5 Nature Crafts and Winter Walks for Seattle-Area Families

Kids know winter is coming when the air turns chilly on the playground and the days get shorter, then shorter still. Trees know it, too, and they stop photosynthesizing. As water and green chlorophyll slowly disappear from their leaves, other colors such as deep crimson, fiery orange and mellow yellow that had been hidden become the stars of the show. Once leaves fall to the ground, these bold hues will gradually fade to brown, so snatch them up quickly. It’s fun to count how many different colors and types of leaves you can find.

To press leaves, sandwich them in a single layer between two sheets of newspaper, then lay each of these parcels flat in between or within big, heavy books stacked atop one another. The more books you have, the more leaves you can press. After a week or two, check on them; your leaves should be ready to come out and be crafted or displayed. Try taping them to windows, arranging them into a seasonal centerpiece or making a collage you can frame — be creative!

Where to go for inspiration: To find colorful leaves in autumn, you’ll want to choose a path lined with lots of different kinds of deciduous trees. Head to Kubota Garden in South Seattle for a variety of leaves from different species of Japanese maples. Tacoma’s Wright Park on the south end of the Stadium District features winding paths around 100 native and exotic species of trees in a 27-acre arboretum. The collection includes a red oak planted in 1903 in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. For native bigleaf maple and vine maple leaves, head to the kid-friendly Twin Falls Trail at Olallie State Park near North Bend.

Next up: sketch or paint