Snow Day!

For most of our area, today has officially been declared a snow day! For kids, this means an exciting day full of fun and adventure free from the routine of school. For parents however, a snow day can quickly turn into a long, stressful day trying to keep the kids occupied!

While there is plenty of fun to be had outdoors playing in the snow, you can't keep them outside all day (click here for some safety tips to keep your kids safely active outdoors!). But don't worry--the Aldo Leopold Nature Center has you covered! Here are some ideas to keep you and your kids happy, engaged and learning inside and outside all day using simple items you probably already have on hand:

Outdoor Activities

1. Snow Hoop Off
Have hula hoops collecting dust until the return of next summer's sun? Break them out for a hula hoop contest outside in the snow! It's MUCH harder when you are all bundled up in your snow gear!

2. Snow Creatures
Snowmen are so last year! Tap into your creative side and create some one of a kind snow creatures! Some fun options include dinosaurs, snakes, turtles and squirrels!

3. Tracking
Winter provides the perfect time to go animal tracking! Here's a great guide and an online tracking quiz to get you started. 

4. Winter Bird Watching
Grab those binoculars and discover our winter bird friends like the Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay and Northern Cardinal! Consider taking photos or journaling along with your youngster! Here are some good questions to consider when birdwatching:

• Bird Size - Ask yourself, is the bird bigger or smaller than a robin?
• Bird Markings - Look at the coloration of the feathers, what is unique? Does the bird have markings like a cap, a scarf or bib, eye streaks?
• Bird Beak - What shape is the beak? Is it short and wide to crack seeds, is it long and narrow to eat suet, is it sharply curved as if to eat meat?
• Bird Legs - What type of legs does this bird have? Are they short and narrow, long with webbed feet, long with strong talons on its feet?

5. Snow Forts
Building snow forts with the kids can be a great way to have fun while burning up some pent up energy! Click here for some great tips to build a safe and impressive snow fort!

Indoor Activities
1. Freeze Dance
Turn up the tunes and start dancing! Stop the music periodically. When the music stops everyone has to freeze in place. Anyone who moves while frozen is out. The winner is the last person dancing.

2. Let It Snow
Make your own snow globes! Use hot glue or super glue to a plastic toy (try legos, mini dolls, or anything you find around your house) to the inside of a jar lid, then add baby oil and glitter!

3. Edible Snowflakes
Fold flour tortillas in fourths and use scissors to cut shapes out pf the folds, just like when you cut a paper snowflake, Brush with melted butter. sprinkle on cinnamon sugar and bake at 350 degrees until crispy.Yum!

4. Board Games
Time to break out those old favorites like Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Monopoly, Sorry and card games!

5. Indoor Picnic
Relive those lazy days of summer! Make some simple picnic foods (sandwiches, fruit, lemonade, etc.) and make a picnic on a blanket indoors!


Wishing you a fun and educational snow day!

- The Staff of ALNC

Reconnecting Post Turkey

After the last gravy-soaked bite has been enjoyed and the dishes are finally clean following the big Thanksgiving feast, it's easy to sit back and veg for the rest of the holiday--letting your kids amuse themselves with the tv or computers as you recuperate from the day's hectic bustle.

I often find myself in the same predicament, but for the past few years my family has tried something a little bit different and it has made the holiday a much more rewarding one.

Don't worry, this is not where I tell you we forgo stuffing our faces with exorbitant portions of food or run a family marathon right after the meal. Instead, we do something very simple--we go for a short family walk and talk to each other as we enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

I have a rather large family that rarely gets all together and when we do, more often than not our get togethers are planned to the minute, leaving little if any time to actually *dare I say* bond together as a family.

Taken just once a year after the Thanksgiving dinner, for us, these short walks have helped us reconnect as a family and to the world around us.  We take in the fall sunshine, talk about where our lives have taken us in the past year and let the call of the wild take over for a bit.

Before long, cousins that haven't seen each other in years recount stories from their childhoods sending them into fits of giggling;  young children, girlfriends, boyfriends and other new additions to the family feel at home and everyone winds up leaving Thanksgiving with a memory to share again the next year.

As I said, it is about as simple as it gets, but this tradition has become essential to our Thanksgivings and I urge you to try it this year. The outdoors is calling--what are you waiting for?

Best wishes for a  very Happy Thanksgiving,

Miss Alanna

Creatures of the Night!

Fall Fest is the place to be this Friday!

WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Curious what tricks and treats we have up our sleeves for this Friday's Fall Fest? Check out this preview with Miss Alanna, joined by a creepy resident critter!

Remember, Fall Fest is this Friday, October 26 from 5:30-7:30 pm at our Monona Campus (330 Femrite Drive, Monona, WI) and it is FREE for members!!!

 Not an ALNC member? Register for Fall Fest for just $50 and we’ll give you a COMPLIMENTARY family membership!

In addition to attending Fall Fest for free and receiving the great benefits of an ALNC membership, from today - October 26th, when you join or renew your ALNC Membership, you’ll be entered to win a prize drawing for one of three terrific prize packages including a Family Fun and Fitness Package, Wine Tasting for Four and a Backyard Birding Package!


Click here to join today!