— by Kimberly Blaker
(Be sure to drain your hose and shut off
the water from inside your house when
done.)
Go sledding. If you have small
hills in your backyard, use a trash bag
for sliding down them. Better yet, head
to some real hills at area parks with your
toboggan or sled. Keep safety rules in
mind for safe wintery fun.
Blizzard Blast
Have A
Cold Weather Fun for The Family!
I
f your kids are like most, school
snow closings are the highlight
of the winter season. Get into
the spirit with some of these fun outdoor
activities. After you’ve expended your
energy outdoors, there’s plenty of fun to
be had indoors as well.
Outdoor Winter Frolic
Take a snowshoe hike. Buy
or borrow snowshoes for the family, and
go on a trek through the woods or a field.
Take your compass. But also tie brightly
colored strips of fabric to tree branches
to mark your path. Dress warm and keep
track of time to prevent overtiring and
frostbite. Look for animal tracks and
burrows; identify trees by the bark and
shape of their trunks; learn how to tell
the time or direction by the position of
the sun; and other nature and survival
activities.
Visit the zoo. During the winter
months, arctic and cold climate animals
may be more active, and indoor exhib-
its are easier to view because of smaller
crowds.
Build an igloo or snow fort.
Choose a day when the snow is suitable
for packing. Use a square or rectangu-
lar plastic container, or find specially
designed “snow block makers” in toy
departments, for building snow forts. Be
6 WNY Family February 2020
sure to stagger the blocks for support.
Take a winter carriage
ride. Look for horse-drawn carriages
in tourist or trendy towns and quaint vil-
lages. Bundle up, and take warm blan-
kets and hot beverages. Then enjoy a
cozy ride through a snowy, festive town.
Enjoy a winter fest. Visit your
Indoor Activities
For Blustery Days
Head to a museum. Be a
tourist in your own town and head to a
local museum that you probably haven’t
visited in a while.
Grab your skates and head to
your nearest rink. Our area boasts plenty
of outdoor and indoor ice rinks.
Create an indoor snow
family. Buy black and white clay from
an arts and crafts supply. Roll snow
people out of the white clay, and shape
hats with the black. Make arms with tiny
twigs, scarves from narrow fabric strips,
eyes and buttons from whole pepper,
and noses from broken orange-colored
toothpicks.
chamber of commerce or state travel bu-
reau website for a list of winter festivals
and events. Activities to look for include
light displays, fireworks, winter sports
competitions, recreational activities, ex-
hibits and ice sculpture displays, sleigh
rides, snowshoe tours, and more. Tour a manufacturing
plant, a firehouse, a bakery,
or any other site that interests
your family. Tours are often avail-
Have a snow-sculpting
contest, and invite your neighbors View the winter sky. Visit a
planetarium to see constellations and
some of the brightest stars of the year.
to participate. Roll a snowball as large
as you can. Then fill buckets with snow
and carefully dump them on top. Gently
pack the snow and smooth it with your
mittens. Sculpt and shape your creation
using small shovels and gardening tools.
When your sculpture is complete, gen-
tly pack and smooth it with your hands
again.
Make an ice tree. Turn an
evergreen tree in your yard into a win-
ter display. When the temperature is in
the 20s, turn the water hose on low, and
spray upward and toward the trunk of
the tree. As ice forms, continue spraying
until you achieve your desired effect.
able to the public even if they aren’t
well-publicized. Just call to find out if
they are willing to accommodate you.
Hold a winter movie fest.
Invite friends over, rent a selection of
movies, and have everyone bring their
pillows or beanbag chairs. Don’t forget
the buttery popcorn and hot chocolate. If
you’ve had enough of winter, hold a Ha-
waiian luau instead. Choose summery
or vacation themed movies. Serve cold
drinks with little umbrellas and fruit on
top. And don’t forget the beach towels.
Make up funny skits with
friends then put on a show for parents
and neighbors. Choose household prod-
ucts and create silly advertisements.