That's exactly what happened to me this weekend.
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I also recalled a prior year when our entire family enjoyed a nature outing using a free Easter Nature Walk printable from Inside Outside Michiana.
Then, I spied a copy of The Stations of the Cross for Children from Peanut Butter & Grace Books, which we received the other day and will be sharing a review of soon.
So, I got brainstorming descriptions of items in nature that the children might find to help them remember the 14 stations of Jesus' condemnation, crucifixion, and resurrection as told in New Way of the Cross, as well as what happened just before Jesus was condemned and what happened after He rose. I came up with the following:
- The largest leaf reminds us of the palms people waved as they welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the king!” and, thereby, angering leaders who wanted no one in charge but themselves. (John 12:13)
- Fruit on a vine reminds us of the wine Jesus gave to the apostles along with bread at the Last Supper, saying “This is my body and blood, which I am giving you for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26: 26-29)
- A winged seed or creature reminds us of the wings of angel, perhaps the angel that came from heaven to give Jesus strength during the Agony in the Garden. (Luke 22:39-48)
- Something dark reminds us of the darkness in people’s hearts as they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” when Jesus is condemned. (Matthew 27:15-26)
- Thorns or spiky barbs remind us of the crown of thorns places upon Jesus’ head when Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns. (Matthew 27:27-31)
- A cross shaped branch or twig reminds us that Jesus carries the cross – a heavy wooden one. (John 19: 16-17)
- Something too heavy to lift reminds us of the weight of the cross which Jesus carried and how Jesus falls. (Isaiah 53: 4-7)
- Something paired reminds us of how Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross. (Luke 23:26)
- Something wet reminds us of how Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem who cry for him. (Luke 23: 27-31).
- Something spiky reminds us of the nails used when Jesus is nailed to the cross. (Luke 23:32-38)
- Something you see that makes a turn reminds us of the good thief who turned to Jesus and asked to be taken to heaven with him. (Luke 23:39-43)
- Something at the foot of something else reminds us of Mary and John at the foot of the cross as Jesus said to his mother, “Here is you son,” and said to John, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:25-27)
- Something dead reminds us that Jesus dies on the cross. (John 19:28-30)
- The largest rock reminds us that Jesus is laid in the tomb and a large stone is rolled in front of it to seal it. (John 19:38-42).
- Something empty reminds us of the empty tomb and that Jesus rises from the dead. (Matthew 28:1-10)
- New life reminds us that Jesus rose again and that if we allow the Spirit to help us follow Jesus’ way, we will one day have a new life in heaven with Him. (Mark 16:15-20)
I, then, created a simple FREE three-page New Way of the Cross nature notebooking printable to share, much like the St. Francis, St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Anthony of Padua printables I have shared in the past, but with two pages of boxes to accommodate more descriptive prompts to get the children thinking and sketching.
If you'd like to use the New Way of the Cross nature hunt printable, feel free to do so! I'd love to hear how your experience goes.
I intend to do this walk on Good Friday as follows:
- Recall how Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us on Good Friday and open with the prayer at the beginning of The Stations of the Cross for Children.
- Have a chat with the children to see what they already know about Stations of the Cross and explain that we'll be going on a nature scavenger as we recall Jesus' condemnation, crucifixion, and resurrection using The Stations of the Cross for Children.
- Read and reflect upon the first station in the book together and note that it is different from the first Station of the Cross they might already be familiar with. Explain that the books uses the New Way of the Cross which highlights some of the same moments in Jesus' as the traditional Stations of the Cross do, but swaps out others.
- Hand out double-sided scavenger hunt sheets and have children look at the descriptors, seeing if they can guess the symbolism behind any of the things they will be asked to find.
- Ask the children if they'd like to read all of The Stations of the Cross for Children before going on our scavenger hunt or if they would like to read a portion of it, then search for related nature items before reading another portion of it.
- Offer clipboards and set children loose with colored pencils (and cameras for some) to begin hunting for the items on the printable.
- Discover and chat about nature items along with children, capturing sketches or descriptions in the boxes on the scavenger hunt sheet.
- Close with the Closing Prayer in The Stations of the Cross for Children.
If you'd like a visual of how our nature hunt might unfold, you can take a peak at the pictorial description for our St Anthony of Padua nature adventure, which our New Way of the Cross will be similar to.
You can also enjoy a few more snapshots from last year's walk, which used a different book and printable, but is along the same idea.
And, yes, I know Good Friday is a somber time, but, my children know he end of the story and, sometimes, find great joy in life even during more somber occasions.
I am okay with that. In fact, I rejoice in it. We ARE an Easter people, praise God. Even as we repent and recall the great suffering and sacrifice of our Lord, we have the privilege of knowing His death on the cross was not the end and find hope and happiness in the joy of the Resurrection.
May we never take our Lord's sacrifice for granted, may we always give thanks for His Divine Mercy, and may we live in hope and love.
Other Nature Printables
If you'd like to use other faith-based nature printables I have made, just click through the images below.
May your mind and heart continue to turn toward Jesus as you journey through this Lent.
