Let's Go Outside!

Let's Go Outside!
June has days to celebrate mud, picnics, trails, and weeding your garden. What a great month to get outside and explore!
It’s not all about the outdoors though: doughnuts, chocolate ice cream, hugs, yo-yos, and peanut butter cookies - June is full of silly celebrations! Which ones would your family enjoy?
If you're looking for a way to spend time outside while helping the Earth, you could celebrate World Environment Day on June 5th. This year’s theme is “Beat Plastic Pollution”. Want to help the cause? Keep reusable bags in your car for shopping, buy each family member their own reusable water bottle, and investigate other ways to cut down plastic use.
Celebrate summer with these silly holidays:
June 1 National Doughnut Day
June 6 Yo-Yo Day
June 7 National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 12 National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
June 13 National Weed Your Garden Day
June 17 Eat Your Vegetables Day
June 18 International Picnic Day
June 29 International Mud Day
Looking for fun outdoor ideas?
- Check out books on tree identification and native plants. Visit local parks and identify the plants. The Mishawaka Riverwalk is lined with many native plants. Fun tip: they’re easier to identify when the flowers have bloomed!
- Find picture books about rivers or animals. Pack a picnic and have an adventure in a park near the river. After eating, play a listening game: Have everyone sit very still, without speaking, and ask them to point to a noise they hear (the river, a bird, the wind in the trees, etc.). You may be surprised to find out what your family notices!
-
Check out books about drawing or painting. Visit local sites for inspiration or take art supplies and enjoy an impromptu art experience. Even your youngest family members can participate in art! Hold a piece of paper against a tree trunk and have your child rub a crayon on the paper to create a unique piece of nature art.
If you’re looking for librarians in the park this summer, check out PHM’s Summer Food Service program. Our Community Engagement Librarians will be out and about, sharing stories and fun in the parks. Ask at a Youth Services desk for more information.
Here are some picture books about nature:
Olivia Helps Mother Nature by Lauren Forte
Into the Outdoors by Susan Gal
Froggy Builds a Tree House by Jonathan London
Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson
Curious George Plants a Tree by Monica Perez
To find more ways to celebrate summer, check out these books:
EcoArt! by Laurie M. Carlson
Nature Smart by Gwen Diehn
Cool Crafts with Flowers, Leaves, and Twigs by Jen Jones
The Complete Guide to Treehouses by Philip Schmidt
Art Lab for Little Kids by Susan Schwake
How to Draw Flowers in Simple Steps by Janet Whittle
If your family wants to learn more about nature, here are some books to explore:
The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids by Wendy Cohen
Science and Craft Projects with Trees and Leaves by Ruth Owen
101 Trees of Indiana by Marion T. Jackson
Field Guide to Indiana Wildflowers by Kay Yatskievych