Keep Learning with Nature this Summer

School is out, and summer adventures are just beginning!

The weather is perfect… and who doesn’t want to go on nature walk anyway?

Nature Centers and Summer Camps are offering exciting family events and programs with fun natural learning for kids.

Find a local Nature Center or Wilderness Camp near you… or find inspiration for learning activities on your own. Look for fun learning activities like butterfly courses, dragonfly and insect discovery, bird banding, fossil digs, aquatic adventures, woodland explorations, energized boot-camps and survival camps where kids can learn cool primitive skills such as building forts, camp fire techniques, and foraging and hunting skills.

Whatever you find to do…get out there and have fun with your little learners this Summer!

Here are a few Local Nature Centers to Minneapolis/Saint Paul to start with…

• Springbrook Nature Center
• Wood Lake Nature Center
• Dodge Nature Center
• Roseville Nature Center

Get them while they’re HOT
for Father’s Day!

If Dad doesn’t have a  HoeJoe yet, now would be a great time to get him one, but if you’ve waited until the last minute…finding a local retailer that carries the HoeJoe and HoeJoe Jr. might be your best bet. Go to our Retailers Page for more information on our Retail Locations. Please call first, they may be flying out the door for must have gifts and Summer Bonfires.

It’s Summer! That means Outdoor Parties and Backyard Celebrations!

Graduation parties are happening now!

If you have to give or host a graduate party… but don’t know where to begin… We have some fun and unusual ideas to help get you started. With the help from QCTV, we’ve listed some very cool themes, decorations with personality and fun entertainment ideas for an unforgettable outdoor graduation party. 

1.  Oldy Tyme Fun:   

Use old newspaper print, black and white photos, recycled items to create a vintage shabby chic party look. An outdoor movie theater or a bonfire are other great options to keep things lively into the evening. For the tables use cool newspaper sheets as table runners, add fun facts about the graduate printed on them… add a pop of color using geraniums or other flowers in a bucket. Forget the old standard coolers… instead use an old washtub and a wheelbarrow to hold ice and beverages.   

2. Bon Voyage Party:   

For a child going off to college, add paraphanalia from the college they’ll be attending. Have a last dance… dance floor. Frame the dance floor using shepherd hooks and lights wrapped around the outer edges to define the area. 

3. Sundaes on Saturday:  

Tubs of ice cream and sauce are the only things on the menu! Set up tables with centerpieces to match the theme of your party. Ask your local florist about floral sundaes for centerpieces and decoration. Instead of posters of your graduate… cut out several 5″ x7″ pieces of colored paper and adhered 4 x6 photos on them… punch holes at the tops of them and string through some ribbon or string. Hang the photos in various places throughout your party area. Dance off those Sundae Calories by having a dance floor and music.

4. S’more Party:  

Have an evening bonfire with a S’more bar. Include decadent chocolates and gourmet marshmallows. Go to www.smoresbook.comto find S’more great ideas! Add friends with guitars, tell stories and sing around the campfire and reminisce about the High School Days. Remember to have your HoeJoe handy.

If you want to see these ideas and more ideas like these…

check out this video 
www.qctv.org/suburbanmix/full.php 
(Click on “watch full episode” to the left of the video screen for entire episode) 
Within it you’ll see Kelli Kaufer in the “You’re Invited Segment” showing Grad party ideas.