Easy End-of-Summer Nature Crafts for Kids Inspired by God’s Creation

“I feel like it’s only June,” my grandson said the other day. In reality it is August, but I knew what he meant. He had spent the summer thus far playing baseball on all kinds of teams. It had been hard work and although he had learned a lot he missed the lazy days of summer that he had experienced in his youth.

Summer is coming to a close, but there is still enough time to do some of those things that make summer memorable to a kid. You know, making camp crafts, spending time outside, etc. Summer is such a great time to put screens away and bask in God’s creation.

Psalm 96:11-12 – “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”

On a recent day, two of my grandkids came over and we decided to engage in some easy and fun summer crafts. Here’s what we did:

NATURE HUNT

You’ll need: an empty egg carton, pens and paper, and a list (if desired).

First, my grandson made a Nature Hunt sign and drew some pictures of nature. Cut the paper to the size of the top of an egg carton before you start drawing.

Ann Kirsten

Then, you can either make a list of what the kids need to find or you can just let them grab whatever catches their fancy. List items might include: a leaf, some bark or wood, a rock, a feather, grass, flowers, dirt, seed pods, and a weed. You can easily adjust your list according to what you have in your yard.

Ann Kirsten

Then, just send your kids out with their egg cartons and see what they find! Of course take pictures and send them to grandma and grandpa.

Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.“

COLOR HUNT

You’ll need: an empty egg carton, paint and brushes.

Paint the cups of the egg carton in different colors. We used these colors:

Ann Kirsten

Send the kids out to find things that match the colors. They can ask known neighbors for help. Easy and fun.

Ann Kirsten

Psalm 8:3-4 – “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them?”

NATURE WEAVING

You’ll need: four sticks for each loom, string or twine or yarn, a glue gun is helpful, and miscellaneous plants and flowers.

I found it easier to glue the sticks together in a square or rectangular shape before I tied the corners with twine.

Ann Kirsten

Then create the “warp” (the strings that go up and down). You can use my picture for an idea of how to do it or just wrap it your own way.

Ann Kirsten

Then simply go outside and find things to weave in and out of your warp. Don’t overthink this step, just use whatever catches your fancy. Cut twigs as long as you can but if they don’t reach all the way across just tuck the end in back and start where you left off.

We wove greenery in first.

Ann Kirsten

We added flowers last because their stems don’t have to be so long. You can just take a few weaves to add them in.

Tie a string at the top and you have a nature wall or door hanging!

Psalm 139:13-16 – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb… my frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.”

Looking for more ideas?

Emma Long made this lovely wall hanging. Even with the flowers drying, it still looks so pretty.

Picture courtesy of Emma Long

Last year, My grands and I made “wind sticks”. They still hold a place of honor in a pitcher on top of my bookcase.
Find out how here: Wind Sticks & Whispers of God