50 Ways to Explore Nature Science in Your Own Backyard

50+ Spring Nature Activities for Kids

Whether your kiddos are heading to day camp or hanging out at home, spring break is a great chance for some unstructured nature play, local exploring, even an outing to a nearby state or national park! Here are 50+ spring break nature activities for kids to help encourage some outdoor fun. And if travel is on the agenda, make a point to schedule in some time to connect with nature during your trip.

Backyard nature play
Take advantage of spring break to let the kids have plenty of time for unstructured nature play every day. A few ideas for outdoor play spaces that encourage connecting with nature:

• A dirt pile

• Backyard beach or other sand play area

• Mud pie kitchen (we also love a mud bath area)

• Nature play station

• Water play area

• A kid’s-only zone (like a fort, tree house, or other secret hideaway)

• A children’s garden

Local nature exploring
Whether it’s in your own backyard, a local park or a nearby nature destination, find some time to let the kids do some exploring. Some timely activities:

• Go on a spring nature scavenger hunt.

• Create a fairy garden.

• Search for four-leaf clovers.

• Explore a flower up close.

• Visit a local garden or arboretum.

• Take a color walk.

• Make wind streamers.

• Walk barefoot through the grass.

• Arrange a flower bouquet.

• Do some bird watching.

• Camp out in the backyard.

• Head to a local farm for a u-pick adventure.

• Plant a garden.

• Adopt a caterpillar and release a butterfly.

• Fly a kite.

• Pick dandelions.

• Go for a bike ride.

• Have a picnic.

• Start a nature journal.

• Go on a bug hunt.

Grander adventures
Support your local parks! If you’ve got a day free – or even just a few hours – head to a regional, state or national park. While you’re there, you may be able to:

• Take a hike.

• Visit a nature center.

• Participate in a junior ranger program.

• See some wildflowers in bloom.

• Visit a pond.

• Meet a park ranger.

• Watch a sunset.

And if it rains …

• 10 Ideas for Getting Outside on Rainy Days

• 10 Ways to Connect With Nature When You’re Inside

Earth Day Activities for Kids

Every April, a special light seems to shine on all things planet Earth. That's because April features Earth Day (April 22) – a day dedicated around the world to environmental activities and celebrations. Of course, I’m a firm believer that Earth Day isn’t just one day. Or even one month. Caring for the planet is something we need to be doing every. single. day. How? The … [Read more...]

Make a Spring Outdoor Fun List

Just before the start of each season, the hubby, Explorers and I get together to create our family’s seasonal outdoor fun list. What’s an outdoor fun list? It’s a bucket list of things you’d like to do outside during that season. Making one is an excuse to talk about all the fun coming in the weeks and months ahead – especially handy when the weather is still cold and icky … [Read more...]

Celebrate the Spring Equinox With Kids

On March 20, the Spring Equinox will arrive to officially mark the first day of spring (in the Northern Hemisphere, that is). In case you’re like me – not quite sure what an “equinox” is – let me share. It’s when the sun crosses directly over the Earth’s equator, and day and night are the same length. It happens twice a year, in March and September. Spring is marked by … [Read more...]

Backyard Play Spaces: Nature Play Station

Earlier this month, I shared some of the summer backyard play spaces we’re planning. Today I’m ready to unveil the first of these spaces, our nature play station. How it’s made: I took a couple of unused wood planks we had lying around the backyard and placed them across some tree stumps we inherited last fall. The result is a shelving unit that makes for a perfect nature … [Read more...]

50 Ideas for Your Summer Bucket List

At the start of every season, we create an outdoor fun list. Together, we dream up some things we’d like to do, write those ideas down and then try to make them happen. Some of the ideas on our summer outdoor bucket list are simple, but others require more time – things like cherry picking or fishing. Of course, more than any other time of year, we also plan for lots of downtime to make room in our lives for enjoying summer’s simple pleasures.

