Day 11: Fairy houses, a nature riddle and the Devil’s Back Trail chapter of the Junior Ranger Activity Book
Outdoor activity ideas and inspiration
From mid-March to the end of May 2020, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) posted a simple outdoor activity idea and nature riddle for kids every weekday. Some days we also posted other resources, like downloadable chapters of the Junior Ranger Activity Book.
Created to support parents who found themselves homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic, these activity ideas are a great jumping off point for any outdoor adventure. Click here for a list with links to all 50 activity ideas.
Nature riddle
This fascinating creature has been around for 500-700 million years, which makes them the oldest known multi-organ animal. They have no brain, no heart, no liver, no kidneys, no blood and no respiratory system. Most have no eyes. Yet, they have a sense of smell, they can capture and kill their prey and they are able to distinguish foods by taste. Click here to read more about these animals.
Fairy houses
Sophie looking through her fairy house built in the gap between two rocks (Julia McLeod photo)
Many kids are drawn to all things tiny and magical. Building fairy houses can take up hours of building and imagining time, which are both good for young brains. If you’re just getting started with fairy houses, consider starting at the base of a tree or the side of a rock. Sticks work great for building and you can find lots of natural objects for decorations, bridges, playgrounds, furniture and so much more for the fairies to use when you’re gone. Enjoy!
Devil’s Back Trail chapter of the Junior Ranger Activity Book
The Junior Ranger Activity Book includes engaging science content, activity ideas and trail maps! It’s a great resource to learn about and explore nature and get outdoors, even if you don’t live near Harpswell. The book was created by Emma Levy, who was a high school senior when she wrote it. Click here for more about the book.
You can download the entire book, chapter by chapter, from our outdoor activity ideas posts.
Click here for the Devil’s Back Trail chapter of the book, which explores the water cycle and photosynthesis.
If you would like a physical copy of the whole book, you can order it on our website for just $8 + shipping. Click here to order.
