With our summer camps now in their second week, we have been in summer mode at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center for a while, but today is actually the first true day of summer and there are plenty of reasons to celebrate the Summer Solstice!
In a Nutshell
Summer Solstice is a major celestial event when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, resulting in the longest day and the shortest night of the year. This morning, the sun in Wisconsin rose at 5:15 and will set tonight at 8:40, giving us 15 hours and 22 minutes of sun to enjoy!
Summer solstice comes when the earth is tilted toward the sun (June for the northern hemisphere, January for the south). The tilt of the earth affects how much sun is hitting the surface of the planet. In summer, the sun is highest in the sky, so the sun's rays are at their most concentrated.
Find out more about the science behind the solstice with this great blogpost from Nature Net.
So, with 15+ hours of sunlight, there are plenty of fun ways to enjoy nature and celebrate the summer solstice with your family today!
Celebrate the sun’s energy by cooking in a solar oven. Get creative and try one of these recipes like mini pizzas, cheese quesadillas, turkey & cheese melts, solar nachos or smores! If you don’t have a solar oven, here are some easy directions to make your own out of a pizza box!
Share your celebration with your backyard friends! Decorate a tree in your yard with bird-feeders. Here are easy directions to make a birdfeeder out of a pine cone.
Make a crown out of long grasses and decorate with wild flowers and leaves with these instructions found here.
Use the sun’s light to tell time! Click here for directions to make a sundial.
Share the beauty of the first summer sunset with your kids! Play sun-themed games like shadow tag, pin the sunglasses on the sun, sun relay or sun hunt outside as a family until the sun sets!
Make a sun print picture using natural materials on light-sensitive paper (you can buy this at a hobby, craft, photography or toy store).
Enjoy and happy summer!
0 comments:
Post a Comment