A Green Carnival

Canvas curtains and an upcycled newspaper banner and medallions welcome the guests.

Recycle glass jars as self-contained gardens. Start with half an inch of pebbles, add a layer of activated charcoal; then add 2 inches of soil. Help the kids plant leafy specimens or succulents and top their "garden" with moss and tiny animal figurines.

Turn a cardboard box into a target for a DIY beanbag toss. For the roulette game, guests select painted rocks and then spin the wheel. The rock that matches the color the arrow lands on wins!

These treats are topped with chocolate cookie crumbles, bits of candy, and snacks to resemble a compost pile. Bake a chocolate kiss into one cupcake, and one lucky kid will get a surprise.

Originally published in the May 2013 issue of Parents magazine.