Get Back to Nature Birthday Party

6.10.2009

We've always done birthday parties at home. For Annie's 7th I was thinking we needed to mix it up so we reserved a shelter at a local park that has a little zoo. A few months before the party I picked up a pack of paper from the Friendly Forest line and used this as inspiration. We decided on a Back to Nature theme. A trip through the zoo, a couple of projects and then some playing at the park. Annie wanted to invite her whole class and a few friends so we were looking at 20 or more kids. I'm glad we opted for the park and everyone seemed to have fun.

Here are the invites. I scanned an image from the paper pack and recolored it.

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Annie and I made each child a nature journal using recycled paper file folders and straw paper by Terracycle that we found on clearance at our office supply store. We used papers from the friendly forest pack to edge the journals and the kids decorated them with cut-outs.

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I found some paper masks at michaels and thought it would be fun for them to make animal masks after getting some inspiration walking through the zoo. I realized I probably could have just made the masks but had already bought them. Here are some templates. I love how each child's looks so different.

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While waiting for everyone to arrive the kids decorated the tablecovers (brown craft paper)with birthday wishes for Annie. We had yummy cupcakes that were topped with the hersey kiss acorns found here.

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I'm not a big fan of the goodie bag full of plastic stuff so we made extra acorns and put them in baggies tied with jute twine and a pencil. I forgot to get a picture but the were very pleased. They each also got to take home a pair of binoculars that I purchased online.

Annie had a blast and it was definitely her kinda party, lots of making, a bit of playing and some animal watching. What more could a seven year old want.

7 comments:

Amy said...

This would be hard to top! Bravo, Mary.

Arielle Lee Bair said...

That looks awesome (the invitation and the day!) and Annie/Anya ;) must be proud to have you as a mom.

gardenmama said...

Getting back to nature party... love that!

Anonymous said...

so cute!

I live about 10 minutes away from Philips Park! In fact, I'm heading over there soon to drop off my son for Soccer Camp! small world!

carol
from kidding around

pink and green mama MaryLea said...

What a fun party!! We discussed doing a green gardening party or a green crafts party one of these days!! I love the acorns and nature journals! : )

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU so much for this idea!!!! My son's 8th bday party was yesterday and i got inspired from you! :)
I invited everyone in a Nature Center, i got for all the kids (15) a bug catcher playset, a watch bug, trail mix and a bottle of water (first 2 from dolar tree store). We went on 1 mile trail and the kids had tons of fun looking for bugs, and birds, and turtles.... After 2 hours, everybody followed us to Straw Hat Pizza where we ended our day.
One more trick.... you know that kids finish fast their food... so i bought (from Dolar Tree Store again) some small canvas bags, some self adhesive insects cut outs, and some glitter glue and the kids played with these like half an hour. And us parents, just enjoyed a great afternoon!
THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Inny

Ingrid said...

Thank you for such a great idea! I just hosted a Back to Nature Party and it was really fun!!!!