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The Through The Trees team has been working hard to create some brand new ways for you to engage with us online. Today’s Challenge is to check out the new programs on our website! We have programs for all ages to help guide you to connect with yourself, nature and our wonderful community.

We are so grateful to be able to share what we love with all of you!

Today’s Nature Connection Challenge is to head outside and build a debris shelter or fort. Use sticks and brush you can find to create a fun place to find some shelter. Maybe even have a picnic lunch in your shelter!

We’d love to see what you create - share pictures of your shelter or fort with us!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 19 - Mixing Mud Potions

It’s another rainy day in Maine, but that won’t keep us inside because it’s the perfect day to make some magical mud potions! Grab a cooking pot, small bucket or a bowl and a spoon and let your kiddo have fun mixing together leaves, mud, water, sticks, and acorns. Be sure to share your muddy magic with us on Facebook or Instagram!

Nature Connection Challenge Day 18 - Jump in a Puddle!

Today’s challenge is to embrace this rainy day and get outside with full intention of getting wet. Find the biggest puddle you can find and go for it!! After some fun splashing, jumping and romping around, come inside to cozy up with a nice warm drink.

We’d love to see your soggy pics!!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 17 - Thank The Earth

Today’s Challenge is to focus on being thankful for all the Earth provides for us:

• Find a spot to sit or lay on the Earth. Feel free to bring a blanket or yoga mat to sit or lay on if that supports you. If you are unable to go out, sit or lay inside and use your imagina…

Our nature challenge for today is to build a fairy house using natural material: sticks, rocks, pine needles, leaves, shells. This is a fun and whimsical way to enjoy nature, for children and adults alike! You never know who you might find inhabiting your fairy house, so keep your eyes open!

Nature Connection Challenge Day 15 - Exploring the Sense of Touch

Touch:
Find a place (can be outdoors or inside) where you can be relaxed and feel safe. Just noticing. Take a few deep breaths. It may take a few moments to fully arrive in the moment, give yourself permission to fully arrive.

• Close your eyes or if you prefer, slightly close them.

• Feel how the earth below your feet/body supports you and how you are surrounded by other living things... how your thoughts arise and fall awa…

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 14 - Do Nothing

In the Tao Te Ching, the ancient philosopher Lao Tzu introduced the beautiful concept of Wu Wei. It is most often translated to mean non-doing, but encompasses the idea of acting without hurry or excessive effort. Essentially it means to go with the flow of what life gives you. Lao Tzu said that if you practice Wu Wei, “everything will fall into place.”

Life in the modern a…

Nature Connection Challenge Day 13 - Tracking

Happy Sunny Saturday Everyone!!

Today’s challenge is for you to go see if you can find some animal tracks. The animals are moving a lot and the ground is nice and moist. As you look for tracks, look at your surroundings and see if there are any clues as to where you might find tracks. Is there a water source an animal would likely go to get a drink?

Let us know if you have any luck finding tracks - we’d love to hear from you!!

Today’s challenge is to identify Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), and if you like, harvest a handful of Wintergreen leaves to make tea.

Wintergreen is a hardy ground cover (grows and sprawls out low to the ground), and even in winter you could dig under the snow to find and use it for tea. Many of the shiny, leathery, oval-shapped leaves turn a reddish color in late fall and winter and may also have red berries from the previous summer. Wi…