In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind may moan but that doesn’t stop Girl Scouts from heading out and enjoying the snow. Are you ready to bundle up and head outside for some snowy day activities? Here’s a few of our favorites to try this winter.

Get Creative!

Test your architectural design skills by building a snow castle. You’ll just need a shovel, a bucket, and a variety of plastic food containers or paper cups—any containers will do to use as a mold for walls, turrets, and more! If art is more your jam, try your hand at snow painting. Fill several spray bottles with water, then add different colored drops of food coloring to create your “paint.” Use a stick to mark off your painting’s canvas in the snow and create a colorful masterpiece.

Practice Your Aim!

It’s time to challenge your throwing skills and build those arm muscles. Using string, hang a pinecone from a nearby tree branch. Then have a contest to see who can hit the pinecone “target” with a snowball. Too easy? Move farther away from the target. You can also set a hula hoop up on its side in the snow and hang your pinecone from it with string as an alternative target. Ready, set, aim!

Explore Nature!

Winter is a great time to explore the outdoors. Head out on a snowy hike through the woods and see what animal prints you can identify. Can you track the animal’s path through the snow? Or, explore a new trail or local nature preserve. It’s amazing how adding snow to the landscape turns finding your way on simple hiking trails into an orienteering adventure. If you’re ready for a challenge, this year may be the time to try winter camping. With the right gear, this is a wonderful way to spend a snowy day (and night)!

Need more winter activities? Level up your winter adventures this year by earning the Girl Scout Snow badge for your age level!