Since we can't really gather to go on adventures with friends, it's been super meaningful for Jillian and Sasha to see that their buddies have enjoyed the same places and had similar experiences.' 'It connects me and my family to the natural world, it has a spirit of play, it encourages other families to get out and explore, and it helps nurture community. 'For me, it hits all the notes,' said Stucker. There are directions, hints and an email address where you can send your selfies once you find the creatures. You can find these hunts at: //findthecreature-scavengerhunts. 'But the conception of each and the execution of the artwork is all her.' 'She and I definitely work together to decide how hard to make each hunt and how to balance visual and word clues,' said Stucker. There are nine maps, all drawn by Jillian, that lead to tiny plastic creatures they have hidden in the woods.īefore school closed, Jillian's fourth-grade class was learning how to read maps, and this project extends that learning. The first one is a whimsical homemade scavenger hunt created by my friend Dov Stucker and his children, 10-year-old Jillian and 6-year-old Sasha. Here are two recent offerings I've encountered that provide families with a socially distant way to get outdoors, while still feeling like they're part of a community. People seem to have a lot of generosity and creativity pent up inside, just waiting to be unleashed. Scary and unfair as the pandemic may feel, the thing that has surprised me most is the sweetness that's arisen in response to it.

Heather with husband Ben and son Jesse in Burlington's Arms Forest.

Nature hunt bingo