Angie Mahlke

CHALLENGE, FALL, HOLIDAYS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY, SPRING, SUMMER
How to Successfully Complete a Seasonal Spot Photography Project
- March 10, 2022
You probably already know by now, but we’re pretty obsessed with photos here at Run Wild My Child. We know a photograph is more than a pretty picture – it’s a snapshot in time. Photography is a way to capture a moment in our children’s lives, a glimpse into the past, a fleeting memory forever preserved. We know how quickly time move, seasons change, and children grow up. Photography is a way to capture those memories so you can pull them out and revisit that moment in time, anytime. Today, photographer and Minnesota mom of three, Angie Mahlke, is here to share tips on how to successfully complete a seasonal spot photography project to capture not only the seasons, but the seasons of childhood.

Seasonal spot photography project

Oftentimes, as parents, we put our hobbies aside when our children are small and needy. But, what if you could include your family in your hobbies? For me, that is photography.

Over the years I have challenged myself to merge my creative pastime with spending time with my children. One of the ways is to involve them in my photography projects, get them excited to participate.

My favorite photography project has been our year-long seasonal spot project—where we take a photo a month in the exact same spot to watch the seasons change over the passage of time. 12 photos, all taken in the same place, that show the progress over time. This is a great project to do with kids, so you can see the change in your surroundings, as well as the change in the children as they grow and progress.

Today, I am going to share some of my secrets with you on how to successfully complete this year long photography project with your family.

Get your family involved

The first step to successfully completing a seasonal spot challenge is getting your family on board. If they don’t love the idea and want to be a part of it, you’ll be forced to hear a lot of whining. No one wants to spend time every month convincing your family to participate in something that they don’t want to do. That will zap the fun right away. And the point is to have fun!

Sit down with your family and talk to them about your idea. Explain what a seasonal spot photography project is and what they need to do to participate. Get them to chime in with their ideas, too. If they feel involved, they’re more likely to feel excited about it.

Make sure to lay out the expectations up front. It is a year-long project after all. After the third month, their interest may wane. If they go into it knowing all the details, they’ll be less likely to fight you on it when it’s go-time each month.

Picking the spot

The next step is picking the right spot for your project. The spot is essential to the project. It is the backdrop to all 12 images. The goal is to show the changing seasons throughout the year. You’ll want to find a spot that is visually interesting all year long, one where the seasonal changes are obvious.

Some things to look for:
- Trees or foliage that change color in the fall
- Interesting light
- Some sort of object or landmark
- Visually interesting setting
The easiest of these things, of course, is the trees or foliage. Scout out an area that you know has beautiful colors in the fall. Watching a tree, for example, start bare in the winter and slowly sprout buds in the spring to a fully green tree in the summer to a golden perfection in fall before slowly becoming bare again is an easy way to show the changing of the seasons.

Light is important, too. If your spot is in a place that doesn’t get much light, your images may appear flat and unappealing. Look for light that is interesting during different times of the day. Watch how the differing light appears in your spot and play with that throughout your project—use it to help tell your story. For example, last year my final image of the project was shot at sunset. A fitting end to the 2021 project.

Look for an area that is visually interesting. Your seasonal spot can have anything interesting—a big tree, a body of water, a wide open field, mountains in the background, a fence, a landmark of some sort. This is important for a few reasons. Firstly, you want your images to be immediately recognizable as your seasonal spot. Having something specific in it is the easiest way. One year I chose a fishing dock. Another year I picked a huge tree. This year I am using an old yellow fence.

Another reason it’s important for the spot to be visually interesting is to stave off boredom. Remember, at the end of this, you will have 12 images. You don’t want them to become redundant and dull. Consider that while scouting for your spot.

Consider accessibility

The location and accessibility of the spot is also very important. You’ll want to be able to get to it rather easily. I try to keep my spots within 10-15 minutes of my house and make sure they’re easily accessible in all seasons and at all times of day. You don’t want to be trudging through a bunch of snow or tall grass or big hills with your camera gear and family in tow every single month. And you don’t want your spot to be somewhere that closes early or have to drive forever to get to.

