50 Fun Nature Activities for Kids
- Erin and Out
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 20 hours ago
Ah, the outdoor classroom. Where young minds can marvel at a decomposing log or follow migrating birds in the sky. Where trees wave playfully from the forest’s edge, and the creek gurgles delightfully in response. When curiosity beckons you from every corner, why would you ever want to stay inside?
Delight in the great outdoors with one of these nature-inspired activities guaranteed to promote learning and play!
Choose your way to play outside!
Create a bird-friendly treat to entice feathered friends to your backyard.
Read the stories behind the constellations to learn how the stars got their names.
Practice your observational skills by going on an outdoor scavenger hunt.
Observe fungi in action by starting a decomposition jar.
Collect leaves and use your favorite crayon to preserve them as leaf rubbings.
Discover what sinks and floats by making an all-natural boat.
Dissect a flower to learn its parts.
Forage for wild colors and transform them into natural dyes.
Art piece created with nature paint. How pretty!
Use paint swatches to go on a color hunt.
Take your hike to the next level by crafting a hiking stick.
Get your hands dirty by making a seed bomb. Throw it into the garden!
Look for signs of wildlife by identifying tracks and scat.
Build an outdoor fort that can fit you and your friends.
Support your local invertebrates by constructing an insect hotel.
Got a cardboard box sitting around? Make an insect hotel!
Flip over logs and see what you can find crawling underneath.
Gather some native seeds and start a pollinator garden.
Channel your inner wizard and craft a nature potion.
Collect natural items and use them in a nature collage.
Spark creativity with a nature journal prompt.
A student's response to a nature journal prompt.
Give cardboard tubes new life as a pair of binoculars.
Be a Jr. Geologist for a day by going on a rock scavenger hunt.
Contribute to science by completing an e-Bird checklist.
Discover what a plant needs by creating a small terrarium.
Sketch a phenology wheel to track the seasons.
Try to weave a bird nest using natural materials. Test it with an egg drop!
Breathe in the blossoms during a wildflower walk.
Search (and listen!) for frogs at a nearby pond.
Use items from nature to create a stunning sun catcher.
A nature suncatcher easily made from a paper plate
Have a nature Show N’ Tell with your family.
Design an obstacle course in the woods.
Practice your foraging skills by identifying wild foods.
Build a mud volcano. Then use baking soda + vinegar to make it explode!
An amazing mud volcano set off by baking soda and vinegar!
Assess the water quality of your local creek by conducting a macroinvertebrate survey.
Harness the power of the sun to create sun prints.
Printout a pocket guide to ID birds.
Learn how to read the weather with a cloud chart.
Trace the shapes of the constellations and then find them in the sky.
Gather your favorite nature scents into a jar and create homemade perfume.
Craft a treasure chest that displays your favorite nature finds.
A student example of a treasure chest. What valuables from the forest are inside?
Make a set of nature paint brushes. Use them for your next art piece!
Discover the ocean's intrigues with a visit to your local tidepool.
Hang up a hammock and chill out with a nature coloring page.
See what wildlife are around with a footprint tunnel.
Transform a milk carton into a fabulous bird feeder.
Do some trash pickup at your local park. Battle back pollution!
Learn how to read tree rings. Climb the nearest tree when you're done!
Forage for berries and create edible art.
Soak up the sun with a picnic and a nature-inspired book.
End the day by painting a sunset.
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