MSU Extension Child & Family Development

As the days grow shorter and the trees begin to turn colors, there is a wealth of fantastic opportunities to enjoy this autumn with your children. Michigan State University Extension recommends these 10 fun activities to get the most out of the beautiful fall weather before the snow flies!

Visit an apple orchard

Did you know that Michigan is the second largest producer of apples in the United States? There are more than 17.6 million apple trees planted in Michigan! Michigan offers many fantastic apple orchards. Check out Michigan Apples to learn more about apple varieties, recipes and a guide to finding an orchard near you. Pick apples, try cider and a doughnut and let your children learn more about where their food comes from!

Cook with apples

Make applesauce, apple butter or a pie! After the visit to the apple orchard, return home and make something with those locally grown, tasty and delicious apples! Children are often amazed to see how something like applesauce is made. Include them as much as possible in the process. Find dozens of recipes at Michigan Apple Recipes. If you’re interested in preserving your food, learn more through MSU Extension’s Michigan Fresh.

Take a color tour

As early as late September, Michigan trees put on a beautiful fall display. Follow updates on the changing colors and find ideas for beautiful, scenic drives from the Upper Peninsula all the way to southeastern Michigan at the Awesome Mitten’s Fall Color Map. The famous Tunnel of Trees along M-119 peaks around mid-October. Talk to your children about the trees they are seeing, helping to name colors and identify tree varieties.

Find your way through a corn maze

Every fall, farmers create corn mazes (or maize mazes) by cutting paths through their cornfields. Some mazes are very large, topping out near 10 acres, others might offer smaller mazes for children, lit evening mazes or even haunted mazes! Many corn mazes are found at farms with pumpkin patches or apple orchards, making for a great weekend outing!

Find a fall festival

All throughout Michigan, people are busy celebrating fall! Apple, pumpkin and harvest festivals can be found across the state. Festivals often offer a sampling of local foods, amusement park rides, craft shows or other fun activities. The Canterbury Donut & Cider Fest, Art and Apples Festival in Rochester, the Michigan Applefest in Sparta, Pumpkin Fest in Caseville, the Charlevoix Apple Fest and the UPtoberfest in Escanaba are just a few of the fall festivals around the state.  

Pick a pumpkin

Of course, no fall is complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch! Find a local pumpkin patch and hop on a wagon out to the fields. Help your children find just the right pumpkin for carving. Do they want tall or round? Small or large? Plan enough time for your child to search for the perfect pumpkin! Pure Michigan offers a guide to the find pumpkin patches near you.

Rake leaves (or don’t)

As long as you have to rake up all those leaves, take some extra time to make a big pile for your child to jump in! Provide a smaller rake for your child and have them chip in on the hard work. Not interested in spending all that time raking? Join the no-rake movement! Instead of bagging up all the leaves, consider mulching them into your lawn. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources explains that chipmunks, toads, box turtles, shrews, insects, earthworms and other critters make fallen leaf layers their home and raking or blowing leaves disrupts their life cycles. In addition, decomposing leaves are beneficial to your soil and it saves you a lot of work

Become an arborist

An arborist is a person who studies trees. Fall is a great time to involve your children in learning about the trees around them. Start a leaf collection and press leaves between sheets of wax paper. Identify trees the leaves come from and look up information about the trees. Take time to find the answer to “leafy” questions like why a certain tree turns red or why another keeps its leaves longer. Stumped? Visit Gardening in Michigan to find more information about Michigan trees and plants.

Trick or treat in your town

Many cities and towns offer a special night of trick or treating. Usually occurring earlier in the day, these events can be a lot of fun for little ghosts and goblins! Other facilities that offer special trick or treat times often include senior centers and indoor malls. Some outdoor venues such as Crossroads Village and Greenfield Village also offer special Halloween events. Get dressed up and head out for some spooky fun!

Get outside

Before the weather turns and the polar vortex veers south, take time to get outside and enjoy the beautiful autumn days! Many state parks offer special fall activities. Go on a fall scavenger hunt, take a photo walk, make bird feeders or have a family bonfire... just take time to enjoy the colorful trees and sunny fall weather! Before you know it, winter will arrive!