The more accessible your spot, the better. You’ll thank yourself come April when you’ve made this as easy on yourself as possible. My very first year I chose a spot in my backyard. It can be that simple.

My kids are already foreshadowing the possibility of mosquitoes come summer in the spot I chose for 2022. The spot is less than 10 minutes from my house, right alongside a road. It is approximately 10 steps from the car. From the time they exit the car, run to the fence, get in place and the camera shutter releases a few dozen times, they will be back in the car in under 15 minutes. The mosquitoes are truly a non-issue. But, going back to our first step I outlined earlier, communication is key. They grumble their concerns. I hear them. Then we discuss ways to overcome them.

Time to get creative

Now that you’ve found your perfect spot, it’s the fun part of being creative! You can choose to approach the photos on a more documentary level, where you set your children free in the spot and you capture them enjoying the moment. Or you can be more detailed in your planning.

I do a mix of both. Sometimes I like to incorporate the seasons or holidays into the images. A Santa hat or Halloween costumes, for example. Using props is a fun way to spice up the images and add to the storytelling. This is especially important in the months that are similar. Think about how the summer months may look similar in your spot. How can you break that up?

Here are some ideas:
- Seasonal props: umbrella, sleds, bikes (scooters, skateboards), popsicles, hot chocolate, flowers, balloons
- Other props: pets, favorite toys, creative outfits (snow gear, swimsuits)
- Holiday theme props: sparklers, Santa hat, Halloween costume, hearts, Easter basket
Keeping the images fresh

Other ways to keep your images fresh and unique is to incorporate action into the images and vary how you pose your children. Movement is always an easy way to add interest. Plus, your kids will most likely be more willing to jump around and play than sit still and smile.

Ask them to play a game of tag, twirl in a pretty dress, race down the road, ride their bikes or scooters, sled down a hill. It can be something as simple as playing a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors or the old game of Telephone, where they tell a secret from ear to ear. Read a book, tell a joke, dance, jump, do cartwheels. Anything that involves engaging your children will yield more natural results.

Same vantage point versus switching it up

A question you’ll want to ask yourself before you begin the project is whether you want to maintain the same point of view or vantage point for every single picture. Or, maybe you’d rather move around a bit and show a different perspective each month.

I, personally, choose one perspective and stick to it the entire year. I do this because I prefer the canvas, so to speak, to stay the same but the scenes unfolding to change within it. When I look through the images at the end of the year, I like to clearly see the seasons changing as if I’ve been standing in the same spot observing it happen before my eyes.

What to do when you live in an area that doesn’t change seasonally

What if you live in an area that doesn’t have noticeable seasonal changes? You can still do this project! You’ll just have to be more creative. You can rely on props and clothing and any other indicators you can dream up to identify the changing months.

One of my friends lives in Arizona and she decided to incorporate a drink in each image—hot chocolate, lemonade—to be the visual cue. Another friend used a seasonal aisle of a store. Another used her front porch and let her decorations do the talking.

If you don’t have four distinct seasons, you may have to be creative, but it’s definitely doable. Involve your children. I bet their ideas will be ten times better than your own!

What to do with your images?

At the end of the year you’ll have 12 images that capture a year in the life of your children. You’ll see the seasons change over time, as well as watch them grow right before your eyes. So, what do you do with them now?

I like to make a calendar with them. I give the calendar as Christmas gifts to our family. It’s fun revisiting our previous year’s seasonal spot unfold each month on the calendar that hangs on our wall.

You could also make a photo book. Imagine literally flipping through the pages to see the seasons transform before your eyes. Or create a collage will all the images to display on a wall.

More photography resources

If you’re interested in more photography resources, download our FREE guide with our best tips and tricks for taking better photos of your kids’ outdoor adventures with the camera on your PHONE! From creative composition tips to our favorite editing apps, this guide includes everything you need to know to make the most out of the camera in your pocket!

