Even if you only have a backyard, you can still connect with nature. Try these activities that don’t require much land to do.

Items tagged with BACKYARD

Do a Streamside Health Checkup

Find out if your streamside areas are healthy and what to do to care for them with this easy-to-use self-assessment.

Install a Bluebird Box

New York's bluebird population has dropped 90% due to pesticides, shortage of natural nesting cavities, and competition from sparrows and starlings. You can help! Install a bluebird nesting box on your woodlot so these colorful songbirds can raise their families.

Install a Trail Camera

Animals have better senses than we do, and they can be skittish when they know a human is nearby. A well-placed trail camera can take pictures of elusive wildlife without you needing to be there.

Learn Bird Calls

Beauty isn’t just in what you see. By learning common bird songs and calls, you can tune in to your woodlot’s beautiful sounds as well.

Learn Tick Prevention Best Management Practices

Protect yourself against Lyme disease by avoiding tick bites and checking yourself for ticks after coming in from the outdoors.

Learn What to Look For

Scenic views. Burbling streams. Old stone walls. Check out these special places on other woodlots to get some fresh ideas for your own.

Make a Clay Leaf Bowl

In this activity, you’ll use air-dry clay to perfectly preserve the veins and shapes of a leaf in the form of a small, shallow bowl.

Make a Tree Stump Planter

If you cut down a tree in your yard, getting rid of the stump can be a real pain. Instead of grinding it up, this project repurposes that stump into a small flowerbed.

Make a Tree Stump Table

Have a leftover tree stump from an old yard, firewood, or timber harvest tree? Put it to use by making a rustic end table.

Make Leaf-Print Fabric

Create your own nature-themed fabrics for a variety of sewing projects using this kid-friendly technique.

Nurture My Beautiful Plants

Which plants on your woodlot most catch your eye? Create a list and take pictures of the flowers, bushes, or trees you enjoy the most. You can encourage, showcase, and add more of these plants over time.

Star Gaze on My Woodlot

Your woodlot is more than a retreat from the fast-paced modern world. It's also an escape from the bight city lights that obscure the heavens. Pick a clear, moonless night and enjoy the show.

Tap a Maple Tree

You don’t need to tap hundreds of trees to make maple syrup. Even tapping one tree can net you enough syrup to last several months.

Watch, Listen and Learn

The best way to learn about the life on your woodlot is get out there and see it for yourself. Learn what to look for, where to find it, and how to increase your chances of seeing it.