Outdoor Fall Activities for Kids
- Erin and Out
- Sep 3, 2025
- 4 min read
There's no more picturesque time to get outside than the fall. The air is crisp, the trees are colorful, and...is that the smell of someone making s'mores? You bet!
It is easy to delight in the natural world when it is overcome with autumn. Whether your family prefers to hike, bird-watch, or partake in the ancient art of fire-building (again, did someone say s'mores?), there are numerous ways to enjoy some good outdoor fun. The best part? Many of these activities don't require any prep beyond stepping outside. Isn't it nice when nature does the heavy-lifting?
1) Build a Pie Pan Fire (and cook a fall treat!)
I stumbled upon the delightfulness of pie pan fires while working as a camp counselor. The pie pans act as the perfect vessels for scaling down fire building to a kid-friendly size. By the end of the summer, nearly all of my students were able to build small but mighty pie pan fires using natural materials found in the woods- including my little 1st graders!
Man, did I eat a lot of s'mores that summer.
How to Build a Pie Pan Fire:
1) Find a flat, clear area to set your pie pan on. I like to double-up my pie pans to be extra cautious.
2) Have your little ones find fire-building materials in the woods. They should find:
Small Rocks: These will go in the corner of the pie pan to prevent it from blowing away.
Tinder: These are highly flammable materials used to start your fire. Look for dry grass, dry leaves, or pine needles.
Kindling: These are thin pieces of wood that make your fire grow. Look for twigs that are as wide as a match.
Fuel Wood: These are thick pieces of wood to sustain your fire. Look for sticks that are as wide as your thumb.
3) Keeping all the materials in the pie pan, let your kids construct the fire. They should put the tinder on the bottom, followed by the kindling, and ending with the fuel wood on top.
4) Light it up! Don't be ashamed to add some fire starter if it's not catching. To sustain the fire, periodically add pieces of fuel wood.
5) Carefully put out your fire by adding water to your pie pan (keep a lookout for any embers that may have jumped out as well). Your pie pan should be cool to the touch before being stored.
2) Track the Fall Bird Migration
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: no wildlife is more easily enjoyed than birds. They're in the trees, they're in the fields, but more importantly, they're in the skies!
New to bird-watching? Get the best tips and tricks for beginners here!
Because fall is the peak time for bird migration, it is easy to make a day out of bird-watching. You don't even have to leave your backyard! Simply print out this checklist to help your kids keep track of the birds they see. Then, they can submit their list on eBird and contribute to citizen science efforts happening around the globe! It's two birds with one stone! (er, one list, rather).
Want to teach your kids more about birds? Check out my hand-illustrated Bird Unit Study!
3) Go on a Leaf Walk
I'd be remiss to talk about fall happenings and not mention the changing trees. As the days become shorter and colder, trees produce less chlorophyll: the molecule that powers photosynthesis and gives leaves their green pigment. Without this green mask, leaves can present other colors like red, yellow, purple, and orange: the fall favorites!
This dazzling array of colors creates rich nature walks brimming with opportunities to explore. Print and play with a Fall Scavenger Hunt (that can also help teach leaf ID!) to make the most of an autumn afternoon. Find some time for your family to admire the leaves before you have to rake them!
4) Share some Constellation Stories
The night sky is always to be admired. Autumn is just an especially nice time to do so.
With your pie pan fire sizzling beside you, share some of these kid-friendly constellation stories with your family. Then, try to find autumn asterisms like Pegasus and Cassiopeia in the night sky!
5) Build an Invertebrate Hotel
As the summer fades and the air takes on an autumn chill, critters everywhere prepare for the cold season ahead: invertebrates included!
Invertebrates are animals without backbones. While invertebrates tend to be small in size, like insects, spiders, and snails, their impact on the environment is not. In fact, these tiny creatures provide some of the most essential services for our ecosystems, like pollination, decomposition, soil aeration, and pest control. Without invertebrates, our planet would be lost!
Thankfully, all it takes is an empty bottle and some creativity to create a home for our helpful invertebrates. Cut off the end of a clean 2-liter soda bottle and have your kids fill it with fall finds like leaves, twigs, and seeds. Arrange the materials in a way that creates nooks and crannies to hide. These will be the rooms for your invertebrate guests!
Place the finished hotel in a quiet spot outside for the little critters to find. Check on it from time to time to see what invertebrates you were able to attract!
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