at Merck Forest—in

Summertime fun

your back yard—or in your local park!

• Spread out a blanket and watch the clouds… what shapes can you see?

• Collect tree leaves and make rubbings of them with crayons.

• Catch some fireflies in a glass jar… and be sure to let them go!

• Learn some constellations.

• Stay up late and watch for a meteorite shower.

• String a hammock up, and settle in to read a book.

• Make a campfire and roast marshmallows or make s’mores.

• Get up early to watch the sunrise and listen to the birds singing.

• Plant some flower seeds in a pot, water them, and watch them grow.

• Set out a hummingbird feeder.

• Skip rocks in a pond.

• Go wading in a stream.

• Pitch a tent in your backyard and camp out.

• Stomp in a mud puddle.

• Run in the rain.

• Watch a thunderstorm from a safe place.

• Collect leaves and make a bouquet.

• Have a friend cast a shadow and fill in the shadow with rocks, flowers, and other items of interest.

• Make a hopscotch board with chalk on the pavement or use a stick in a dirt driveway.

• Play a game of flashlight tag.

• Find a hill and watch the sunset.

• Make a fort...out of sticks, or an old blanket, or in a shrubby part of your yard.

• Using painter’s tape, wrap a piece, sticky side out around your wrist. Pick flowers and leaves and stick them to the tape. When done, cut the tape and save it, along with the flowers and greens.