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Faith-Filled Family Adventures: Exploring Nature and God's Creation During March Break
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- Category: Blog
- Published: Tuesday, 05 March 2024 09:43
What better way to deepen your connection with God, than through His creation? Experience firsthand the wonders of God's handiwork this March Break - either solo, with your friends, or with your family!
Here are some thoughtful and creative outdoor excursions and nature-based activities for families to enjoy during March Break while connecting with God in the midst of nature.
1. Hiking Trails
Explore local hiking trails as a family, immersing yourselves in the beauty of nature. Encourage everyone to take in the sights, sounds, and scents of the outdoors while reflecting on God's handiwork in creation.
Hiking options in the Ottawa area
2. Nature Art
Encourage your family to get creative by using natural materials such as leaves, flowers, and sticks to make nature-inspired art pieces. Take time to reflect on how God reveals Himself through His creation as you work on your art projects together.
3. Outdoor Worship Service
Organize a family worship service in a natural setting such as a park or garden. Bring along instruments, hymnals, and Bibles, and spend time praising God amidst the beauty of His creation.
4. Winter Wildlife Watching
Take your family on a winter wildlife watching excursion to observe animals in their natural habitat. Bundle up and bring along binoculars to spot birds, squirrels, deer, and other creatures as you walk through woods or visit local nature reserves. Use this time to appreciate God's care for all living things and His role as the ultimate Creator.
5. Maple Syrup Farm Visit
Take a trip to a local maple syrup farm or sugar bush to learn about the process of tapping maple trees and producing syrup. Participate in guided tours, taste fresh maple taffy on snow, and enjoy a pancake breakfast with real maple syrup while discussing the ways in which God provides for His creation, even in the midst of winter.
Maple syrup fun in the Ottawa region
6. Winter Astronomy Night
Choose a clear evening during March Break for a family stargazing session. Set up a telescope or binoculars in your backyard or a nearby open space and observe the night sky together, pointing out constellations, planets, and other celestial phenomena while contemplating the vastness of God's creation and the wonders of the universe.
7. Indoor Botanical Garden Visit
If outdoor temperatures are too cold for extended periods, consider visiting an indoor botanical garden or conservatory with your family. Wander through lush tropical gardens, marvel at exotic plants and flowers, and enjoy the warmth and beauty of the indoor environment while reflecting on God's provision and the diversity of His creation.
Tropical Greenhouse at the Central Experimental Farm
8. Winter Bird Feeding Station
Create a bird feeding station in your backyard by hanging bird feeders filled with seeds, nuts, and suet cakes. Set up a comfortable viewing area indoors with binoculars and bird identification books, and spend time together as a family observing and identifying the birds that visit your feeders while discussing God's care for His creation.
9. Winter Forest Bathing Retreat
Embrace the Japanese practice of "Shinrin-yoku" or forest bathing by organizing a family retreat in a nearby forest. Bundle up warmly and spend time wandering through the woods at a slow pace, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest while meditating on God's presence in the natural world.
10 best hikes near Ottawa to explore magical forests
10. Ice Lantern Night Walk
Create magical ice lanterns by freezing water in balloons, then placing tea light candles inside once the ice is solid. As dusk falls, take a family night walk through a local park or forest illuminated by the soft glow of your homemade ice lanterns, reflecting on the light of Christ shining in the darkness.
11. Winter Bible Verse Scavenger Hunt
Create a winter-themed scavenger hunt for your family with clues inspired by classic fairy tales or biblical stories. Bundle up and venture outdoors to search for hidden treasures and solve riddles while reflecting on the themes of redemption, adventure, and God's faithfulness found in these tales.
Outdoor Bible verse scavenger hunt
12. Frozen Bubble Fun
On a particularly cold day, venture outside with a bottle of bubble solution and blow bubbles into the frigid air. Watch in amazement as the bubbles freeze and crystallize before your eyes, reflecting on the transient beauty of life and the wonder of God's creative handiwork.
