MommyPoppins.com
MAKE YOUR DAY
Get Listed Log In Sign Up My Profile Sign out Contact
Chicago
  • Anywhere
  • New York City
  • Dallas Fort Worth
  • Atlanta
  • Boston
  • Chicago
  • Houston
  • Miami South Florida
  • Philadelphia
  • Washington DC
  • Orlando
  • Los Angeles
  • San Francisco Bay Area
  • Connecticut
  • Long Island
  • New Jersey
  • Westchester
Get Listed Log In Sign Up My Profile Sign out Contact

HOME - Chicago

Activity Calendar

Providers

Calendar  
  • Events

  • This Week's Picks

  • Activity Providers

  • Submit an Activity

Chicago Guide  
  • Parks & Playgrounds

  • Free Activities

  • Restaurants

Things To Do  
  • Crafts for Kids

  • Recipes

  • Science for Kids

  • Games & Activities

  • Outdoors

  • Online & Virtual

Camps & Classes  
  • Camps Guide

  • Classes Guide

  • Directory

Parties & Holidays  
  • Gift Guide

  • Birthday Parties

  • Party Providers

  • Holidays

  • Spring Guide

  • Summer Guide

  • Fall Guide

  • Winter Guide

Family Travel  
  • Day Trips

  • Family Vacations

  • Theme & Water Parks

  • Resorts & Hotels

  • Midwest Guide

  • NYC Guide

  • New England Guide

  • California Guide

Contact

Sign up for our free newsletters.
Fat Shallot has kid-friendly food near Lincoln Park Zoo. Photo courtesy of the Fat Shallot
Best Cheap Places to Eat in Chicago for Kids & Families (Under $10!) — Recs From Locals
Visit the Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago. Photo by Maureen Wilkey
Free Museum Days (and Always Free Museums!) in Chicago
Free activities for kids in Chicago include the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is always free. Photo courtesy of the museum via Facebook
GUIDE
Guide to Free Things To Do in Chicago with Kids
Tiny Picassos can enjoy different activities every day at the Art Institute’s Family Room. Photo by Maureen Wilkey, for Mommy Poppins
25 Free Things To Do Indoors in Chicago: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
An offbeat Chicago museum makes a fun outing for teenagers. Photo courtesy of the WNDR Museum
Chicago's Best Indoor Places for Tweens and Teens To Hang Out
Frosty Fest  is free this January in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Gurnee Park District
Top Free Things To Do with Kids in Chicago in January 2026, According to MP Editors
Snow tubing is a favorite winter activity in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Canva
Chicago's Winter Bucketlist: 33 Things to Do this Winter in Chicago with Kids
Enjoy a kid-friendly tube fest at Sunburst Ski Hill. Photo courtesy of Sunburst Ski Hill
Best Snow Tubing Near Chicago for Families in 2025
Rack up those Scout Badges at these Chicago institutions. Photo courtesy of Canva.
Best Places in Chicago Where Kids Can Earn Scout Badges
Try a hands-on museum for the whole family. Photo by Kyle Flubacker courtesy of the WNDR Museum
Things to Do in Chicago That Everyone Will Love—From Toddlers to Teens (and Parents Too!)
You can easily spend all day at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Photo by the author
Brookfield Zoo Chicago: Tips and Tricks for Visiting with Kids
See what swims by at the Shedd Aquarium. Beluga photo courtesy of the Illinois Tourism Board.
The Best Zoos and Aquariums for Chicago Kids 2025
Photo courtesy of Enchanted Castle.
Best Kid-Friendly Arcades in Chicago
If your teens enjoy pottery, then MADE Chicago in Bucktown is the spot.
Best Crafting Parties for Teens in Chicago
Teen Saturdays at Chicago Architecture Center. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Center.
Teen Museum Programs in Chicago: Internships, Workshops, and More
Places to celebrate your baby before the smash cake. Photo by Kelly Patino for Mommy Poppins
Best Places to Celebrate a First Birthday in Chicago
Cooking classes for kids in Chicago. Photo courtesy of The Kid's Table
Cooking Classes for Kids in Chicago: A Baker's Dozen of the Best Culinary Experiences in the City and Suburbs
Try one of these local businesses for a fun and unique birthday party. Photo courtesy of Ultimate Ninjas
Only in Chicago: Unique Birthday Party Ideas for Kids
​Launch is a Chicago trampoline park with bowling and an arcade, too. Photo courtesy of Visit Lake County
Trampoline Parks in Chicago to Burn Energy Indoors
FIND AND BOOK ACTIVITIES
calendar icon
This Week In
Chicago
RAIN: For Babies and Their Carers
Filament Theater - various times Pick
Sensory-Friendly Time at Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build a Bear Workshops Chicago area locations - 10:00 AM
Mini Music at Wayfair with Miss Jamie's Farm
Wayfair Chicago - 11:00 AM
Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink
Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink - various times
Brookfield Zoo Free Days
Brookfield Zoo - various times
RAIN: For Babies and Their Carers
Filament Theater - various times Pick
I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit
Chicago Childrens Museum - 10:00 AM
Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink
Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink - various times
Blast Off to Outer Space Museum Takeover at Wonder Works
Wonder Works Children's Museum - various times
Vivid Creatures at the Morton Arboretum
Morton Arboretum - various times
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Free Neighborhood Tour
Various Locations - various times Pick
Disney On Ice: Jump In at the Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena - various times Pick
The Three Little Pigs at Beverly Arts Center
Beverly Arts Center - 10:30 AM
I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit
Chicago Childrens Museum - 10:00 AM
Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink
Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink - various times
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Free Neighborhood Tour
Various Locations - various times Pick
Disney On Ice: Jump In at the Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena - various times Pick
Peter Pan at Chicago Kids Company
Stahl Family Theatre - 10:30 AM
The Three Little Pigs at Beverly Arts Center
Beverly Arts Center - 10:30 AM
I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit
Chicago Childrens Museum - 10:00 AM
Lakeshore Learning's Cool Creations
- 11:00 AM Pick
Lakeshore Learning's Cool Creations
Lakeshore Learning Orland Park - 11:00 AM Pick
Lakeshore Learning's Cool Creations
Lakeshore Learning Palatine - 11:00 AM Pick
Polar Adventure Day at Northerly Island
Northerly Island - 12:00 PM Pick
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Free Neighborhood Tour
Various Locations - various times Pick
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival Free Neighborhood Tour
Various Locations - various times Pick
RAIN: For Babies and Their Carers
Filament Theater - various times Pick
$5.29 Family Day with the Bright Start 529 College Savings Plan
Chicago Children's Museum - 10:00 AM
I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit
Chicago Childrens Museum - 10:00 AM
Budding Botanist
Garfield Park Conservatory - 11:00 AM
I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit
Chicago Childrens Museum - 10:00 AM
Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink
Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink - various times
Blast Off to Outer Space Museum Takeover at Wonder Works
Wonder Works Children's Museum - various times
Vivid Creatures at the Morton Arboretum
Morton Arboretum - various times
Chicago Restaurant Week
Chicago Restaurant Week - various times
SEE ALL ACTIVITIES
SUBMIT AN ACTIVITY +
Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile
Studebaker Theater
Sign up for our free newsletters.
FOLLOW US FOR ACTIVITY PICKS, DEALS, AND GIVEAWAYS
FaceBook Instagram Twitter Pinterest YouTube
Activity Guides
  • Beaches & Lakes
  • Best Of Lists
  • Birthday Parties
  • Boats
  • Boredom Busters
  • Camps
  • Childcare
  • Christmas/Hanukkah
  • City Guides
  • City Hacks
  • Classes & Enrichment
  • Community
  • Crafts & Recipes
  • Earth Kids
  • Easter
  • Fairs & Festivals
  • Fall Activities
  • Family Travel
  • Farms & U-Pick
  • Free Activities
  • GoList
  • Halloween
  • Holidays
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Indoor Activities
  • Museums
  • News & Openings
  • Outdoors
  • Parent Talk
  • Parks & Playgrounds
  • Play Gyms & Sports Centers
  • Pools & Spray Parks
  • Preschools & Schools
  • Restaurants
  • Shows
  • Skiing & Winter Sports
  • Special Needs
  • Special Occasions
  • Sports
  • Spring Activities
  • STEM
  • Stores & Services
  • Summer Activities
  • Theme & Water Parks
  • Trains, Dinos & Heroes
  • TV, Film & Movies
  • Virtual
  • Visitors Guide
  • Weekend Events
  • Weekend Trips
  • Winter Activities
  • Zoos & Gardens
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Pin It WhatsApp

