by Paige Jessup, Climate Resilience Intern

Christmas does not have to be the only thing you look forward to this winter! There are lots of ways you can enjoy the outdoors and spend time with your family. Here is a list of 10 things you can do this winter to get you started on connecting with nature, supporting your local ecosystems, and having fun with loved ones!

1. Snow Painting

Make the world your canvas! On the day of a beautiful, fresh snowfall, take a spray bottle and fill it with some water. Add a couple drops of food colouring and let your creativity flow, painting the snow an array of vibrant colours. 

2. Make Conifer Tea

Conifer tea is a great way to battle the winter colds this season! This natural tea is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C and will soothe a cough or cold while also energizing you. You can make this all natural tea from either pine or cedar which is sure to make your house smell like a walk through the forest. First take a walk outside to find either an Eastern White Pine or Eastern White Cedar tree. Once you have positively identified the tree, you can pluck a handful of the needles off the tree. For cedar, use scissors or small hedge clippers to clip off the scaly needles. You will need about 4 sprigs. When harvesting from the tree be sure to use sustainable harvesting methods; only take as much as you need, do not take from the same spot on the tree, and do not take too much from one tree. 

Once you are back home, rinse the needles well under cold water. Add your needles to a saucepan and add 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain out the needles and enjoy!

3. Frozen Coloured Ice Globes 

4. Evergreen Identification 

Make your afternoon walks a little more interesting by learning about the evergreen trees and how to identify them. Teaching your kids about the evergreens local to our area is a great educational skill to have. A lot of people think conifers all look the same but they are unique in their own way. Conifers can be identified by their needles, cones and bark, take a close look to see if you can find out which one you’re looking at.

5. Listen to the Birds

Birding is a great way to get outside and connected with nature. Birds can be sneaky and hard to spot so it is a great idea to bring a pair of binoculars if you have them. There is another way to find out what birds may be nearby, too!

Start by downloading the “Merlin Bird ID” app on your phone or tablet. Set it up for your area. Now get ready to take a walk around your area! Once you are outside, open your app and hit the microphone button on your app’s home screen. Your app will pick up any birds that are around you and tell you exactly what kind of bird it is. 

6. Build a Nest

Building a nest is a fun way to let your kids use their creativity and imagination while also helping out your feathered neighbours. You can start this activity by going for a nature walk and as you are walking, think about what items a bird would use to make their nest. Look for things like leaves, twigs, grass and feathers that are already on the forest floor. Weave these items together to make it into a bowl shape, also adding some feathers and leaves to the bottom of your nest as some cushion for the bird and its eggs. This activity is great for kids of all ages and can give some insights and appreciation for how difficult it must be for birds to make them with just their feet and beak.

7. Shovel a Neighbour’s Sidewalk  

A fresh snowfall is a great opportunity to teach your children how to be good neighbours and citizens as they help your neighbours shovel their sidewalk or driveway. It is difficult for some people to get out and do this themselves so this act of kindness will be greatly appreciated. Your act of kindness may even inspire others to pay it forward!

8. Garland for the Birds

Garland is a popular decoration for lots of people but birds and other animals enjoy it, too! Garland is easy for kids to make since you only need a few items to make it. You can use some dried cranberries, plain air-popped popcorn, and nuts. Thread them onto a thick, natural fibre thread or string and hang them up outside. Watch all the critters that come by for a treat!

9. Colour Matching 

This scavenger hunt type activity is engaging and is a great way to get your kids outside in the winter. You can even turn this into a friendly competition! Just bundle up and head outside to see how many items of different colours you can find in the great outdoors. You will be surprised by the amount of colour you can find amidst the winter snow. Use this worksheet to get started and record your findings.

10. The Great Backyard Bird Count

Become a community scientist by participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count. This is a four-day long event hosted by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, The Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. This year, it is taking place February 14-17, 2025 where birders of all ages can participate by counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are. This helps experts document the species and numbers in the area. Learn more about this event here.

For more than 20 years, Watersheds Canada has been working with landowners, communities, a vast network of lake and river associations, municipalities, schools, and organizations to keep Canada’s freshwater healthy, beautiful, and available – today and for generations to come. Through shoreland plantings, fish habitat restorations, municipal policy work, student education programs, and more, Watersheds Canada is equipping communities to protect their lakes, rivers, and shorelands. You can support this critical work by making a tax-receiptable donation today: watersheds.ca/donate