Natural materials found in the backyard or on family hikes can be used to create fun holiday crafts. Besides natural materials, you’ll need scissors, tacky glue or a glue gun, gold spray paint, ribbons and any other decorations that you want to add.

Simple wreaths can be created with pieces of Cook Pine or banyan tree roots. Twist two long pine twigs, commonly found at state parks or hiking trails like Aiea Loop Trail or Waahila Ridge Trail, said Pauline Kawamata, volunteer program manager of Hawaii Nature Center. Young banyan tree roots may also be twisted to create a wreath base. Once twisted, form a circle and secure the ends together with a ribbon (and a little glue, if needed). Attach Christmas berries for a pop of color. “I found mine along the Round Top Drive going up to Puu Ualakaa State Park,” Kawamata said. Attach other embellishments with glue and add a ribbon.

Angels can be created by using coconut fiber, the material that grows near the base of the leaves on the coconut palm, as a foundation and a kukui nut for the head. Trace the template on page D3 onto the coconut frond and cut it out. Glue the ends of the frond together to form a cone for the body of the angel. Spray the kukui nut gold. After the paint dries, glue it to the top of the body . Add moss for hair; leaf skeletons make perfect wings.

“These leaf skeletons are from a tree called Toona. Somehow the decomposers like the rolly pollies and springtails really like the chlorophyll off these leaves,” Kawamata said. After the insects eat away the chlorophyll, they leave behind the beautiful framework of the leaves.

A morning outing in nature can turn into an afternoon of crafting , which makes it a perfect family adventure.