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Blog Entries - Outdoor Play

A young blonde girl and a younger blonde  boy peek out from a wooden structure. The girl is wearing a green coat and the boy is wearing a blue coat.

The Magic of the PlayScape

by Abbie Rinehart, Member The Cincinnati Nature PlayScape is a magical place to inspire wonder and curiosity in children and relaxation in their parents. We first discovered the PlayScape just after it opened 10 years

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Photo of a white woman looking at the camera. She has long brown hair framing her face and is wearing a green shirt. A taxidermy skunk is being held in front of her face.
Me, as a volunteer at a station about skunks

Growing Up in Nature

by CB, a staff member Long before I came to work at Cincinnati Nature Center, I grew up here. As a kid, a neighbor would frequently bring me and my best friend (her daughter) to the Nature Center. We’d tell stories

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supplies needed to fish for leaves

At Home with Nature: Fishing the Old Fashioned Way (Ages 5-12)

Pretend fishing is a fun way to get children outside and practicing their concentration. Younger children may need supervision and help to make sure they are playing safely and having

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nest in tree

At Home with Nature: Nest Building (Ages 2-5)

Children can have lots of fun mimicking the creativity of birds and building with natural objects! You’ll need: A nature space to find building materials and an “egg” (a stone, pinecone, or other egg-shaped

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bee on flower
Photo by Lisa Sears

At Home with Nature: Phenology Journal (All Ages)

Spring brings fresh changes outside, making it the perfect time to look at phenology, the study of seasonal changes in nature. You’ll need: A journal, a pencil, and a spot outdoors you can return to

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young boy pretend cooking with mud

At Home with Nature: Mud Kitchen (Ages 2-5)

You’ll need: Old kitchen utensils, a pile of soil, and a bin of water.   Optional extras: Paper and markers to make your own menu. Mix the water and soil together, either in the bin or on the ground, and let your

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