Sparkle Crafts

Nature School Project: Hidden Earth Art

In the Martin & Sylvia's Nature School story "Nature School Apprentice," Momma asks Martin if he might teach his sister Sylvia and her friend Sophia what he's been learning at Goose Eye Wilderness School. Inspired by last week's lesson on Mother Earth Art, he teaches her how to take nature's gifts to create something lovely.

What is Hidden Earth Art?

It's creating something in the natural world that's your own creation, but so subtle someone else might not notice it.

For me, I often do it as a moment of reverence and delight -- say if I come across a feather, I might weave it through a bit of bark in a cedar tree -- almost as if it could have caught there. It's my way of appreciating the feather treasure, and making a little dear loveliness -- just for myself to see!

We made some of our own Hidden Earth Art this past weekend on Mother's Day. I invited the boys on my favorite hike, and as we went we made little creations.

How to Make Hidden Earth Art

• Take a nature walk or hike, and keep your eyes open.

• If something catches your eye - say a feather or a stone or a leaf - pause and enjoy it. If inspired, appreciate it as a gift from the natural world.

• Then consider a way to add your own small creative touch. Try changing its position or combine it with another element -- say adding leaves around the feather.

Whatever you do, make sure it's something that isn't obvious to the passersby -- something so small and subtle that anyone else wouldn't notice it.

Here's David, simply balancing sticks...

This weekend I even made a trail of "hidden earth art" -- little leaves placed on stones -- to be used as clues as to where I was "hiding" in the woods.

The boys followed my little markers until they found me by the creek. They had to keep their eyes open for the little markers!

The next time you're out in nature, give it a go. See if taking a small moment to arrange a natural treasure or two doesn't give you and your children an extra bit of joy.