Did you know the “12 Days of Christmas” actually run from Christmas Day to Epiphany (Dec 25–Jan 5)? Observing these days invites us to slow down, enjoy the quieter days after Christmas, and spend a little extra time recovering from the busyness of the season. We happen to think these are the perfect days to dip your toes in some at-home adventure!
So, with that spirit in mind, we’ve put together a “12 Days of Adventure” guide for you to enjoy during the Christmas season. Grab a friend, make it your own, and end this year steeped in adventure.
Day 1: 5 Senses Walk
Get outside! Even in winter, there is so much to experience in God’s creation. Take a “5 senses walk” to guide your exploration! Search for:
- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can hear
- 3 things you can smell
- 2 things you can touch
- 1 thing you can taste (even if that means ending this walk with a little treat!)
If you’re by yourself, turn this walk into a chance to unplug and live in the moment. If you’re in a group, compare finds as you go along!
Day 2: Cardboard Empire
Put those leftover cardboard boxes from Christmas to good use! Upcycle them into a craft you can do with the family (fairy house, anyone?), an epic condo for your cat, or a personalized storage bin. Sometimes the best creativity comes from limited resources. So, use the boxes or the wrapping headed for the trash and see what you can create. You might be surprised!
Day 3: Hot Cocoa Picnic
Today’s adventure centers around something we can all get behind: hot cocoa! If it’s not too cold, bundle up and head outside with your mugs. If it’s a bit chilly, spread a blanket on the floor, play a yule log video on YouTube, and enjoy an indoor picnic. The purpose of this adventure is to disrupt your everyday pattern — even in the simplest way! Slow down and enjoy a treat with some good company.
Day 4: Cozy Movie Day
Winter and movie-watching just go together. Paired with intentionality, even something as simple as watching a movie can become an adventure.
Grab a couple friends or family members and have everyone write their top two movies of the year on slips of paper. Toss them into a bowl and draw one to watch! If it’s not available on your streaming platform, pick the next slip. Afterward, ask the winner why it was their favorite. You might learn something new about someone you love!
Day 5: Gratitude
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages us to, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” So let’s take today to practice thankfulness!
Grab some stickers, the good pens, and spend a few minutes writing thank you cards. If you received gifts over Christmas, thank the givers. Or simply think of a few people who blessed your life this year and tell them why you’re thankful for them. Get creative and get thankful!
Day 6: You’re a Poet and You Didn’t Know It.
Write a haiku! It’s easier than you think.
Pick a theme (like highlights from this year), and write three lines:
5 syllables/ 7 syllables/ 5 syllables
The point isn’t to wow anybody with your poetry or even to show anyone your poem. It’s to do something different. If you don’t typically write a haiku on a Tuesday evening, give it a try!
Day 7: Words of Affirmation Garland
Paper chain garlands but make them really special! This makes a great gift for a friend to walk into the new year with. Here’s what to do:
- Write small encouraging notes for a friend on each paper strip. These can be full notes or simply positive traits you see in them, like “strong” or “faithful.”
- Assemble the chain garland with the notes facing inward.
- Gift it to your friend! They can pull off a note each day the first few days of the new year or hang it up as a reminder of the truth spoken over them.
Hint: This makes for a meaningful family or date night, too! In a group, have everyone write several notes for each person, then assemble together! As a date night, create your chain garlands for each other at the same time.
Day 8: Word of the Year
If you’re following along with the traditional 12 Days of Christmas, today is New Year’s Day! You’ve likely spent time already reflecting on last year … now it’s time to set intentions for this fresh year.
Pick your “word of the year” — something you want to shape your mindsets, choices, or habits. (May we suggest “adventure”?) You can also pick a theme verse. If there’s a scripture God’s been putting on your heart, write it down, make it your lockscreen, put it on your fridge. It’s a new year, let’s start it off on the right foot!
If you’re completing these adventures outside of the traditional “12 Days of Christmas”, you can still participate! Choose a word of the week or of the month. Any day can be a fresh start.
Day 9: Winter Walk and Talk
Here at camp, we’re big fans of the walk and talk. Here’s how it works: when we’re walking to the next camp activity, we pair up and ask a few intentional questions to get to know our walking buddy. This is an easy, built-in way we foster authentic relationships while adventuring at camp. It works even with people you know and talk to every day. The key is the excitement of breaking a pattern and asking intentional questions.
Here’s what we suggest for today’s adventure: go for a cold night walk! This is likely outside of your everyday routine enough to feel special and spark new ideas. Use these conversation starters to get started:
- When did you feel brave last year?
- If you could take one adventure this year, what would it be?
- What’s a winter memory that stands out to you?
- When did you feel most grateful last year?
- Who is someone who made last year special?
Day 10: Bring Color to Your Winter Lawn
Today we’re acknowledging the dry winter grass … and raising it with painted rocks! You don’t have to be an artist here — you just need some paint, paint brushes, and clean rocks.
Pick a theme (favorite cartoon characters, flowers, animals) or just let your imagination run. The point is to create something that will add cheer to the dreary weather and remind you of this little adventure.
Day 11: Throwback Bird Gift
Birds can also add cheer to an otherwise gloomy winter’s day. That’s why today we’re doing an old classic … peanut butter pinecone bird feeders! Here’s what you’ll need:
- A pinecone. Search for the biggest you can find!
- String
- Peanut butter (or nut butter)
- Bird seed
Secure the string around the pinecone (great to do before adding the peanut butter!), slather it in peanut butter, and roll it in bird seed. Hang it on a branch and watch as the birds come by to enjoy their afternoon snack!
It’s a simple way to step outside of your routine and bring life and color straight to your yard.
Day 12: Give Back
On this last day of adventure, we’re practicing generosity! Christmas is often a time of giving and receiving, and right now you might have a surplus of something in your home.
Try giving away the number of items that match today’s date. (This challenge was popularized by The Minimalists!) If it feels good, keep going — tomorrow give away six items, then seven, and so on. Generosity is one way our communities take care of each other. So end your adventure on a high note and give back!
Adventure On
That’s it! We hope this adventure guide gives you and your family a splash of adventure, relationships, and truth this winter. If you try the 12 Days of Adventure, let us know in the comments or on social media.
Happy adventuring!
