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Build Your Own Binoculars

This activity comes to us from the educators at the Prospect Park Audubon Center. Check out our Audubon at Home page for more nature fun.

One of the most popular activities in Prospect Park is bird watching—it is a great way to get outside and learn about nature.
Many bird watchers’ favorite tool is a pair of binoculars, but not everyone has them at home. A simple solution is to make your own! This simple craft will teach you to make child-sized “binoculars”. They won’t magnify, but they do help your eyes to focus and may help you pick out a bird hiding in the trees.

What you will need:

  • 2 toilet paper rolls or one paper towel roll cut in half.
  • paper clips or tape
  • scissors
  • string or ribbon
  • decorating materials 

Step One: Connect your two tubes together with tape or paper clips

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Step Two: Carefully poke two holes on the outside of the rolls with your scissors. This is where you will attach the string.

Step Three: Tie each end of the string into the holes you made to form the neck strap.

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Step Four: Decorate your new binoculars however you want!

Step Five: Head to Prospect Park and start your bird watching adventure. Here are a few bird watching tips to help you get started.

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