What location will you choose for your seasonal spot?

About the author

Angie is a wife and stay-at-home-mom of three wild hyenas. She resides in rural Minnesota, where there are more cows and cornfields than people. She is an introvert with a creative itch that needs to be scratched, whether it is photographing her children in their daily lives or coming up with fun ways to explore nature in their backyard. Messy hair, dirty faces, mismatched clothing, wild and free children—all these things fuel her creativity and the desire to preserve these fleeting moments. Angie and her family can be found camping, biking, and sitting around a campfire during the summer months and sledding and ice fishing in a million layers during the winter.

You can find Angie online in the following locations:
Instagram: @angie_mahlke
RWMC posts: Angie Mahlke
FALL, GOOD FOR NATURE, HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, SUMMER, WINTER
How to Have Adventure Days with Kids
- October 1, 2021
Connecting with our children isn’t always easy. Finding the time for special adventure outings can be even more of a challenge. Life is busy and, as we all know, life with children is even busier. But, what if we told you that elaborate adventures aren’t necessary? Getting outside with your kids doesn’t have to be a challenge. You just need some simple ideas and an adventurous mindset! Today, Angie Mahlke, photographer and Minnesota mom of three, shares all about how to begin and plan simple, connection-building adventure days with kids. Get ready to turn your simple outings into big adventures!

Adventure days with kids

When I became a professional stay-at-home-mom over a decade ago, I didn’t realize the job position really translated to Chief Entertainment Coordinator. We’ve all heard the dreaded “I’m bored” whine enough times to evoke a Pavlovian response to the statement. Over the years I’ve created tricks out of necessity to survive the long days. One of them is to take a seemingly mundane activity and wrap it up in a pretty package presented as an Adventure Day. Today, I am going to share this mom hack with you to get you outside adventuring with your children.

How our adventure days started

What sprouted out of COVID restrictions turned into a new beloved tradition. Because things were canceled or changed to accommodate safety concerns, my daughter and I found ourselves bored at home. A lot. There was no more storytime at the library or mommy and me classes at the school. No more dressing up in leotards and tutus for dance class. No museums to explore, shopping trips, or indoor activities.

What we did have was the great outdoors.

We decided to embrace it. I started by making a comprehensive list on my phone of all the free or relatively inexpensive outdoor things to do in our area. Some were big, some were small. Some were locations and others were activities. I included places nearby and a few that were a bit farther out. Lots and lots of opens.

I decided we would cycle through them to entertain ourselves. Each day that we needed an activity, we’d pick one from the list. I called them Adventure Days.

(I also instituted Adventure Days this summer when all my children were home from school. Summer days have the potential to feel long and tedious without new and fun things to explore.)

Creating adventure days with kids

The activities themselves are rarely anything overly special or glamorous. But by simply giving it a special title of “Adventure Days,” the outing suddenly seems more exciting. My kids may not get all that excited about going on a hike. But, tell them we’re going on a grand ADVENTURE and they’re all in!

Plus, the label is also a cue to me that I should be fully present. On Adventure Days, I put the phone away. Work gets paused. They get my attention. I truly exist in the moment with my children, which means more to them than I ever expected.

If I had to wager a bet, I’d say the Adventure Days with my kids became more special because of the undivided attention that was given to them, not so much the activity we are doing together. Kids crave attention from their parents and being fully present for our adventures made them ten times as special for all of us.

Simple and intentional activities

So what do these outings look like? Simple. They look simple.

We often think our adventures must be grand affairs. I know I’m guilty of this. An outing doesn’t have to be EPIC to be an adventure. It is something I’ve had to train my brain to relearn. We worry our children will be bored unless it’s expensive and extensive. But that’s so not true. I promise.

Small things can make a big impact. Especially when they’re done with love and intention. The whole “less is more” mindset is accurate when planning daily or weekly activities with your children. A lot of it lies in the presentation and the delivery.

