# data[].attributes.body
If you love videos about crafts, nature and the ocean- you'll love this youtube channel!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
education nature outdoors "california state parks" ocean redwoods parks whales "harbor seals" mushrooms trees outside "learn at home" "get outside"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore the California State Parks with Sonoma/Mendocino Interpreters! Dive into the crashing waves of the Pacific, and then venture to the towering giants o...

# data[].attributes.body
Ocean safety is important when visiting the coast!

# data[].attributes.body
Remember your three R's of Recycling and REUSE a plastic water bottle to decorate your home or garden!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
While I almost exclusively use my refillable water bottle to drink from, I occasionally find myself with a leftover disposable one on my hands.

If you have leftover water bottles, you and your kids can turn them into pretty yard art with a few simple supplies.

As an added bonus, it will help your kids with their scissor skills as well (you know, in a productive way).

Some of the links in my supply lists may be affiliate links.

(or click the image below to go to the tutorial)

Looking for more craft ideas you can make with recycled plastic bottles?

About the Author:

Do you like this post? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

When you subscribe you can download our FREE Recycled Crafts E-book!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While I almost exclusively use my refillable water bottle to drink from, I occasionally find myself with a leftover disposable one on my hands. If you have leftover water bottles, you and your kids can turn them into pretty yard art with a few simple supplies.

# data[].attributes.body
Van Damme State Park is home to an unusual habitat.. a pygmy forest! Learn all about what makes this area special with this video!

# data[].attributes.body
Learn how to make a snack that looks like a Banana Slug!

# data[].attributes.body
The shipwreck of the Frolic shaped the history of this quiet coastal town.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
ViewFinder
Season 20 Episode 4 | 28m 18s |

In 1984, archaeologist Thomas Layton discovered some unexpected Chinese ceramic artifacts at a Native American site in Mendocino County. Witness how Dr. Layton's quest to solve the riddle of the mysterious pottery led him to uncover a story of global connections and a shipwreck that impacted California forever.

Aired: 09/09/14

Rating: NR

Problems Playing Video? Report a Problem |

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ViewFinder | Impact of the Frolic | Season 20 | Episode 4

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ViewFinder Season 20 Episode 4 | 28m 18s | In 1984, archaeologist Thomas Layton discovered some unexpected Chinese ceramic artifacts at a Native American site in Mendocino County. Witness how Dr. Layton's quest to solve the riddle of the mysterious pottery led him to uncover a story of global connections and a shipwreck that impacted California forever.

# data[].attributes.body
Learn the ooey-gooey details about a common fungus on the coast!

# data[].attributes.body
Here's a fun craft to try inside on rainy or foggy days!

# data[].attributes.body
Find leaves and sticks to make your own forest on paper!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I created this easy nature craft for kids last year after we an illness in the family meant we were confined to our home and garden, something that seems very relevant when I'm updating it now! While we were outside my daughter kept wanting to pick flowers and leaves to show me and to make things with (I had a lot of leaf 'ice creams') which got me thinking about other ways we could use her new found treasures. Using our tree template seemed the obvious answer, making a great starting place for a cute nature activity.

Tree Nature Craft

Of course when you're making this craft I'm not by any means suggesting that you encourage your kids to go out into your garden and pull up all the flowers and rip all the leaves off the trees, in fact that's probably the last thing I'd recommend! As a kid I loved making flower 'perfumes', making daisy chains and little posies of flowers and I think it's important that kids are able to get hands on with nature but as with everything, in a way which is respectful to the environment it comes from.

My kids are welcome to pick the daisies and dandelions which grow in our lawn and the ivy which overflows on our fence but other than that I ask that they check with me first. If you're worried that your child will go and pull up your prize peonies to decorate with just go round the garden with them and you can choose leaves, petals and flowers together.

Like this craft? Make sure that you bookmark this page or pin an image so that you can return to it later plus keep reading for more crafts and activities inspired by nature.

Tree Craft Materials

To make this sweet tree craft you will need our free tree template - print off as many copies as you'd like. You'll also find some ideas there for other tree crafts that you might like to try with your child.

You'll also need some double sided sellotape, scissors to cut it and of course some leaves and flowers.

How To Make This Into a Four Seasons Craft

We created this craft during the summer but could easily do it as a four seasons craft for kids by printing off four copies of the tree and adding different things for each season. Add flowers and leaves for spring, green leaves for summer and look for oranges, yellows and browns for autumn. For winter you can either look for older leaves, evergreens or leave it blank maybe adding some snow.

How to Make Your Nature Craft

Of course you don't need to stick your flowers onto your paper, you could just use it as a background where your child can move and re-decorate the tree. If you do want to stick things down then I recommend that you use double sided sellotape which is what I've used. Put a strip of the tape along some of the branches and then you can stick your leaves and flowers onto this. Glue can be less than awesome for materials which aren't totally flat and there's nothing fun about your child being upset if things fall of their tree if they've laid it all out perfectly!

More Nature Crafts and Activities:

Love encouraging your children to get hands on with nature? We've got loads more ideas for you to try out. Why not go on a walk in the woods and then try out this paint rolling activity with pinecones that you find?

These frozen flowers are really popular and it's easy to see why as they look gorgeous! Perfect for a bit of nature inspired sensory play.

Finally for outdoor adventurers why not check out our round up of camping crafts for kids with 15 fun ideas to make.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tree Nature Craft for Kids with Free Printable

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I created this easy nature craft for kids last year after we an illness in the family meant we were confined to our home and garden, something that seems very relevant when I'm updating it now!

