After two days of near 70-degree temps, reality hit, and our sleepy Wisconsin city got slammed with six inches of snow last week. Fortunately, the snow only stuck around for a couple days. Unfortunately, we got dumped on during my young daughter’s spring break from school.
Despite the crazy weather pattern (a.k.a. spring in Wisconsin), we managed to salvage spring break with a few outdoor adventures that got my daughter itching for summer vacation.
Spring has sprung in most states, and if you are looking for ways to take advantage of the seasonal temps with your kids, then consider the following fun and educational outdoor activities:
Gardening: Since we live in the “Frozen Tundra” I typically start my daughter out by having her plant seeds in plastic cups and leaving them on the windowsill. When the mercury starts to rise, I let her transplant the seedlings to a place in the garden or a patio planter. My daughter loves watering and weeding “her” plants.
Games: When tag, kick ball and baby badminton get old, use the great outdoors as the backdrop to a down and dirty game of hide-and-seek, camouflage, or blindfold walk.
Discovery Hikes: A hike is a great ways to spend time outside while getting some exercise. City and state parks offer free hiking trails to explore with kids. If you have older children, consider adding a little structure to the hike by having them journal their discoveries, such as a squirrel eating a nut, a bird sitting in a nest, or a spider spinning a web.
If you go on a hike, consider bringing along some snacks to keep your kids’ energy level up.
Here’s a simple recipe for homemade granola that my daughter loves:
HOMEMADE GRANOLA
Ingredients:
4 cups old fashioned oats
2 cups sliced almonds
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey
2 to 3 cups assorted dried fruit (cherries, cranberries, diced apricots, apples, etc.)
1 cup of M&Ms
1 cup of carob chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Toss oats and almonds together in a large bowl.
Whisk together the oil and honey in a small bowl.
Pour the honey and oil over the oat mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until all the oats and nuts are coated.
Pour onto parchment or foil lined, greased large sheet pan.
Bake, stirring occasionally with a spatula, until the mixture turns a nice, even, golden brown, about 20 to 35 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool, stirring occasionally.
Add the fruit, candy and carob chips.
Store the cooled granola in an airtight container.
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