By: Emily Bracale

What stands out in Acadia in October? Oh, my, the colored leaves! Varied greens transform over chilly nights into brilliant reds, oranges, yellows, and golds that seem to glow. Besides stopping at overlooks or going on hikes in the park to take photos, here’s another easy way to capture the colors and explore making art in Acadia. It’s fun and simple enough for all ages to try.

1. Collect some leaves! Look for different colors, shapes, and sizes, freshly fallen and still pliable, not dry and fragile.

2. Turn them over and look at their backs. The color isn’t as brilliant, but all the vines stand out in relief on the underside.

3. Choose crayon colors you like. The best crayons to use for making rubbings are old broken pieces with their paper cover removed.

4. Place a piece of standard copy paper over one leaf at a time. Hold the paper in place with one hand, or work with a partner to take turns holding the paper.

5. Rub the side of the crayon back and forth across the paper, exclaim with delight as you see the shape of the leaf with all it’s tiny veins appear on the paper!

You can display this art as it is, or cut out the paper leaves, tape them up in a window, or make them into a card for a loved one.

Sending All My Love from the Acadian Coast,

Emily