If you’re attentive and enjoying the experience, your child will follow your lead. (Did you hear that…YOU have to be having fun.) I know it’s a taller order than that. We’re busy and distracted as we juggle all the things. I’m right there with you.

I can say, though, I am grateful for those few hours during our Adventure Days when I sign off and truly tune into the present moment. It takes some practice. Give yourself grace for the times you’re distracted. Children innately know how to have fun. Adults need to relearn it sometimes.

Adventure day activities

Here are some simple ideas to illustrate the simplicity and connection building of Adventure Days with kids:
- Bike rides into town to buy a treat at the gas station and play at the nearby playground.
- Throwing rocks into the river.
- Filling a bucket with nature treasures (rocks, leaves, flowers, pinecones, etc.).
- Hiking a new trail.
- Exploring a new park or playground and creating a park tour guidebook together.
- Riding bikes or walking to a dinner or lunch date.
- Enjoying warm tea or hot chocolate and a book while on a hike.
- Taking the dog to the dog park.
- Ice cream dates.
- Picking wildflowers.
- Finding a tree to climb.
Low maintenance, low-cost activities mean a lot

Your adventures don’t have to cost a lot of money (or any money), don’t need a lot of planning, and don’t require any fancy gear. Some of our favorite Adventure Days are the ones that came up naturally when I said YES to adventure and exploration.

An Adventure Day that sticks out in my mind is a scooter ride along a Mississippi bike path one spring day. We discovered puddles along the way and stopped often for my daughter to splash with her new rain boots. She also befriended many dogs that day.

The outing cost zero dollars. The bike path was close to home. It was convenient and free and simple. But, it was so much fun! It just took both of us saying yes to adventure and making the time to get outside.

How to have successful adventure days

Your Adventure Days will be more successful if you typically keep them small and simple. They’re easier to manage and less stressful. This often means staying close to home and choosing free activities.

It’s important to keep realistic expectations. Oftentimes we are disappointed when plans don’t go as anticipated. We all know children are infamous for throwing wrenches in plans. Keep an open mind and be ready to veer when necessary.

A lot of factors can determine the day’s outcome: weather, moods, temperaments, hunger, health, etc. Prepare for as many scenarios as possible to keep the day on track. Here are a couple of ideas that may help your Adventure Day be successful:
- Bring snacks. Lots and lots of snacks.
- Wear appropriate clothing.
- Dressing in layers is always a good idea.
- Bring extra clothing if your activity is messy or maybe always have spare clothing since children enjoy full sensory exploration.
- Plan the outing for a time of day where your children are ready to play versus when they’re hungry and tired.
- Put your phone down/away.
- Say yes to things you maybe usually don’t say yet to on Adventure Days (e.g. puddle jumping, getting dirty, ice cream, etc.).
How to prepare for adventure

Another tip I’ve learned over the years is to prep as much as you can the night before. Set out clothes. Pack up snacks. Get water bottles ready. Also, don’t forget to talk to your children about your plans. I find things run smoother when my kids know what to expect. Then remind them again in the car or on the walk to your destination.

Most importantly: let it be fun!

This seems so simple, yet it’s the hardest one for me. When the whining and bickering set in, an alarm in my brain automatically blares at me to jump ship. We can’t control every scenario in every situation. Kids are hard-wired to react to unpleasantries (hunger, irritability, bugs, weather, etc.). Sometimes all it takes is a moment to hit the hypothetical reset button to reframe the activity in a way that everyone can enjoy.

And sometimes things will go wrong. You’ll get lost, you’ll forget something, you’ll get somewhere only to find it closed. Don’t worry about it! Sometimes, those misadventures are the ones that make the best stories and memories! Try to turn it into a positive experience and you’ll be laughing about it for years!

When to spice things up

I’ve been preaching simple, but some days can be grand! Throw in a more elaborate one from time to time. Mixing in some extraordinary with the ordinary can spice it up every so often.

Travel a little further from home once a month, once a season, or however often you feel is manageable. Research nearby cities for free or cheap things to do. Explore new parks, find nature centers, check out orchards or new hikes.

