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Hey guys,

So something that is nice and simple to do is make your own bird feeders! Making your own birdfeeders is a fun activity that also results in having an afternoon and or morning of bird watching! This is always one of our favorite things to do and we will give you multiple ways to do it. We will also include how to make your own hummingbird solution for if you want to go and buy a hummingbird feeder.

Size of group: any size

Materials Needed: Birdseed, p-nut butter, Toilet paper rolls, ice cream cones (pointed and cups), A plate (paper to put seeds on and a small glass one for another feeder), sugar, water, String/yarn or pipe cleaners, Grape Jelly

Objective: Creativity, Project completion, Learning about new birds, being aware of our surroundings in nature

Description:

The Toilet paper feeder

This feeder is a nice simple feeder and is meant to hang in trees and bushes where birds can sit and enjoy them.

First, you want to cut or poke two holes in the top of the tube one on each side. Now put some string or yarn through the holes and tie it up so you can hang the feeder when we are done.

After this is done you can continue by spreading p-nut butter on the edges of the toilet paper roll and follow that by rolling it in the seed that is spread out on the paper plate. You can also use Cheerios on the feeders as well.

Once the birds have cleaned these off it is best to take it off the tree and throw them out. They will not dissolve or biodegrade.

 

Ice Cream Cone  Feeders

This feeder is basically the same exact thing except these will actually dissolve and you will not have to be cleaned up. This is a good feeder to also set around the yard and have birds swarm everywhere which is really cool to watch.

 

Making our Hummingbird solution

SO for this all you have to do is mix one cup of sugar with 2 cups of water and boil it for about 5-10 minutes. Let the solution cool and pour it into your feeder. It is best to only use a little at a time as if the solution sits out in the sun it tends to go bad. Refill your feeder every 2 to 3 days. Store unused solution in the fridge for up to a week in a separate bottle.

 

Oriole feeders

For the orioles, you can also do a feeder such as a hummingbird feeder but the oriole feeder is orange and not red. The solution is the same for them as well.

Another way to attract orioles is to have a small dish in which you put grape jelly in the center. Place this anywhere in your backyard or on your porch and enjoy the bird watching.

 

This is a fun one we found on Pinterest and the link to the info is below in the Description section of the post. Badger Camp is not the creator of this post

Size of group: any

Materials Needed:

You will need pipe cleaners, clear glue, food coloring, about 8 ounces of alum powder, string, several one-quart mason jars, an old watercolor paint brush, and items from your kitchen to act as dowels for hanging your crystals (like pencils or a wooden spoon)

 

Description:

Original Post/Directions

In the morning, tie a length of string around the end of a chenille pipe cleaner.

Wrap the chenille pipe cleaner around itself until it forms a little ball.

Grab three more pipe cleaners and wrap those around the small ball. Make as many balls on strings as you would like to have crystals.

Using your dowel from the kitchen, create a station where you can hang your chenille balls. In the next step, you will be covering them with glue, so you want your station ready to go so you can hang them. Make sure there is paper towel and a plate under your dowel.

Next, pour a little bit of glue into a disposable paper cup. Dip the chenille ball in the cup. Grab your paintbrush to coat the balls entirely.

Hang your chenille glue balls from the hanging station you created.

As the ball suspend over the paper towel and plate, sprinkle some alum powder over the balls until they are covered. Let it dry for the day.

Step two: later in the day:

With everyone gathered around, add two cups of boiling water in each of your mason jars (adults only for handling the boiling water!). Then add 40 drops of food coloring and stir.

Have your participants stir in ¾ cups of alum powder into the water, ¼ cup at a time. Stir well each time until it is dissolved.

Tie the dried glue ball to a pencil or wooden spoon. Lower the ball into the Mason jar, placing the pencil on top of the jar. Be sure the string is long enough so the ball will be submerged in the water/alum mixture. The ball should be suspended, not touching the sides of the jar.

Now wait till morning!

Step three: The morning’s big reveal!

Because of the intense food coloring, throw on some disposable gloves when reaching in to get out the crystals. Rinse them in the sink and dry them with paper towel.

This is such a bright colorful activity, everyone will love! Not only is it a great activity for spring, but it makes a yummy snack too!

Size of Group: Anyone who is hungry

Materials Needed: All you need for this activity is the bread and some dishes filled with sweetened condensed milk with food coloring and paint brushes.

Objective: Try new foods, Artistic skills, Fun, Something new!

Description:

Everyone paints their bread to make rainbows or pictures. Then blot the bread with a paper towel to remove any excess “paint”

Now pop your painted bread in the toaster. This step is optional, you can just have milk bread if you like but toast is better!

It’s getting warmer out and, soon, summer will be upon us. So, who wouldn’t want something different for an afternoon treat? Refreshing, with real fruit and a unique taste, these might hit the spot.

Size of Group: 1-8

Equipment: 1 cup strawberry yogurt (or flavor that would be desired), 2 cups cereal, 8 bananas, and 8 Popsicle sticks, two bowls, wax paper, and a baking sheet.

Objective: encourage new food options, project completion, peer cooperation.

Description: Cut bananas in half and use sticks or skewers, then dip each banana in the yogurt before dipping them in the cereal. Once done, place on wax paper lined baking sheet and freeze for approximately one hour. Store in an air tight container in the fridge when done.

Welcome the sunlight with these bright colorful suncatchers, made with your favorite Elmer’s glue!

Please note: there is a 48-hour waiting time for glue to harden.

Original Website found here

Ingredients Needed

Elmer’s Glue (Recommend Clear, Translucent, Glitter, or Glow in the Dark)
Cookie Cutters, any shape
Wax paper
Toothpick (optional)
Hole punch
String/yarn
Directions

Lay out a piece of wax paper on a flat surface and place your desired cookie cutter shape on the wax paper.

Squeeze your Elmer’s Glue into the cookie cutter shape until the bottom of the cookie cutter has a nice layer of Elmer’s Glue (about 1/8” worth of glue). Try using different colors of glue in different areas of the cookie cutter for a multi-colored suncatcher or use a toothpick to swirl the colors together for a neat color effect!

Let the glue completely harden in the cookie cutter. This may take up to 48 hours.

Once hardened, remove the cookie cutter.

Use a hole punch at the top of your shape and insert yarn or string to hang your sun catcher on a window! Parents, you may need to hole punch the sun catcher for your younger children.