What kind of wild, imaginary animals can you make out of pine cones? Try our pine cone creatures craft and find out!

What You’ll Need:

For each creature, you’ll need one large pine cone. You’ll also need an assortment of decorations (old buttons, scrap cloth, pipe cleaners, real or plastic flowers.)

What I noticed is that feathers work really well. Also the google eyes are a nice add on.  Beads work well for shoes or other decorations.

Use these decorations to turn the pine cone into an imaginary animal. Pipe cleaners work well for creating legs. When you’re done, give your creature a name, and make up a story about them.

Well after you have created your pine cone creature take a picture and post it on the web site for others to see what your imagination has to offer!! The more creative the better!!!

Dinner Time in Eagle River, Wisconsin These people living in Northern Wisconsin put some corn out in the dead of winter to sustain the area deer. When I said the deer up here were as thick as cats and dogs, I wasn’t far off. Wisconsin community of Eagle River.

Kids can have fun outdoors collecting leaves then take their creativity indoors with this pressed leaves place mat. This traditional fall craft includes elements of cut and paste as well as collage.

What you’ll need:

How to make it:

Tips:
If you have trouble trying to work two sheets of Con-Tact paper, then adhere the first sheet of Con-Tact paper to a piece of construction paper cut slightly smaller than the Con-Tact. Next place the leaves on the construction paper and cover with the second sheet of Con-Tact paper. Trim if necessary.

If there are no fallen leaves you can use cut outs from magizines, or old pictures!!! Make them your own. You can add twists to them by adding glitter, construction paper cut outs, grasses work well, feathers, its up to your imagination!!!

Once you have completed your place mats take a picture and post them to the web site for others to enjoy!!!

Thanks!!

If I were a photographer, I would travel the world taking pictures of all the wonderful sites in Nature. Head outside and see what your “camera” captures!

For this one you’ll need a friend, buddy, parent or sibling.
Materials: Nothing just you and your buddy
Time: About ten minuets
Directions: Ok, here’s what you do. Head outside to a grassy area such as a field or school ground. You are going to act as a photographer on a safari and your partner will act as your camera. Once you get to an area have your partner close his or her eyes. You then lead them to a unique feature in nature. (A flower, leaf cutter pattern or wood line) Make sure that it’s not a feature that moves such as a bird. Position your “camera” to take a “picture” by posing their head arms and legs. Tap your “camera” (gently on the shoulder) to have him open his “shutter”(eyes). They may look only at what is in front of them and only for ten seconds. Once time is up they must close their “shutter” again and are led away by the photographer. Once finished, see if the camera can find his/her “picture” in nature again.

Hey all, we’ve uploaded photos from the Youth Village at 2009 Pheasant Fest in Madison, WI. We had a blast and look forward to seeing everyone again next year in Des Moines!