Autumn, with its crisp air and vibrant colors, is the perfect time of year to go for a nature walk with your nieces and nephews. There are so many projects that tie into a nature walk and so many things to see and talk about that it's a real treat to be outdoors. Your nature walk can take place in a park, on a nature trail, or even in your own back yard or playground -- all you need to do is go outdoors and observe what you see! 

While on your walk, take the time to point out to the kids the nature that surrounds them.  Depending on the age of your nieces and nephews, what you discuss can range from just pointing out pretty colors to the little ones to discussing basic science concepts with the older ones.  Give each child a bag before you go so that they can keep all the items they collect along the way. Make sure they take home lots of colorful leaves, twigs and acorns so that they can be used in autumn crafts projects when you get home.

Keep the children’s nature walk bounty at your place so you can do fun craft projects when they come visit. Below are some suggested crafts choose the ones that best match your nieces and nephews age and skill level.

Leaf Collecting and Sorting
have the kids put the leaves into groups of small, medium and large leaves. They can also sort by color and type of leaf.

Leaf Mobile
Glue colorful and different leaves to both sides of several pieces of heavy paper. Cut around the leaf, tracing the leaf shape. Tie a string on each leaf. Suspend the leaves from a small branch. Hang where the leaves will catch the breeze and flutter.

Leaf Rubbing
To help your nieces and nephews notice the veins in leaves and the different shapes of leaves, let them place a variety of leaves (underside up) under a piece of light colored construction paper. Using the sides of crayons that have had the paper covering removed, children can make crayon rubbing of the leaves.
Nature Collage

This project shows children how to collect items from the ground without damaging the environment. Collect twigs, leaves, small pine cones, nuts... etc. glue onto tag and help your nieces and nephews label and identify all the items on the boars.

Nature Bookmark
Need construction paper, contact paper, leaves and scissors cut construction paper into 3x6 inches have them collect leaves and other nature items on their nature walk. Your nieces and nephews can arrange the leaves onto the contact paper. Put the construction paper over the contact paper and cut around the edges.

Leaf Necklace
Using colored construction paper, outline and cut out many leaf shapes using fall colors. Have your nieces and nephews decorate with markers and crayons. Laminate the leaves (optional), then punch a hole in the stems, and with string or yarn, and have them thread them on to make their very own Fall Leaf Necklace.