Nature Wands Craft for Kids

8/20/14 - By Ally Noel

My favorite thing about summer is how much time we spend outdoors, enjoying nature. These nature wands help keep the magic of summer alive a little longer. Nature wands are perfect for inspiring a little creativity and imaginative play. Got a stick? Then you have a Nature Wand! We used sticks that we had collected on a recent walk through the woods. We also collected some leaves, flowers, seeds, and grasses. We added a bit of extra sparkle to our wands by sorting through our left over craft materials and having a wee bit of fun with glitter, paint, ribbon and stickers. Made with creativity and loaded with the magic of nature, what could possibly be more powerful? Hazzah!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Materials:

Large (wand-sized) Sticks

Nature Objects (leaves, flowers, petals, seeds, grasses, etc)

Glue Gun

Glue

Fine Gauge Wire (the easier to bend, the better!)

Optional: Paint Brushes / Ribbon / Glitter / Stickers

Steps:

1. Take a nature walk to collect sticks, leaves, flowers and other materials (plus some craft supplies).

2. Decorate your stick with your found objects. We used several different methods to place our found objects on the wand. More experienced hands can use a thin wire to wrap the objects to the stick. Smaller fingers may have an easier time with glue and a paint brush. With adult supervision, a glue-gun may be your best bet. The idea of the Nature Wands to is to stimulate a child's natural curiosity to explore the natural world around him/her. This is a great open-ended craft to take outside on sunny day and watch their little imaginations soar!

Show us what you make. Share it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tag @mommypoppins so we can see your creations too!

Find more fun things to do in Boredom Busters Activities Guide.

Boredom Busters Crafts & Recipes Preschoolers Kids

Featured Local Savings

Sign up for our free
newsletters.
New York City
Dallas Fort Worth
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Houston
Miami South Florida
Philadelphia
Washington DC
Orlando
Los Angeles
San Francisco Bay Area
Connecticut
Long Island
New Jersey
Westchester
MommyPoppins.com
Mommy Poppins is a family activity website that helps people find things to do with kids.
QUICK LINKS
Activities
Providers
Family Travel
CONTACT
Newsletter Subscribe
Contact
About
SITEMAP
Submit an Activity
List Your Business
Advertise with Us
© 2026 MommyPoppins. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of Use.
5.342
X
Click Here to Sign Up!
Register/Login if you don't want to see this popup.