spring

After a long and cold winter, most of us are eager to get outside and play. Getting outside is very important for our mental and physical health and should therefore be made a priority!

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are a great way to keep busy and spend time outside! It can be fun to make the hunt for your family and friends, making it as easy or hard as you want! If you haven’t made a scavenger hunt before, try getting outside for a walk first to figure out what sort of objects are in your area – certain types of leaves, rocks, flowers, animals, and overall environment! The most sustainable way to do the scavenger hunt is to get everyone to take pictures rather than picking and collecting.

Hiking

Another great way to get outdoors is to explore while hiking! We are lucky enough to call this vast country of wilderness our home, why not get out and see it? Hiking is great exercise for strength and endurance – it provides many benefits for overall health. There are countless hikes to choose from in Saskatchewan from easy to moderate to difficult. Listed below are some of the top regions to hike in Saskatchewan:

Meadow Lake Provincial Park
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
Prince Albert National Park

Saskatoon Farmers’ Market

One of the great things about the spring and summer is all the local produce, canned goods, baked goods, and a variety of other goodies. The Saskatoon Famers’ Market is running this year both virtually and in person. The Farmer’s Market is a great way to support our local people, network, and feel part of the community!

Picnic

An easy activity to enjoy the outdoors is picnicking! Picnics are simple but can be a nice and memorable experience. It can be a very fun experience to prepare your picnic basket and head out to an amazing location to enjoy a meal. Try heading out to higher grounds and watch the sun go down as you indulge in some tasty finger foods!

Camping

Camping is definitely one of the best outdoor experiences for people who love the wilderness. Each camping experience is unique and completely customizable based on gear, timeframe, and comfort level. Camping is not only an outdoor escape but is also educational as you learn to build fires, make food with minimal sources, and discover the surrounding flora and fauna.

Spring is in full bloom! The weather is warming up, birds are singing, grass is getting greener, and the winter cold has washed away. Spring is a fresh start and a perfect time to get busy with some fun crafts! The following crafts are great for adults but can be adjusted to a simpler version for kids as well!

Painted Mason Jars / Flower Vases

Painting is always a fun project, but have you ever tried painting a mason jar or flower vase? This can be as simple or as detailed as you would like and is also very kid friendly! Grab some mason jars or flower vases, a range of paint colours, brushes, and get busy! A nice design is to first paint the jar white as a base, let it fully dry, and then add a design on top! Try playing around with spring colours such as yellow, pink, and green. When you are all finished, take a walk to go pick a bouquet of wildflowers to put in your new vases!

Tissue Paper Flowers

If you didn’t get a chance to find some fresh wildflowers for your new vases, why not try to make some cute tissue paper flowers that will last much longer? Tissue paper flowers are simple to make and are a nice touch to add a pop of colour to your home for spring! All you will need are pipe cleaners and tissue paper! Simple how-to below:

Layer about 8-12 pieces of tissue paper of either the same colour or a couple colours that go well together
Using a cup, trace a circle out onto the top sheet of tissue paper and cut it out
Cut two small holes in the center of the layered tissue paper
Take a pipe cleaner, put in through one hole and loop it through the other
Lastly, you just need to scrunch up each layer of the tissue paper, going from the top to bottom
You can also create leaves with extra pipe cleaners

Nature Clay Impressions

Clay impressions are a fun and simple little project but make for beautiful decorations and memories. Before you get started, go for a hike or walk through the outdoors and pick some leaves or plant materials that catch your eye. Be mindful and do research before you pick something – you want to make sure you are not picking a protected flower or plant.

To make the clay, you will need the following:

Flour
Salt
Water

Mix together equal parts flour and salt – add teaspoons of water and continue mixing until a soft, smooth dough is formed. Grab a piece of the mixture and roll in your hands to form a ball. Put the ball down on a sheet of baking paper with flour sprinkled over. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to at least ¼ inch thickness. At this point, you can create any shape you’d like using a cooking cutter.

Once you have prepped your clay to the thickness and shape you want, take your flower or leaf and press it into the clay mould. After, lift the flower or leaf to reveal a nice pattern on the clay. Allow the clay to set by leaving it out for approximately two days in a well-ventilated room. Alternatively, you can bake the clay at 100 degrees for approximately 3 hours. Once the clay impression is dry, you can leave as is or add some paint!

Faux Stained Glass

Stained glass is beautiful but can be fairly expensive so why not try your hand at a faux stained-glass project? There are a variety of ways to make faux stained glass, but using acrylic paint allows for the most intense colour results.

Supplies:

Acrylic paint
1 bottle white glue / 1 bottle clear glue
8×10 photo frame (or other sheet of glass)
Craft blade
Painter’s marker (black tip)
Super glue
Clear acrylic spray sealant
Paint brush

Before you get started, you will need to find a template that you want to use. If it is your first time, try going for a simpler design. Put the printed template underneath the glass and outline the picture with the black painter’s marker straight onto the glass. Once you’ve finished outlining, let the paint dry overnight. The next day, your design will be ready for paint. Mix one colour at a time – with 3 tablespoons of clear glue and a few drops of acrylic paint. Make sure the paint is thick so that the colours show up vibrantly.

Spring is in full swing which means it is the perfect time for a backyard makeover! Upgrades to your backyard don’t need to cost an arm and a leg but can be very budget friendly. There are a few things you can do to make your space look brand new!

Patio

A patio space is the outdoor gathering place for family and friends to share a meal and enjoy each others company. Patios are extremely customizable are can be a fun little design project. To make your patio space more inviting, try throwing some colourful pillows onto the seats. To save extra money, you can stitch together your own throw pillows!

A patio space does not only need to be a table and chairs but can also be created into a lounge and relaxation place. Try adding an outdoor rug, swing chair, hammock, and mood lighting to create something more dynamic. If you create a space that you are proud of, it can inspire you to spend more time outdoors! Laying in a crochet hammock, reading a book, with the gentle summer breeze is a great stress relief and perfect way to take in the freshness of summer!

Walking Path

Walking paths are a simple but cute addition to a backyard space. The path can lead from the back deck to the gate or other features within your backyard. Although you can purchase stepping stones from any home shop, it can be much more fun to make your own path by hand! There are many budget friendly materials to use such as brick, pallet wood, mulch, and gravel. Otherwise, you could try making your own stepping stones out of concrete!

Garden

A garden is a great way to bring some life into your backyard space. Bringing plants into the mix creates an inviting atmosphere. It is also a way to get yourself moving outdoors as it requires quite a bit of maintenance. There are many options for what to grow and can be anything from flowers, to herbs, to vegetable plants.

If you are looking for something a bit lower maintenance, you can install perennials. Perennials are plants that live more than two years are generally come back during the spring or summer. Some ideas for perennials are roses and peonies. If you want the benefit of using perennials for your cooking, try installing rhubarb, asparagus, or chives!

Firepit

A summer spent sitting around a fire is a good summer! The evenings spent with friends or family around a cozy fire, roasting marshmallows, and looking up at the stars make for great summer memories. There are many different options for firepits, but it can be another fun project to DIY, not to mention much cheaper! One of the most popular is to create a circle with stacked bricks and gravel as the base.

Best Outdoor Activities for Spring