# data[].attributes.body
Color this Snowy Plover page and download the app to bring your plover to life!

# data[].attributes.body
Can you find them all?

# data[].attributes.body
Can you find all the items that don't belong?

# data[].attributes.body
Try out these fun songs!

# data[].attributes.body
What can you see in your yard or local park?

# data[].attributes.body
Take turns acting like each of these animals and have your friends try to guess what you are!

# data[].attributes.body
How much do you know about California?

# data[].attributes.body
Use this page to color yourself as a State Park Ranger!

# data[].attributes.body
Color the tide pools of an abundant MPA (Marine Protected Area)!

# data[].attributes.body
What lurks below the surface?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
No sunlight is able to reach this deep.

Many deep-sea creatures cope by creating light themselves - also known as bioluminescence.

Narwhals dive to this depth up to 15 times a day in search for food.

The Japanese Spider Crab is the largest known crab with a maximum leg span of 3.8m.

Coelacanths were thought to be extinct until found alive in 1938.

Leatherback Sea Turtles are the oldest sea turtle species.

Giant Oarfish can grow up to 11m long.

Sixgill Sharks spend the day in deep waters and the night in shallow waters. They can be found all over the world.

Telescope Octopus are almost completely transparent and have unique protruding eyes.

Barreleye Fish have a transparent head that allows their eyes to collect more light.

Black Swallowers can swallow entire fish whole - even those vastly larger than themselves!

Vampire Squids eat marine snow - organic material that falls from shallower waters.

Headless Chicken Fish are sea cucumbers with wing-like fins that allow them to swim.

Colossal Squid are the largest known squid species. They can reach a length of 10 meters and weigh up to 700 kg.

The Orange Roughy can live up to 200 years. Deep sea life often have elongated life spans.

Meals are rare in the deep sea. Deep sea creatures have adapted to this - one Giant Isopod in captivity went five years without eating.

Many deep sea species use the color red as camouflage since it's the first color to leave the spectrum as you dive deeper.

Goblin Sharks are known as "living fossils" because they're the only living species of a lineage that has existed for 125 million years.

Is it a squid, or a worm? It's a worm.

Sea Angels are majestic sea slugs that use wings to propel themselves.

The Scaly-Foot Snail gets its name from the iron plates on its foot and the iron shell it makes out of Iron Sulphide.

Anglerfish have a large bioluminescent lure used to attract prey in the darkness.

Giant Tube Worms get their nutrients from hydrothermal vents.

Hydrothermal vents are formed from seawater passing through extremely hot volcanic rocks. They release heavy metals that are toxic to most animals.

But even in those extreme conditions specialized life finds a way to survive.

Yeti Crabs live on hydrothermal vents.

This is the average depth of the ocean.

But in some places it goes deeper.

Cuvier's Beaked Whales are the deepest diving mammals.

On April 14th, 1912 the Titanic sank to its final resting place at a depth of 3,800 meters.

This is the deepest point of the Manila Trench in the South China Sea.

Patagonian Toothfish have antifreeze proteins in its tissues to prevent freezing in sub zero temperatures.

Megamouth sharks are one of the largest growing shark species with some reaching 7 meters long.

The temperature here is near freezing and very few animals can survive the extreme pressure.

This shark takes cookie-shaped chunks out of its prey.

You have scrolled the height of Mount Everest.

Comb Jellies have been around for 500 million years. Despite looking like jellyfish, they are not closely related.

This is the lowest point of the Puerto Rico Trench.

This is the deepest point of the Java Trench in the Indian Ocean.

The USS Johnston sank in WWII and is the deepest shipwreck ever found.

More people have been to the Moon than the Hadal Zone.

Most of the Hadal Zone takes place in deep sea trenches.

Deep sea trenches form by a process called "subduction" where the Earth's tectonic plates meet and push together.

The deep sea can be a lonely place.

Life here is sparse - the extreme conditions make survival difficult.

But still not impossible.

So little is known about life in these deep environments. Almost every expedition uncovers something new.

Many probes and submarines have been lost trying to reach the deepest parts of the ocean.

On January 23rd, 1960, about 9 years before the moon landing, humans went where they never had before.

Two men, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh, onboard the submarine Trieste slowly descended into the Mariana Trench.

Their goal was to reach The Challenger Deep - the deepest point in the ocean.

The submarine used a re-breather system that would later be used in spacecraft. There was barely enough space inside the pressure sphere for both of them.

The immense pressure of the deep sea means any mistake would mean certain death.

During the descent, one of the window panes cracked and shook the entire vessel.

Nevertheless, they continued.

Even at these unfathomable depths, Jacques and Don could still see life out the window. Life can survive unimaginable environments.

After 4 hours and 47 minutes of anxiety and claustrophobia...

They succeeded and became the first humans to reach the deepest point in the ocean.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An interactive page that lets you scroll down the ocean. Visit the great depths of the Mariana Trench and discover all the sea creatures hidden beneath.

# data[].attributes.body
Join us live through PORTS Home Learning Programs. Visit many different California State Parks- within the comfort of your own home!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you are a teacher looking to connect with PORTS for Summer Learning Opportunities, please Contact Us directly.

# data[].attributes.body
Live streams, pictures, volunteer interviews, and more! Follow us to keep up with the latest news from the Sonoma Mendocino Coast parks!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
CA State Parks Mendocino. 1,313 likes · 94 talking about this · 26 were here. Hello and Welcome to the CA State Parks Mendocino Sector Facebook Page! This is the best place to keep up on events and...