Winter Bucket List

Winter is here (tomorrow!) and the most magical days outside are ahead of us! Adjusting to the colder temps can be a challenge, especially for the youngest explorers. Ease into it and don't put a time minimum for how long you're outside. It may only be 10-15 minutes at a time/day, and 0 minutes other days, and that's okay!

Use this bucket list to spark your own outdoor adventures this season—keeping wonder, imagination, and creativity at the heart of it all.

Go Ice Skating

We have been to several indoor spots, JFK Coliseum in Manchester and the Everett Arena in Concord. This year we want to visit Dorr's Pond and other outdoor spots to skate!

Go Sledding

Gather with friends, family or neighbors and sled the afternoon away. Warm up inside after with hot cocoa.

Make Winter Wonder Mobiles

Grab an old sheet tray, pie tin or muffin tins and fill with nature treasures and water. Place a piece of twine so you can hang them after they've been frozen (optional.) Freeze in the freezer or outside if it's cold enough and decorate your yard or park!

make a snow friend

Snow friend, snowman, snowwoman; however you identify this magical creature it's a classic way to play in the snow! Big, small, round, square - decorate them with nature treasures or maybe even eco-friendly paint!

Try a new cookie recipe

Maybe you dig deep into your grandma's archives or swap recipes with a friend! Share at a cookie swap, gift to the helpers or eat them yourself!

visit a new greenspace

Join the Outdoor Bandits Facebook group and maybe you'll discover a path you haven't walked before!

go for a walk during a snow storm

Pure magic. Do I have to say more?

notice the nests in the bare trees

Winter is the perfect time to count the nests in the trees! Wonder out loud who lives in them, what materials are they made of?

donate gear that no longer fits

Gift to a friend, Families in Transition, or another organization that serves families needing extra support this winter.

play in the mud

Yes, even in the snow!

elf your neighbors

Surprise a neighbor or friend with an elf bag! It can be something as simple as a handmade holiday card or something more elaborate like a hot cocoa kit. You don't have to elf all your neighbors, pick 1 or 2 to spread joy and encourage them to do the same!

soak up the sun

We need our vitamin D in winter especially and it can be harder to get with less time spent outside. Despite the cold, commit to soaking up some sun each day; it'll keep your immune system strong and send fuzzy, happy thoughts to your brain.

Do something every day to make the world a better place

Bring a meal to a friend, help a neighbor shovel, write thank-you notes or bring treats to your local helpers. Simple acts make ripples in your community and beyond.

Bonus! Join us for our 2nd annual, winter solstice circle!