DIY Nature Birthday

If your little one loves the outdoors (or even if you just want to take advantage of the great weather), try a birthday party with a nature theme. Not only will this get your guests outside and moving, the every day materials makes it perfect for DIY and easy on your wallet.

Invitations: Get your guests in the nature spirit by sending invitations in the shape of a leaf. If you are feeling extra creative, gather large leaves (or buy artificial). Print the party information on card stock small enough to fit on a leaf. Glue each card to a leaf, then laminate to keep the leaves from falling apart as they dry. Encourage guests to dress in comfortable clothing and shoes, and let them know they will be spending time outdoors.

Decorations: If the weather permits, host your party outside. Use nature as your backdrop, adding leaves, rocks, feathers, etc. for decorations. If you wish, focus on a certain animal for your party, such as squirrels, raccoons, or owls (or use all of them for a forest theme). Collect or buy medium sized rocks with interesting shapes and place one at each guests' place at the table for a future activity.

Cake: Bake a sheet cake and decorate with a forest theme. Ice the cake with green frosting, then add plastic animals and trees for a nature scene. Gumdrops can be used for rocks and crushed graham crackers or Oreos can stand in for dirt.

Snacks: Use this opportunity to serve healthy snacks to your guests. Make trail mix with nuts (be aware of choking hazards to young children, as well as allergies), pretzels, chocolate chips, yogurt chips, and raisins. Serve a fruit tray, or try ants on a log using celery spread with peanut butter and raisins.

Activities: Go on a nature hike with the guests. Give each child a plastic or paper bag and encourage them to gather nature materials during the walk, such as rocks, leaves, twigs, feathers or pinecones. When you return, give each child a large piece of paper, markers, crayons and glue and allow them to make a nature collage using the materials they gathered.

Give each child a rock that you gathered before the party. Using markers, googly eyes, yarn, etc., have the guests make a pet rock to take home.

For another activity, have the guests make bird feeders to take home. Spread peanut butter on a large pinecone, then roll in birdseed. Attach a loop of string to the top for hanging.

Goodie Bags: Fill goodie bags with items that will encourage the guests to spend time outside after the party. Include things such as flower seed packets, a bug catcher, sidewalk chalk, or a nature journal.

These are just a few of the many ideas that can go along with a nature birthday theme. The materials for decorations are endless, and are limited only to your imagination. Personalize decorations and activities to go along with your neck of the woods (or desert, or mountains) and you'll create a unique party to remember.