Outdoor Fun

Leaf Labyrinth. Rake paths through fallen leaves in a spiral or a maze pattern. Then invite friends to follow your trail. Or rake out your name or initials.

Leaf Angels. Lie down in a leafy lawn and make jumping-jack movements with your arms and legs. Can you make an autumn version of a snow angel?

Leaf Memory. Collect leaves from trees and shrubs, and use them to play a memory game with a friend.

1. First, find 8 to 12 pairs of matching leaves. (For example, two oak leaves, two maple leaves, and so on.)
2. Glue or tape each leaf to an index card.
3. Spread out all the cards face down.
4. Take turns flipping over two cards at a time. If you get a match, you get to keep those cards and take another turn.
5. The player with the most pairs at the end wins.

Leaf Rubbings. Lay a sheet of paper on top of a leaf. Rub over it with the side of a crayon. Or use lots of different-colored crayons. It works best if the underside of the leaf, with the veins, is facing up. The shape and pattern of the leaf will magically appear.

-- Kate Hofmann