I recently hosted a Painting with Nature party at my house for our local Hiking with Tots group, which I help lead. I set everything up with canvases and paint, and let the kids gather their own “paintbrushes” from around the backyard—sticks, leaves, pine needles, flowers, whatever inspired them.

It was messy, creative, and so much fun. The kids dove right into their projects, and even the chickens wandered through to supervise and add to the entertainment. Everyone—feathered and otherwise—had a great time getting colorful!