prevent our feathered friends from flying into our windows, a common cause of injury and death for many birds. We're placing the cutouts on the windows facing our backyard and the large sliding glass door leading to our patio.

The kids enjoyed cutting out the shapes, and say that they feel good about helping to protect the birds that come to our feeders. Watching these feathered visitors has given us so many hours of entertainment, it seems like the least we can do. This simple activity also allowed us to talk more about human-animal interaction, and to think about the ways in which animals interact with each other.

Sometimes our Green Hour offers more than just fun and exploration -- it provides teachable moments. The important thing is to watch for, and to take advantage of, them!

Cool Cutouts

Helping local and migratory birds is a great way for kids to take action to help wildlife. These raptor templates can help keep birds from flying into your windows. And, why not share this idea with your child's teacher or daycare provider?

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

"Watch me!" my son yells as he leaps across the yard. "Ribbit. Ribbit!"

"And me!" my daughter shouts, as she takes a giant leap of her own. "Ribbit!"

Last spring, when a trip to our local pond introduced them to the magic of spring peepers, my kids fell in love with frogs.

This spring, my daughter's class is studying the life cycle of a frog. In their honor, we're out in the yard today, being frogs. Practicing frog calls, playing leapfrog, and generally just frogging around.

In fact, we've made up a new game -- Frog Tag. We've made giant lily pads out of old cardboard boxes. These are the safety zones. If a frog makes it to a lily pad, he’s safe from the hungry bird trying to catch him.

We've invited some of the neighbor kids over to play our game with us. What a sight we must be -- hopping, ribbiting, and giggling all around the backyard. I’ll have to get my camera -- but first, I must be a hungry bird!

FrogWatch USA™

Frog populations are on the decline. To help monitor them, people nationwide are collecting data on frogs as part of a citizen science program called Frogwatch USA. Why not join in the fun? Visit nwf.org/frogwatchusa to learn more!

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

March brings rain and rain brings mud; there's just no getting around it. After trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to keep the kids and the floors clean for the past several days, I’ve decided to stop fighting -- and start embracing -- the mud. How thrilled the kids are with that decision! They can hardly wait to play in that squishy, oozy, messy, magical stuff.

Dressed in the grubbiest clothes I could find, we're out in the yard, puddle jumping. Rubber boots are the footwear of choice today, and make perfect mud puddle waders. Luckily, the rain has stopped, so I've brought out some butcher paper we can use to make mud paintings. It’ll be fun to watch the color change as the mud dries on our masterpiece.

Later, we’ll do one of my favorite activities from childhood -- making mud pies. I can hardly wait!

Muddy Buddies

We spend so much time trying to stay clean that we sometimes forget how much fun it is to get dirty. Why not put on your rattiest clothes and take the kids out for some fun in the mud? Try making mud sculptures or using gelatin molds or cookie cutters to shape your creations!

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

"13 new ones!" my son shouts excitedly. "13 perfect new rocks!"

I smile at the little geologist, covered in dirt and completely content. We've been digging in the side yard all morning, looking for the perfect rocks to add to his ever-growing collection.

When his rock hunting first started, I figured it was really was just about playing and digging in the dirt. Turns out it’s much more than that -- he actually loves rocks. He likes the feel of them, the colors, sizes, and shapes. It's fascinating to watch this interest develop and to see the simple joy it brings him.

He takes his newfound treasures to the garden hose in the back of the house, washing each one carefully -- weighing each in his little hand, holding it up and examining it, studying a piece of quartz as if it held the value of a diamond. I guess, to him, it does.

Later, we’ll go to the library to check out a children's field guide to rocks. I can't wait to help him match a name to the rocks in his collection or to hear the funny names he’ll make up for the ones we can't figure out.

Rock On!

Rock collecting is a great hobby for kids of all ages. A simple tackle box makes a good place to store your child's rock collection. And a visit to a natural history museum is a great way to explore rocks and crystals from all around the world.