We give these Adventure Days a special title of Field Trip. They are typically educational in nature, so the title is appropriate.

The small zoo near us is a favorite. It’s an hour away (but, as a bonus, it’s free!). The drive adds a level of anticipation that makes it feel bigger than it truly is.

Occasionally, changing your scenery is key. A playground 45 minutes away is more exciting than the playground two blocks from your house that you frequent regularly. The hiking trail you visit sporadically is bound to entertain your children longer than the one you walk often. A new (to them) creek may provide hours of entertainment as they explore.

How to get started with adventure days

Now that you’ve heard the benefits of Adventure Days, how can you get started?
- Create a running list of possible things to do in your area. Continue to jot ideas down as you discover or think of them. Make sure there’s a little bit of something for everyone and a wide variety of big and small, near and far.
- Scour your area for things to do near you. Facebook community groups are a great resource. Your local library may have programs or information on area activities. Don’t discount word of mouth. Ask other families where they like to adventure.
- Explore. Sometimes you wander upon hidden gems, like trails or creeks or a neighborhood playground you never knew existed. When you’re driving, take note of “brown signs” in your area, which usually denote unique hidden-gem destinations.
Incorporating the seasons

It’s also fun to incorporate the seasons into your Adventure Days. Find a hiking trail or park that has obvious seasonal changes. Make it a point to return to that spot season-after-season and note the differences each time you visit. How have things changed? Every outing is an opportunity for learning.

You can also use the seasons to brainstorm ideas. Each season has its own built-in activities. Find an epic sledding hill in the winter. Go berry picking in the spring. Discover a small town festival in the summer. Visit a pumpkin patch in the fall.

Creating multiple activities from one

Want in on a little secret? You can stretch one activity into multiple ones. Want to find out how? Here are a few examples.

Go on a leaf hunt in the fall to find as many different colors and kinds of leaves as you can. You can collect the leaves to use for other purposes later, like a leaf crown or a leaf collage. One of our favorites is to make leaf monsters by gluing leaves onto a piece of paper, adding googly eyes, and drawing arms and legs. This is a great way to turn one activity into several.

Another example of creating multiple activities from one is with rocks. One day go on an adventure to find unique rocks. Then another day you can set up a painting station on your driveway and decorate them however you want. Create rock animals or transform them into pretty flowers—you name it! Then yet another day, set out in your neighborhood to hide the rocks for others to discover.

Hit up a farm or orchard to pick fruit, veggies, or wildflowers. Once you’re home, turn the fruits and veggies into tasty treats together. Or make little bouquets, corsages, or bookmarks with the flowers.

Can you think of any other activities that can be multiplied into more fun for later?

Adventure Day ideas

If you’re stuck thinking of Adventure Day ideas, I created a list to get you started. I have them organized by categories: your simple, everyday ones; seasonal; and the grander affairs I like to call Field Trips.

Simple
- Skipping rocks
- Scavenger hunt
- Nature bingo
- Neighborhood bike ride
- Parking lot scooter races
- Homemade obstacle courses
- Hiking trails
- Stick fort building
- Rock hunting
- Floor is lava at random locations
- Kite flying
- Informal sports games (tennis, soccer, basketball, baseball, etc)
- Dog park
- New playgrounds
Seasonal
- Berry picking
- Pick your own flower farm
- Puddle splashing
- Dandelion wishes
- Splash pad
- Swimming pool
- Beach
- Fishing
- Bug/frog catch and release
- Parade
- Wildflower bouquets
- Apple orchard
- Leaf pile jumping
- Corn maze
- Pumpkin patch
- Leaf collecting
- Sledding
- Snowman building
- Ice castles
- Snowshoe hikes
- Skiing
Field trips
- State park
- Nature center
- Zoo
- Farmer’s markets
- Museum
- Botanical garden
- Golfing (mini golf, disc golf)
- County fair
- Festivals
Don’t forget to include your children while brainstorming. Sometimes they come up with the best ideas! Now get outside and start adventuring with your children!

