The post below is sponsored by the Michigan Wildlife Council. All opinions belong to me.
The cooler weather is quickly approaching, so now is the time to start squeezing in those outdoor adventures before the ground is constantly frozen!
A common misconception about playing outside while it’s cold is it makes kids sick, yet quite the opposite is true. When kids are inside all the time, they miss out on sunlight, which can decrease their levels of vitamin D and melatonin, which can negatively impact their immune system, making it harder to fight off any viruses they may come into contact with. My point? Bundle up and GET OUTSIDE.
Lucky for us, Michigan’s natural resources offer plenty of options for outdoor adventure. With more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, 11,000 inland lakes, tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, and nearly 20 million acres of forest land, there are plenty of opportunities for every interest.
Here are some ideas for fun that can be enjoyed during this fall-to-winter transition period:
15 Activities To Enjoy in Late Fall
- Plan a nature-themed scavenger hunt {look for red leaves, brown leaves, mushrooms, certain types of birds, etc. Bring a notebook and record what you see!}
- Take a walk and identify nature with the iNaturalist app
- Enjoy a bonfire with smores
- Have a leaf photo/video session
- Take a scenic drive to check out fall colors
- Build a fort from sticks {best during this time of year when sticks are visible!}
- Feed the birds and deer {salt blocks and carrots are inexpensive}
- Watch the sunrise or sunset on a clear day
- Rake leaves…and play in them too! Try making a leaf maze for starters!
- Have a lawn game tournament with friends (i.e. ladder golf or corn hole)
- Go geocaching
- Make a craft with leaves {just grab contact paper from the dollar store to make these!}
- Hike a new trail you haven’t visited before {the AllTrails app can help!}
- Instead of just shopping on Black Friday, check out the #OptOutside movement, and plan a family adventure in the outdoors
- Take your child hunting to experience the peacefulness of the woods. Michigan’s firearm season runs Nov. 15-30. While deer hunting season lasts only a few weeks, Michigan benefits from it year-round. From economic to environmental aid, hunting provides statewide benefit and also plays a vital role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
Check out this page for more ideas on places to hike, fish, hunt, camp and more in Michigan, and learn more about the Michigan Wildlife Council on their website | Facebook | Twitter.
I love taking Nature Walks and pointing out things that we don’t see in the summer! (birds nest now exposed in tree branches, etc).
I’ve had the DNR Center on my list since you blogged about it. Hopefully I can make it there on a snowy day soon. Thank you for all the great ideas to keep Marlo and I busy and exploring!
I like this time of year because of all the Holiday foods- such as pumpkin pie,turkey,dressing,and special desserts.
My kids and I enjoy watching and playing in the first snow in late fall. Especially if I don’t have to drive in it!
The first snow!