Ask anyone you know about their childhood memories, and you’re bound to hear stories about climbing trees and scraped knees. About treehouses, rope swings, play-pretend fortresses, and swords made from foraged sticks. You’ll hear about springtime picnics protected by leafy shade, or the bark that bears the initials of their first crush.
We don’t realize it, but so much of our play - especially in our young lives - revolves around nature. In the spirit of savoring the gifts that nature gives, we’re talking about all the ways to appreciate trees this summer.
And yes, we know the neighborhood 10 year old kid probably isn’t the one reading this blog.
Maybe you’re that kid’s mom, grandad, or funcle (fun uncle, if you’re not quite hip with the new kids’ lingo).
Maybe you’re a youth group leader, a totally awesome babysitter, or school teacher looking to plan an outdoor activity.
Maybe you just really like trees. (Honestly, same here!)
Connecting to nature is important at all ages, not just while we’re kids. Some of this list is geared towards kids, and some of it is more suited for adults. Either way, we hope you’ll be inspired to get outside and touch some grass. It’s good for you!
50 Family Friendly Nature Activities
Some of these activities are good to turn your kiddos loose on in the backyard, and some require the help (or supervision) of a grown up. Use your best judgment and have fun!
- Find a tree. Climb it! (Come on, it’s in the title. Adult supervision advised)
- Go on a hunt to find different species. Use an old fashioned book, or try an app. Seek is a great one!
- Forage different kinds of leaves. Press them to turn them into bookmarks.
- Leaf rubbing: put leaves of different types and textures under paper, then use crayons to take a textured rubbing of the leaf
- Plant a tree!
- Create a scavenger hunt. Things like leaves, acorns, nuts, and bark are a great start. Be as specific as you like for the age of your kiddo.
- Craft sculptures using foraged twigs - the original lego!
- Go birdwatching
- Track the growth of a tree; measure its height and circumference each week or month. This is a great activity to pair with planting a tree!
- Doodle! Grab a notebook and go draw things you find in nature.
- Tree swing. ‘Nuff said.
- Build a stick fort
- If you’ve got the resources, build a treehouse!
- Start a leaf collection and display them in a scrapbook
- Tree bark impressions - use play dough or clay to take textured impressions. Clay impressions make for good beads or charms for jewelry.
- Grab a book and read under a tree
- Nature photography: whether you’re an aspiring photographer using a DSLR camera, or if you prefer the ease of a cell phone camera, or if you like vintage with polaroids, nature makes a beautiful subject!
- Critter Watching: look for burrows, bugs, and furry friends that live in and around trees.
- Have a picnic
- Go for a walk on a nature trail - do this solo or with friends
- Try your hand at making flower crowns. Or bracelets. Or rings. You get the idea
- Collect flowers and preserve them using silica beads
- Make and hang a birdhouse
- Craft a bee box
- Look for woodpecker bores in bark
- Go on a cleanup walk and collect any trash you see. Be sure to wear protective gloves!
- Weed a local community garden.
- Forage nuts and plant them! Nuts are just seeds, after all.
- Hang a hammock
- Go camping! (even if it’s just in your backyard)
- Find a fruiting tree. Make sure you know it’s safe to eat, and use your foraged fruit in a dish!
- Go cloud watching
- Go stargazing
- Find a sturdy stick, then use it as an aid on a hike. Bonus points if you decorate it!
- Try creating a game of your own - like tag, using trees as a homebase
- Collect sticks and other materials to make your own wreath
- Create an obstacle course out of sticks, rocks, and other challenges
- Build a terrarium
- Go on a sound walk, where you stay quiet and take note of everything you hear around you. We suggest leaving your phone behind for this one.
- For older kids, try your hand at painting a naturescape
- Get body safe paint and try camouflaging your hand into tree bark or moss
- Make a good old fashioned leaf pile and go crazy!
- Find a stump and count the tree rings. See who can find the oldest tree!
- Learn to weave - try this with long grasses, vines (make sure they’re safe to touch), or even thin sticks
- Build a mobile out of sticks, thread, stones, and other parts of nature
- Take a small cutting and try to propagate it!
- Teach a little one the alphabet or numbers by creating shapes with sticks
- Try yoga or stretch outside
- Find fallen branches and learn to build a campfire
- Hunt for a tree stump and carve your initials or a message into it. (Please don’t do this to live trees though, it hurts them!)
As stewards of the Earth, please make sure you’re respecting nature at all times. Leave no trash, clean up where you can, and only take small amounts from plants that look like they have lots to give!
Why Bother Going Outside?
Study after study shows that getting outside is good for the mind, body, and soul - no matter what stage of life you’re at.
Getting outside reduces our stress levels, gets us our Vitamin D, keeps us active, and is great for fostering generations that care about the Earth. Frankly, we need nature more than it needs us.
It’s also a great way to bond with friends and family. When the world is your playground, you’re able to relax and let your imagination run around just as much as your body.
So, leave your couch behind and go enjoy some sunlight! Adventure awaits.
If you decide to take your phone, snap some pictures and feel free to share them with us via email or social media - we’d love to see how you’re out there appreciating nature!