Wow, what a week. This blogger is in need of some F-U-N! How about you?!

Today, I give you a  mini round-up of some great ideas from friends around the web. Just a few resources to help inspire us to get ourselves and the children in our world off the sofa and out into nature — this weekend and beyond!

WHY NOT:

• Be a citizen scientist and help out Cornell researchers in their study of ladybug species — join the Lost Ladybug Project!
• Create your own Bug World with @goexplorenature
• Build a fort with Lori @campcreek
• Make a water wall with Jenny @preschoolplay

Remember, it doesn’t matter what you do — just get outside and reconnect with your wild side!

See ya outside!  The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: eyeliam

OK, who’s with me?! I am ready to let my hair down and have some fun. Too much work and not enough living.

So, let’s remedy that. Let’s get our #playoutdoors on! 

Why not…

• Explore plants in the garden with this activity sheet from Kidsgardening.org
• Check out the outdoor games featured on Kaboose — and kick up your heals with some backyard fun!
• Challenge yourself to get creative in the garden with this idea (and more!) for recycling soda bottles!
• Take a trip to your local farmers market — most should be in swing by now. Find one near you.

As always, it doesn’t matter what you do — just unplug and get outside.

There is a whole gorgeous planet out there just waiting for you. Seriously.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

Now typically, I beat the drum about getting outside on Fridays, but I am hoping that with the combo of what can only be called The World’s Longest Winter and the addition of another hour of daylight thanks to daylight savings time, I don’t really need to.

Hopefully, you and the children in your world will just rush right outside and see what Mother Nature has cookin‘. (And, for a little inspiration in that department, check out these gorgeous pictures from my friend Robin and her boys’ recent #playoutdoors adventure!)

But, just in case, why not…

• Get diggin! Head to the closest sandbox, start some flower boxes, or even just dig a hole in the backyard and play archeologist. Bury a few trinkets and see where your imagination leads you. Just get dirty and have fun!
• Go follow a stream! Check out this fun idea from my friend Mel at Your Wild Child.
• See what spring programs your local nature center has to offer. Something on spring peepers or birds & buds?! Most areas have free or low-cost programming going on. Check out Nature Find to find an event near you!

As always, it doesn’t matter what you do — just get out there and have some fun. Fill those shiny new 60 minutes of daylight with wonder and magic!

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: Micah Sittig

Let admit it: the season of elastic waistbands is upon us. So, Frolic Friday takes on a whole new meaning — a way to help us get moving, too!

This weekend, why not…

• Sign-up for a local Turkey Trot run/walk. Even if you aren’t in optimal shape, walking a 5 K is doable.
• Set up a family chalk walk. Send the kids out with sidewalk chalk and have them draw a line path around the neighborhood. They can make squiggly lines, zig-zags, or have you going in circles! Then, just follow the lines to family fun!
• Take a animal tracking hike. Lots of areas have had rain or even snow, which is perfect weather to look for tracks. The beach is also a great place to look for tracks. Birds, squirrels, raccoons, or deer — you never know what you might find! What to add a story into the activity? Read: Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 1) For older children, check out this great tracking activity from Nature Skills.Com.

As always, it doesn’t matter what you do — just get outside and play! Use you outdoor voice. Belly laugh. Reconnect with nature. Relax.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

]]> http://grassstainguru.com/2009/11/20/frolic-friday-turkey-trot-edition/feed/ 15 Turkey http://grassstainguru.com/2009/10/23/frolic-friday-p-is-for-pumpkin/ http://grassstainguru.com/2009/10/23/frolic-friday-p-is-for-pumpkin/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:12:52 +0000 Bethe http://grassstainguru.com/?p=3216

Happy Frolic Friday! Time to play, and what better time of year to get outside and celebrate the beauty of nature?

I will admit it: I am gaga for gourds. Girl loves a pumpkin patch like nobody’s business.

Orange for as far as the eye can see. Tall ones. Short ones. Fat ones…I am giddy just thinking about it.

They call to me, begging to be carved into jack-o-lanterns, baked into pies and bread, and made into savory soups. I even get lots of tiny ones to keep on the table — little orange balls of happiness.

This weekend, why not…

• Visit a local pumpkin patch and let each member of the family pick out their own prized pumpkin. After all, beauty is in the eye of the gourd-holder, so to speak. Find a pumpkin patch or corn maze near you.
• Carve a cool wildlife-themed pumpkin! WWF has great stencils you can download for free. You can even make a solar powered jack-o-lantern. How cool is that?!
• Let’s admit it — squirrels love pumpkins! If you have never had your jack-o-lantern hijacked by one, just wait. Roast a few seeds and sit back and enjoy the show!

Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout-out to another pumpkin lover. Another sure sign of fall: Linus and The Great Pumpkin. Enjoy!

As always, it does not matter what you do, just get outdoors this weekend and have some fun.

And yes, you can call me pumpkin. I won’t mind a bit.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

“Trees are your best antiques.”

~ Alexander Smith

Happy Frolic Friday! It’s time to put on your sneakers or hiking boots, and get out there and enjoy some much-needed time in nature. This weekend, make sure to make time away from chores and errands to play and recharge your batteries.

Why not…

• Plant a tree! Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs, so get diggin’.
• Hug a tree! That’s right — I said hug. This is a classic activity to do with kids or even groups of adults.
• Get crafty and make leaf rubbings. I don’t care how old I get, this is still one of my favorite activities!

As always, it doesn’t matter what you do, just get outside and play this weekend. Mother Nature is waiting…

Now if you will excuse me, I am off to find the world’s most perfect maple leaf.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: di_the_huntress

Get outside and PLAY!

It’s been a long week, hasn’t it? But as luck would have it, it’s Frolic Friday. Time to put some spring back into your step and get outside for some serious play time.  Shake off the work week, and if their kids in your world, make sure they get outside and explore the world around them. After all, it’s far better than any virtual world a game developer could ever cook up. Real trees to climb, real kites to fly, and beautiful trails to hike.

Why not…

• Go mountain biking or roller blading;
• Try your hand at birdwatching;
• Or, check-out one of the many summer festivals happening this time of year.

As always, it doesn’t matter what you do — just unplug, reconnect with your friends and family, and get outside and have some fun. Mother Nature is the original Cruise Director — she knows how to have a good time!

Now, if you will excuse me, there is a fishing pole with my name on it.

See ya outside! – The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: quinn.anya

Hooray! It’s Frolic Friday — time to kick off our shoes and get down to the business of fun! You have a hall pass from “Life” and chores for a bit. The only thing that is on your schedule is recharging those batteries.

Why not…

• Rent a canoe or paddle boat at a park near you;
• Go fishing and swap stories about the one that got away; or
• Spend some time trying to master the time-honored tradition of skipping stones.

A day by the water is such a treat. Relaxing and beautiful. Pack a picnic and a pair of binoculars if you have them. As always, it doesn’t matter what you do, just take the time to enjoy life and let yourself play. Remember, it is your right!

Now, if you will excuse me, I have a picnic to pack. I always bring too much food, so feel free to join me!

See ya outside! – The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: susteph