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🌱Nature Study: Signs of Spring

After months of snow, grey skies, and heavy coats, Spring arrives like a breath of fresh air. It’s the perfect season to step outside and notice the world waking up again . Spring is full of small changes that children can easily observe. These changes are great opportunities for learning about nature, science, and the rhythm of the seasons. Here are some of the most exciting signs of Spring kids can watch for . 1. Longer Days and More Sunshine ☀️ One of the first clues that Spring is coming is more daylight . The sun rises earlier and sets later, which means even more time for outdoor play. This change happens around the time of the Spring Equinox  , when day and night are almost the same length. Ask kids: Do you notice the sun staying up later? What time does it get dark now compared to winter? 2. Snow Begins to Melt ❄️➡️💧 If you live in colder places, melting snow is one of the clearest signs of Spring. Kids may notice: Snowbanks shrinking Puddles forming St...
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Nature Study: Attract Butterflies To Your Garden!

Spring is in the air so what better time so talk about - butterflies!? 

Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory


We took a trip to a Butterfly Conservatory where we learned about the different stages of a butterfly’s life.

We saw all the stages: the eggs, the caterpillars and the  butterflies slowly emerging from their chrysalis and figuring out their wings. 

We also learned that butterflies not only like nectar from flowers but they also really like fruit. More on this later...first let’s answer a question that may be on your mind. 

Apart from being pretty to look at and peaceful creatures...

Why Are Butterflies Important?

Butterflies are natural pollinators and help with the reproduction of crops and plants. A decline in the butterfly (or bee population) can result in a decline or loss of some native plant species or poor performance of crops that rely solely on butterflies for pollination.

How To Attract Butterflies To Your Garden 

Pick a sunny spot. Apparently, butterflies are cold blooded creatures so they enjoy soaking up the warmth of the sun.


Plant flowers that attract butterflies. Plant several varieties to attract different types of butterflies or plant milk weed to attract the endangered species like the Monarch Butterfly. 

Place shallow plates of water and sand or water, sand and soil around so they have a water source. 


Peg a sweet treat to share with them. On our trip we discovered that butterflies really like oranges. Place some wedges on a plate or butterfly feeder for them to enjoy. 

DIY butterfly feeder waiting for
the butterflies

Provide a perch for them (backyard pavers work too). Aside from large leaves and flowers, butterflies like to perch on large smooth stones. Who knows...they may even feel comfortable enough in your own backyard to perch on you!

What are some other fun or interesting facts you’ve observed about butterflies? Share them in the comments below.

Tip: Download the SEEK APP from iNaturalist & National Geographic to identify the different types of butterflies in your garden or park. 

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