Why Oregon Winter Is Secretly One Of The Best Seasons For Families (Plus A Fun Scavenger Hunt)

Enjoying the outdoors in the dark, damp chill of winter may not be the top choice on anyone’s to-do list right now. Even gardens show their unhappiness with the change of season, as the tomato plants and the vibrant blooms of warmer days have shriveled into sad, dark lumps. It is only natural that these unfriendly forecasts lead to increased time indoors, often leaving kids feeling a bit frustrated, cooped up, and bored. One of the key things parents can shift family focus to during the winter months is maintaining an attitude of gratitude. Oregon winters serve a far greater purpose than we often give them credit for! Please read on for a list of the best talking points about the coldest season, as well as a fun scavenger hunt to do outside with kids of all ages.

15 Benefits of Oregon Winter

• This season of cooling gives plant life and animals crucial time to rest and prepare to grow quickly and firmly in the coming spring.
• Heavy rainfall replenishes Oregon’s many waterfall flows, causing them to rush and cascade with stunning force that is typically much less impressive in other seasons.
• The legislature voted to approve that February is officially Oregon Truffle Month, just in time to celebrate the annual festival’s 20th anniversary! Learn more about this event here.
• Skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and other winter sports opportunities open for business within the Cascade range, attracting visitors and generating valuable state revenue.
• Pest populations that cannot survive or procreate in the cold experience natural control and regulation, while we humans get a nice break from them.
• The bright white surface of snow reflects solar radiation into space (referred to as albedo), helping to cool the Earth efficiently.
• Coastal businesses like the Whale Cove Inn thrive during the winter thanks to increased King Tides, whale watching, and stellar crabbing and clamming opportunities.
• Nutrients are provided to soil and ecosystems by the breakdown (decomposition) of plant materials and by snowfall, which creates a layer of insulation.
• Winter’s continuous cycle of freezing, thawing, and resting causes the soil to restructure and absorb nutrients so that it can foster life again.
• Tree planting in Oregon peaks in winter, taking advantage of cooler weather to promote new root development in freshly planted saplings that will boost our forests.
• Low crowds and off-season deals can make visiting new or typically busy locations across Oregon easier, affordable, and more enjoyable. 
• Packed snow acts as a natural water reserve, slowly melting and replenishing rivers, lakes, and groundwater levels in aquifers throughout the year.
• Many animals, such as coyotes, birds, and deer, remain active during the winter months and offer excellent wildlife watching, as detailed in this ONDA article.
• Oregon is already a photographer’s paradise, and the winter season offers greater opportunities for interesting visual effects such as fog, frost, and dramatic contrasts.
• Family day-trips to a nearby wildlife refuge, sno-park, or winter resort offer fresh air, a pleasant change of scenery, and a range of activities to get everybody moving.

Basic Outdoor Scavenger Hunting

Remember that this winter season is far from doom and gloom! If the fifteen points listed above were still not enough to garner interest for this season, here are some ideas of specific seasonal hunting items to look out for whenever you are outside together.

Winter-Blooming Plants and other landscape elements that thrive across the state, like wintergreen, hellebores, winter jasmine, heather, Oregon grape, certain camellias, and more, provide a beautiful range of green leaves and budding colors that endure throughout the coldest months of the year. Spotting these beauties while walking through town will not take much work, yet they are a great reminder of hope and growth planted all around us! You might be surprised to see bushes without leaves but clusters of bright, purple berries right next to thick, green-leaved ones scattered with big, red berries. If your family is unfamiliar with common winter plants, these ten from Portlander Ben Bowen are an easy way to get started.

Cloud Formations in the sky can have us seeing huge flocks of fluffy sheep (altocumulus) one day, colorful halos around the sun and moon (cirrostratus) the next, and then a strange haze that drifts across the sky without ever touching the ground (virga). Definitely play cloud spotting even without using all the fancy cloud names–try to point out as many different kinds as possible each time you are outside! Activating imagination in this simple, interactive way is an effective mood booster for people of all ages.

Bird Watching is a whole lot easier when most of the trees are bare, leaving all kinds of different birds on display for us to enjoy. Winter is a highly active season for Oregon’s native feathered friends. They are busy hopping and scavenging on the ground, resting along the street’s electrical wiring, and gliding across the crisp, open skies. Quite likely, you will not have to leave your own backyard to find a handful of common Oregon birds for your hunt! Mix up how you play by seeing how many juncos you can count within two minutes, or see which family member can locate the most popular feeding ground. 

Wildlife Tracking is an enjoyable activity in the winter months because animals pass through muddy or snowy ground, and the cold temperatures help preserve their imprints. Guess which animal might have made the track–maybe a bunny, squirrel, or deer? Use other clues to narrow it down, such as how far apart the tracks are, whether there are any animal droppings nearby, or what wildlife you have already seen in the area.