TURN YOUR BACKYARD INTO A WINTER WONDERLAND!

Winter is here, and – before you start groaning – there’s so much fun to be had! Yes, most of us would rather be soaking up sun on the California coast, but then we’d be missing out on the great Canadian winter wonderland. Forget the driveway snow-shoveling, sidewalk salting, and brushing the car off during your morning rush. Instead, think about all the incredible winter activities you can do in your own backyard. Read on to learn about Conservatory’s Top Five Family Snowfall Activities for hours of fun all season long!

Now this may seem expensive and arduous at first glance, but rest assured creating your own personal backyard skating rink can be accomplished with ease. Of course, you can always opt to spend a little bit more for a larger rink (if you’ve got the space for it), but we recommend starting out with something smaller for your first time. All you really need is a leveled area in your backyard, a few pieces of 2x12 planks to act as boards, a tarp, hose, and shovel. Once you’ve got the basic materials, building is fairly simple. Frame your rink almost like a sandbox. Lay the tarp down, slowly fill the area with a thin layer of water, wait until frozen, and repeat until your ice surface is thick enough. Follow this step-by-step video guide for the basic idea, and expand it to your heart’s content!

An incredibly easy and virtually costless backyard winter spectacle is frozen bubbles! It might seem like a simple trifle, but trust us, you’re in for a real treat if you haven’t made or seen them before. So before we continue, we urge you to watch this 28-second video of one of nature’s most under-appreciated masterpieces. Yes, we’ve watched that video almost 50 times now, but it just goes to show that natural beauty like this will fascinate children and adults alike, and will undoubtedly be appreciated by all. Without delving into the science of heat exchange and crystallization, all you need to know is that frozen orbs like these require temperatures of around -10C and some generic or homemade bubble soap. With calm winds and bubble blower in hand, you’re ready to make the season’s best artistic piece!

For something with a little more longevity, you can always try your hand at winter’s favourite snowfall sculpture. We’re certain you’ve got experience with this one, and we can assure you that it’s still as much fun as at was when you were a kid. We’re talking, of course, about the terrifically timeless snowman! For starters, you need the right type of snow. And though you don’t need to be a snow scientist like Rhode Island College Professor Dan Snowman (his real name, if you can believe it), a few simple tips will inestimably aid you in making the best snow buddy you can make. Click here for an in-depth guide to building a lasting snowman in just six easy steps!

If your family is really missing the sandy shores of some sunlit beach, fret not because you can adopt a classic beachfront activity as a wonderful winter pastime. Instead of sandcastles, try your hand at making some snowcastles! As with the snowman mentioned above, the right snow has a major influence on the overall construction process. According to the experts, wet and compact sand offers the perfect consistency for building a marvelous sandcastle, and packing snow is natures formula for the ideal snowcastle material. Additionally, any tools you might already have for building sandcastles (hand shovels, wall molds, sculpting tools, etc.) will work just as well with snow. Alternatively, you can strap on some gloves and use your hands just as effectively!