Who do you think will enjoy the Adventure Days more, you or your children?

About the author

Angie is a wife and stay-at-home-mom of three wild hyenas. She resides in rural Minnesota, where there are more cows and cornfields than people. She is an introvert with a creative itch that needs to be scratched, whether it is photographing her children in their daily lives or coming up with fun ways to explore nature in their backyard. Messy hair, dirty faces, mismatched clothing, wild and free children—all these things fuel her creativity and the desire to preserve these fleeting moments. Angie and her family can be found camping, biking, and sitting around a campfire during the summer months and sledding and ice fishing in a million layers during the winter.

You can find Angie online in the following locations:
Instagram: @angie_mahlke
RWMC posts: Angie Mahlke
CRAFTS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PARK, PRINTABLES, SUMMER
How to Make a DIY Park Tour Guidebook
- August 19, 2021
Parks and playgrounds offer endless opportunities for outdoor active and creative play for kids. From swing sets to sporting areas, picnic places, and lakes and streams, exploring new parks with kids can be so much fun! If your local park has lost its appeal and you’re ready to find something new (or you just love new experiences and want to find some fun new places to explore), we’ve got the answer for you…a park tour! Today, photographer and Minnesota mom of three, Angie Mahlke shares how to create your very own DIY park tour guidebook to use while exploring new (to you) playgrounds in your area and ranking them for fun! Give your children the chance to become park connoisseurs on a quest to find their favorite playground!

Why parks and playgrounds?

Being active outdoors doesn’t have to be complicated or require a lot of gear or planning – it can be as easy as exploring a local park or playground with your kids. Checking out a new park allows parents and kids to be adventurous, without needing to travel far or spend a lot of time researching or packing for an exotic outing. Most of the parks near us have wooded areas, lakes or ponds, hiking trails, and a playground, of course, which is always the most attractive feature for my kids and the first thing they want to check out upon arrival.

Like probably most families with small kids, we spend a lot of time at our local parks and playgrounds. They are free and easily accessible and provide endless hours of entertainment for the kids. I wonder what the hour count would be if I had started logging the amount of time we actually spend at parks from that first visit with our new baby 12 years ago? It feels like we’re probably into the millions by now!

Last year, when COVID restrictions hit and indoor places closed, suddenly, parks were one of the only things available to many families (after the brief window during quarantine when they weren’t, of course). Our parks got more crowded than ever and we got an itch to try branching out to find fun new places to explore. This is what prompted the idea (read: necessity) to spice up our playground adventures!

Benefits of playgrounds

Playgrounds are safe spaces where children can be themselves and express their fun-loving nature while developing crucial cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills. Play is a spontaneous activity that children engage in to have fun. But it’s much more than that. Experts in a variety of fields have conducted a multitude of studies on the concept of childhood play all proving the same critical fact —play is an essential aspect of learning.

As a child grows, their play becomes more complex. Without being able to play, children’s ability to develop and learn is stunted. Playgrounds provide a place for children to get a full-body workout, including exercises that strengthen their arms, legs, torso, and so on. From the cardiovascular system to the circulatory system, each is nurtured and benefited through vigorous and active outdoor play.

A park tour adventure

As our local parks got busy (and started becoming a bit boring to us), we decided to venture out. We started talking about plans to explore more parks. And then, we had an idea! What if we hit up all the parks in our area? We could make a list of every park, map them all out and start park hopping. We could call it a park tour! Doesn’t it sound more exciting to give it a fancy name instead of just saying we’re going to hit up a ton of playgrounds?

But that’s not the big idea. We can go bigger! Let’s not just check out the parks and play, but let’s turn it into a bigger activity. We can record what we liked (and disliked) about each park we visit. We can use a park rating system —similar to a movie rating system—to determine how much fun each park is. Who doesn’t like giving things a thumbs up or thumbs down? What would it take for a park to be worthy of the full five stars?

