By Kim Strader

Enjoy a snow day the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy way by heading outdoors or staying inside to do nature related activities.  Here is a list of fun things to do for young and old alike.  Enjoy!

Photo by Kim Strader

Get Kids Outside:

Look for animal footprints in the snow to find out what animals visit your yard or follow them and see where they go.  YouTube has a number of videos that can help you identify tracks in the snow including opossum, mice, fox and coyote.

Instead of making a snow man make a snow animal.

Dig under the snow to find leaves, twigs and other natural treasures to make a frozen sun catcher in a muffin or pie pan.

When Kids Come Inside to Warm Up:

Learn a little bit about the animals whose footprints you found in the “Animal Tracks” publication.

Make pine cone birder feeders or bird seed cookies to hang in a tree or shrub in your yard and then watch to see who comes to feed.  The “Northern VA Backyard Bird Identification Guide and Checklist” will help you identify your feathered friends.

Color pictures of nature and wildlife by printing off pages from the “Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Coloring Book”.

Test your wildlife knowledge by solving crossword puzzles.  The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has puzzles about Chipmunks, Skunks, and Great Blue Herons.  Each puzzle is accompanied by an article in case you get stumped.

While the Kids Are Busy and You Have a Little Adult Time:

Cold, snowy days are a great time to make garden plans.  Check out Winter Planning for Your Garden, the Loudoun Wildlife list of native plant resources and the new Northern Virginia Wildlife Gardening Database web app to help you select plants.

Choose from an assortment of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy virtual walks and programs to watch.

Take a virtual tour of Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary.

If you are tired of winter or looking for a way to relax after shoveling snow, watch Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy videos featuring photographs taken by our volunteers.  “Finding Peace and Joy in Nature” features spring and early summer scenery while photographs of warmer weather days are featured in “The Nature of Summer and Fall in Loudoun County”.

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