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

X marks the spot, and today the whole family is out looking for treasure! After reading a book about buried treasure to the kids, my husband got the bright idea that we should go on a family treasure hunt. Arrgghh -- a family of pirates are we, matey!

So, that’s exactly what we’re doing today. Each of the kids has made a colorful map -- featuring different nature paths at our favorite local park -- as the basis for our treasure hunt. They've also made a bunch of clues, written on slips of paper, to be hidden.

At the local dollar store, I’d purchased some stickers, magnifying glasses, and a few other trinkets to serve as the treasure, all of which fits neatly into some small boxes I had lying around the house. Instant treasure chests.

We've divided into teams and have hidden our treasures in the leaf litter alongside the trails, and have left clues under rocks and tied to tree branches along the way. Next, the kids will swap maps (and parents, so we can't tell them where to find the clues we’ve just helped to hide) and the true adventure can begin.

Oh, the fun we all will have! The kids are so excited that they’re already asking when the next treasure hunt will be and if they can bring their friends.

Imagine -- turning one of the kids' bedtime stories into a fun outdoor activity! Way to go, Daddy!

Buried Treasure

While a local park makes a great setting for a treasure hunt, this activity can easily be done in your own backyard. Why not make this a group activity at your next playdate? Log in to the Community Corner of the Green Hour website to share your treasure hunting tales!

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

In a once lonely patch on the side of the yard, there now lies a series of sticks and twine.

Earlier, the kids and I surveyed our little piece of land, measuring and shaping the garden we’ll plant when the weather is a bit warmer and the earth is ready to work its magic. We’ve decided to plant both food for us humans and food for wildlife, which should please the songbirds and butterflies who visit our backyard each summer.

With our plot marked out, it’s time to get creative. Crayons, pencils, ruler, scissors and gardening catalogs -- check. The colors of the flowers and produce in the gardening catalogs are amazing. So many to choose from! We’ve decided to each make our own "dream garden" -- what we would like to see in that space -- and then we’ll decide as a family just what to plant where. Dad wants to make sure he gets his say, too!

I watch my son cutting out giant sunflowers from a catalog to glue to his paper garden, which is starting to look as bold as he is. My daughter, the more serious of the two, is carefully arranging items in the colors of the rainbow -- a lesson she’s recently learned at school. My dream garden starts with a bench under a small shade tree. I can’t think of a better dream than to sit in a fragrant garden, listening to my kids make new discoveries and watching the butterflies gently flutter by.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Gardening is a great family activity that can help to teach about so many things -- life cycles, pollination, and nutrition, just to name a few. A garden can be a hands-on place to learn math and science and to engage the imagination through art, literature and music. Whether it’s in your own yard or a community garden plot, why not plant a garden with your child, one to benefit both humans and wildlife? Be sure to share your gardening stories in the Community Corner of the Green Hour website!

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

“It’s beautiful!” my daughter announces, as she gently slides her ice sculpture out of the cup. This was easy, once we'd carefully dipped the cup in hot water for a few seconds. Kind of like getting a cake out of the pan!

We'd collected all sorts of items in our yard -- acorns, berries, leaves and seed pods -- for our project. Then we put them in water-filled containers of different sizes and shapes and left them outside overnight to freeze. In the morning -- voila! -- instant ice sculptures.

We’re going to try this again, only this time we’ll check to see how long it takes our sculptures to freeze, and sadly, how long it takes them to melt. I like the idea of working some science into an art project, and both of them into outside time!

My son wants to make an igloo, so we’ll be using a few ice cube trays to make our own ice blocks. A budding engineer, he’s rejected the slightly rounded cubes our ice maker produces as faulty building materials!

Frozen Art

If it doesn’t get cold enough where you live, you can easily make ice sculptures like these in your freezer. Here’s another idea -- try making an ice mobile. Hang it outside a window where you can watch it shimmer -- or melt, if you like working science into your craft activities, too!