It’s time to be an official park critic!

DIY park tour guidebooks

And then, we decided to go all out and take it one step further. Why not create our own DIY Park Tour Guidebooks complete with a rating system to fill out after each park visit? Then at the end of the tour, we can look back at our ratings to determine which park is our favorite.

So, that is exactly what we did! All last summer we carried our homemade guidebooks with us from playground to playground, diligently recording our every like and dislike. Each kid made their own park tour guidebook because they all have varying opinions on what made a particular park great. What one rated a “good” park, another deemed a “bad” one.

To be fancy or not to be fancy

Making a park tour guidebook is easier than you think. They do not need to be fancy! (Although, if fancy is your thing, you can certainly do that!) When we started making our park tour guide books, I simply wrote out a quick rating system on a piece of white printer paper. Then I made several copies and stapled them together in a bundle for each of us. Everyone decorated their cover page. Then we were off! Easy peasy.

Your park tour guidebook can be that easy, or you take it up a notch and get a bit more creative. This summer, we decided to do another park tour and make books, but we wanted to do something a bit more fun. Our guidebooks now involve recycled brown paper grocery bags, so of course, the fancy meter is off the charts.

You can choose to make your books however you want and be as creative or as simple as you would like. If you have older kids, they’ll love making their books personalized to their favorite interests and colors. Little ones might need a bit more help, but they’ll love making it theirs. Cater your books and style to your family and what works best for you.

If you’d like to make our oh-so-fancy paper bag guide books, I detail the process below.

Paper bag DIY park tour guidebook supplies
- Brown paper shopping bag (one for each person)
- Filler paper with a rating system (print my PDF if you’d like)
- Hole punch
- String, yarn, or ribbon
- Scissors
- Markers, crayons, paints, or other art supplies
How to make a park guidebook

I’ve learned after many years of doing arts and crafts projects with my children that it goes much smoother to do all the prep work before calling them in to help. If your kids are little (and maybe not the best with scissors), I would suggest doing steps 1 – 2 on your own before including them in on the fun decorating parts.

So, gather your supplies and have them ready. For the filler paper, you can either use pre-printed pages (use our free PDF above) or plain ol’ blank paper. If you’re using our template, print out your pages (one for every park you plan on visiting).

Step 1: Cut the paper bag

You will need to cut the bag to create two separate panels—a front and a back. You can leave the handles of the bag attached for a fun way to tote it around. Like a briefcase.

The bags have a natural fold about a fourth of the way up from the bottom. I cut right across the horizontal fold and discarded the bottom half of the bag. Then I cut off both the “sides” of the remaining top half of the bag. This left me with two panels, both containing a handle.

Step 2: Punch the holes

If you have a three-hole punch, lucky you. You are set for this next step. But if you’re like me and only have a regular ol’ single-hole punch, you may want to follow the steps below.
1. Find a scrap piece of paper the same size as your filler paper and punch three holes (as evenly spaced as possible) along the left side. Use this scrap piece of paper as your hole punching template.
2. Put your front and back panel from the paper bag on top of each other, the handles touching.
3. Then place your hole punching template on the top and punch the same three holes.
4. Do step 2 for the filler paper as well.
Voila! You just took thrice as long to do the same job as the three-hole punch, but you still got the job done!

Step 3: Decorate the cover page

What work of art is complete without some actual art? Spruce up the front cover of your park tour guidebook any way you want! This is the perfect step to bring in the little kids.

My kids chose to draw some pictures and label their park guide books with their names. You could use paint, stickers, stamps, or (gasp) glitter (cue horrified moms everywhere). Be as creative or as simplistic as you’d like.

Step 4: Assemble the pages

Now that all the leg work is done, it’s time to assemble these babies!

You will need to cut three pieces of string (or yarn, ribbon, twine, etc.) to use to bind the pages together. Loop the string through all the layers (front cover, filler pages, then back cover) for all three of the holes and tie them loosely. You will want to leave a little give so the pages can open and close with ease.

