How to Make a Maze with Natural Materials
Making a DIY nature maze is the perfect summer activity for kids! They’ll love being able to roam around the yard and find items in nature that they can then use to create a fun maze. This is such a simple way to have them get outside and be creative, all at the same time.
How to Make This DIY Nature Maze
Since you just need a few items from around your house (literally!), there’s no reason that the kids can’t hop in and make this fun activity any day of the week. Not only can they choose whatever items that they can find in the yard, but it’s a fun way to have them start to think creatively about the whole process of building and engineering, too.
For more arts and crafts activities, visit our comprehensive list of ideas and activities! You can never have too many art ideas and activities for the kids!
How to Create This DIY Nature Maze
There really isn’t a right or wrong way to create this maze as long as the kids are having fun and being active. They’ll just need to throw on some shoes and see what they can find outdoors. The great part about this simple activity is that each time they make it, it’s going to look completely different!
My kiddos grabbed sticks, acorns, empty snail shells, sea shells from past vacations, and pine cones to name a few. This activity is great for all seasons because it allows the kids to get fall leaves, summer flowers, or even unique rocks that are colorful throughout the year.
How to Create This DIY Nature Maze
There really isn’t a right or wrong way to create this maze as long as the kids are having fun and being active. They’ll just need to throw on some shoes (or not!) and see what they can find outdoors. The great part about this simple activity is that each time they make it, it’s going to look completely different!
My kiddos grabbed sticks, acorns, empty snail shells, sea shells from past vacations, and pine cones to name a few. This activity is great for all seasons because it allows the kids to get fall leaves, summer flowers, or even unique rocks that are colorful throughout the year.
Tips for Making This DIY Nature Maze
No gift box? No Problem! If you don’t have an old gift box to use, you can create your own with pieces of cardboard like we did!
Use Strong Glue! We used tacky glue. It dries quick, has a strong hold, and is safe for my kids to handle.
Can’t collect nature items? Is the weather bad or don’t have a yard or park nearby? Collect recyclable items in your house instead! Paper straws, bottle caps, paper tubes, are just a few examples of things you can use to create a maze as well!
Be creative! Unleash your creativity on this very open ended nature craft. Just make sure to have a start and finish if you want to be able to use it as a game! Visit our comprehensive list of arts and craft supplies to see some of our go-to items!
All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.
Materials
- Old gift box, or pieces of cardboard to create a bordered frame as we did!
- Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue
- Nature items, like sticks, rocks, shells, pine cones, etc.
- Acrylic Paint
- Permanent Markers
- Wooden Beads or Balls
- Old gift box, or pieces of cardboard to create a bordered frame as we did!
- Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue
- Nature items, like sticks, rocks, shells, pine cones, etc.
- Acrylic Paint
- Permanent Markers
- Wooden Beads or Balls
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
To make a cardboard frame, cut one big piece and corresponding border pieces. Use glue to secure, and include a handle if you wish!
Step 2
Decorate your pieces of nature!
Step 3
With your sticks, start with the basic structure from start to finish, gluing to secure. Add decorative pieces and the words “start and finish” to complete the design!
Step 1
To make a cardboard frame, cut one big piece and corresponding border pieces. Use glue to secure, and include a handle if you wish!
Step 2
Decorate your pieces of nature!
Step 3
With your sticks, start with the basic structure from start to finish, gluing to secure; (4) Add decorative pieces and the words “start and finish” to complete the design!
The Educational Benefits of this DIY Nature Maze
I love using this nature maze as a great way to be creative and have the kids thinking analytically. The great part about a maze is that it works their brain and has them thinking a few steps ahead to ensure that there is a starting and a finishing point for the maze.
This activity is also great for exploring nature and their hand-eye coordination for building the maze. All the items that they’ll find in nature are great for sensory skills and sensory learning, too.
The Educational Benefits of this DIY Nature Maze
I love using this nature maze as a great way to be creative and have the kids thinking analytically. The great part about a maze is that it works their brain and has them thinking a few steps ahead to ensure that there is a starting and a finishing point for the maze.
This activity is also great for exploring nature and their hand-eye coordination for building the maze. All the items that they’ll find in nature are great for sensory skills and sensory learning, too.
More Ways to Explore Artistic Mediums
Here are my top picks for arts and crafts kits that encourage hands on creations!
Water Marbling Kit
Create beautiful marbled art with this easy to use kit. This is water based art and comes with all the tools needed to create 10 masterpieces!
Spin and Spiral Art
This fun kit allows kiddos to explore both spin art and spiral art. The kit comes with 3 spiro gears, 6 markers, 3 ink bottles, 15 paper discs, and an art station base.
Sand Art Kit
This sand art kit comes with 8 different colors of sand to create sand bottles and pendant bottles. A great way to discover art through a different medium!
String Art Kit
This kit is a fun way for kids to create and display amazing shapes and designs artistically made with string. Use a pattern included in the kit or create your own!
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