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

A second cardinal lands on the feeder, and my son excitedly adds him to the checklist. We know it's a “him” because of his beautiful coloring -- aside from a black face and bright orange bill, this fellow's decked out from crest to tail in, well, cardinal red. We talk about this familiar bird's markings, song, and behavior, even looking him up in our new kid-friendly field guide.

Today we're joining thousands of people across the country in the Great Backyard Bird Count. We'll count the birds we see in our backyard, and then complete a second checklist from a spot in our favorite park. And, my daughter's teacher is having her class do a bird count of their own in their schoolyard. It will be interesting to compare the three checklists, noting any differences.

This is the second citizen science program we've participated in this year. Thanks to an innovative and nature-inclined teacher, the kids -- and I -- are getting a great introduction to real, hands-on science. While my son is too young to fully appreciate what data collection means, he's happy to call himself a scientist for the day.

And, I have to admit -- I am, too!

Count Off!

Participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a fun and easy project for the entire family. It runs from February 15th - 18th and all you need is fifteen minutes! To learn more, visit: http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/howto.html. Log in to the Community Corner of the Green Hour website to share your experiences.

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

Her ankles wobbly, her gloved hand holding tight to the expert’s -- seeing my daughter on the ice with her grandfather is like watching a snapshot of my childhood. Once I was the girl with the wobbly ankles, afraid to stray far from my father. Now it’s her turn to learn about the joys of skating on a frozen pond -- the wind in your face, the sounds of the birds, the joy of gliding through a wintry world.

I can’t believe this place is still here. Most of the farmland and open space of my childhood home has been developed, like in so many other parts of the country. I’m thrilled that my kids are getting this experience. What a treat to be able to ice skate outside!

My son and I take careful steps onto the ice, his bravery much greater than mine. While I haven’t been on ice skates in many years, hours spent rollerblading with my daughter will hopefully keep me upright. Above us, the overcast sky gives way to a moment of sunshine, and I hear my daughter and my father laughing. They’ve stopped, and Dad is pointing out a little squirrel that’s ventured onto the ice, trying to capture an acorn that got away.

I point out the squirrel to my son -- and think how that squirrel looks so much more at home on the ice than I do!

Fun on Ice

Have you ever had the pleasure of skating outside? If not, try to find a local parks & recreation department or community center that offers this winter activity. Failing that, indoor skating -- though not quite the same -- still makes for a good alternative. Log in to the Community Corner of the Green Hour website to share your ideas for icy winter fun.

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org

Even the hardiest explorers sometimes have to admit defeat, and that’s just what this group is doing today. Our pretty snow has turned into quite an ice storm. It’s treacherous out there, as evidenced by my husband's fall in the driveway on his way out today. Treacherous, but beautiful -- I have to admit, the backyard looks like something out of a storybook, a frozen fairyland or magical kingdom.

We’ve been watching the birds visit our feeder off and on all morning, sad that we can’t go outside, but happy to have a front-row seat to such a show. But now, the kids are getting restless, whiney.

But, before I lose them, it occurs to me -- it’s almost Groundhog Day. “Let’s build a fort! A den, just like Punxsutawney Phil!”

“Inside?” they ask. It was a warm day in May the last time the kids built a fort -- and that was outside.

“Why not?” I reply. “If we can’t go outside today, let’s bring the outside in!”

As we talk about that famous groundhog and other animals that build dens, we create quite a fort out of sofa cushions and old blankets. My children, no longer bored, are excited by the challenge, starting and restarting as they try to get their fort “just right.”

As they build, I make us all a snack. Den making is hungry work!

The Best Laid Plans...

Some days, you just can’t get outside. What nature-related activities do you and your kids enjoy doing inside? Games? Books? Art projects? Log in to the Community Corner of the Green Hour website to share your ideas.

© National Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Want to find nature nearby? Green Hour® presents NatureFind™

GREEN HOUR® is a program of the National Wildlife Federation - www.greenhour.org