And with that, your DIY park guidebooks are now done and ready to be tested!

Creating your park ranking system

So what exactly do the filler pages of the park tour guidebook contain? Other than the park name (that’s important), everything else is really up to you! Last year we listed out and ranked pretty much every single thing we could think of that we may find at a park (slides, swings, climbers, shade trees, picnic area, water features (ponds, creeks), hiking and biking trails, wildlife, parking, uniqueness, etc.). This year, though, we kept it a bit simpler and only included the basics.

As the creator of your park tour guidebook, you (and your kids) get to determine what you want to include in your books to judge and how you want to judge/rank it. Think about what’s most important to you when finding a new park. Is it the playground equipment? Fishing pond? Is it a soccer or baseball field? Or maybe other things like size, distance from home, location, privacy, and remoteness?

And now you get to determine what your ranking system will be. Do you want to give points? Hearts or stars? Thumbs-up and thumbs-down?

We use a five-star rating system, with five stars being the best. We individually rank each of the items, then we tally the number of stars to determine the final score the park earned. This year we added the fun “thumbs up, thumbs down” rating system as well, to give the park as a whole. Thumbs-up means we’ll come back.

How to create the park tour guidebook ranking pages

How you want to create the filler pages with the ranking system is completely up to you and your kids. Older kids may want to create their own pages. They can either do that with pen/marker or maybe on a computer. Then you can make as many copies of the page as you need. Or, maybe each page is recreated on the spot and individualized to the park? For younger kids, maybe you create a page for them and make copies.

Like I noted earlier, last year I simply hand-wrote the categories and drew the stars. Then I made copies on my home photocopier for each of our guidebooks. This year, I created the template on Microsoft word. I searched Google for some free clipart since my five-year-old can’t read yet. Then I set to work creating a rating system.

Feel free to use my park tour guidebook rating page template or use it as inspiration to create your own!

Other fun additions to your park tour guidebook

Your guidebooks don’t have to be exclusively filled with ranking pages. Include a few blank pages in there for journaling or drawing. Maybe your kids want to draw a picture of the playground equipment so they remember the park. Or maybe they find a pretty leaf or flower that they press and glue on a page. Let them use pages to take notes or write down a funny thing that happened at each park.

Think about including a map of your area in your park tour guidebook and letting them plot out the parks they visit. Or a checklist of all the parks they want to visit (or have visited). Encourage them to can draw their own maps of the park, to work on their mapping and spatial awareness skills. Check out this post for more info on map reading skills for kids.

Take your park tour guide books out and play

Now that your park tour guide books are complete, it’s time to get out and explore! Make a list of all the playgrounds in your area and start hitting up as many as you can. Maybe you do a park a week over the next few months. Or maybe you plan a full day of park hopping and visit 10 parks in one day! There’s no right or wrong way to do this! Just have fun and don’t forget to bring your park tour guidebooks and take a few seconds (or minutes) before going home to rate your experience.

If your kids are like mine, they will love expressing their opinions. Sit back and watch their differences roll out! What one kid loves, the other is bound to hate. By the end of your park tour, you just might find one park that the whole family can agree they love and then you have a new family favorite!

What makes a park good for you?
Can you predict which park will be the family favorite?

About the author

Angie is a wife and stay-at-home-mom of three wild hyenas. She resides in rural Minnesota, where there are more cows and cornfields than people. She is an introvert with a creative itch that needs to be scratched, whether it is photographing her children in their daily lives or coming up with fun ways to explore nature in their backyard. Messy hair, dirty faces, mismatched clothing, wild and free children—all these things fuel her creativity and the desire to preserve these fleeting moments. Angie and her family can be found camping, biking, and sitting around a campfire during the summer months and sledding and ice fishing in a million layers during the winter.

You can find Chelsea online in the following locations:
Instagram: @angie_mahlke
RWMC posts: Angie Mahlke

Angie Mahlke

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What makes a park good for you?
Can you predict which park will be the family favorite?