Instead of sharing what’s on our family’s summer outdoor bucket list this year (you can see our 2010 and 2012 lists for past examples), I thought I’d share some ideas to help you make your own. These 50 ideas for your summer outdoor bucket list should keep the kids entertained and inspired all season long.

20 Things to Do in Your Backyard

• Build a backyard weather station

• Chase butterflies

• Create a chalk garden

• Create a mobile backyard beach

• Design a fairy garden

• Dig in the dirt

• Do some backyard bird watching

• Go on a summer nature scavenger hunt

• Go on a summer nature photo scavenger hunt

• Have a backyard campout

• Host an outdoor tea party

• Host a backyard movie night

• Hunt for backyard critters

• Make a nature play station

• Play with mud: Make mud cakes or mud prints, try mud painting or a enjoy a backyard mud bath

• Run through the sprinklers

• Set up a playhouse, fort, cardboard box or other kid’s-only space

• Stargaze

• Take a glow stick walk

• Throw water balloons or have a water balloon toss

10 Ways to Explore in Your Community

• Explore a new-to-you neighborhood park

• Go fish

• Go on a field trip to a local natural history museum, science center, nature center or other museum

• Hunt for a geocache

• Go stargazing

• Make drip castles at the beach

• Pick fresh fruits

• Take a hike

• Tour tide pools

• Visit a state or national park

10 Nature crafts

• Build a dragon cave

• Create with clay and natural materials

• Design your own fairy house

• Keep a summer adventure journal

• Light up your space with recycled bottle lanterns

• Make nature bracelets

• Make pressed flower keepsakes

• Make scented flower petal potions

• Recycle a toilet paper roll into a bird or a bird feeder

• Run with wind streamers

5 Summer Science Experiments

• Create an outdoor LEGO solar system

• Grow crystals

• Make a sundial

• Make a rainbow

• Perform water balloon splatter tests

5 Summer Backyard Play Spaces

We’ve had summer on the brain all week around here. I blame the 75+ degree temperatures. But seriously, summer will be here before we know it. As part of my effort to gear up for summer nature fun, we’ve been busy cleaning up the backyard. I’m exhausted but excited to see our outdoor space is starting to look a little more summer-ready. Last year, I invited you to come … [Read more...]

10 Ideas for Water Play in the Backyard

We’ve been talking about water play a lot this month, what with it being summer and all. And while spending a morning or afternoon at the beach or river is wonderful, sometimes schedules just don’t permit it. No worries! There are plenty of ways to enjoy water play right in your own backyard. Know how to stay cool outside on hot days and always keep an eye on all kids … [Read more...]

10 Ideas for Water Play at the Beach

Welcome to the second installment in this summer’s 3-part series on water play. (If you missed the first post, head over to 10 ideas for water play at the river. You can find the final post in the series here: ideas for water play in the backyard.) Staying safe at the beach Most simple water play at the beach takes place away from shore. But it doesn’t hurt to keep a few … [Read more...]

10 Ideas for Water Play at the River

Summer was made for playing in the water. Which is why I’ll be talking about just that for the next few weeks. Today it’s all about water play at the river, next week the beach, and lastly, in the backyard. The focus here isn’t on adventuring into the water for sport (like swimming, rafting or tubing). Instead it’s on simple, unstructured play. Staying safe around … [Read more...]

50 Ways to Connect with Nature This Winter 

In a perfect world, getting outside would be as easy as heading out your back door and following your kids’ lead. But for those days when you need a little more inspiration, here are a slew of ways to connect with nature this winter – with or without snow. And don’t forget that on the worst of days, there are plenty of ways you can connect with nature inside, too.

20 Things to Do in Your Backyard

• Go on a winter picnic

• Build a backyard weather station

• Start a family adventure journal

• Dig in the dirt

• Have a cloud race

• Climb a tree

• Make a pinecone bird feeder

• Go on a backyard bug hunt

• Keep a moon diary

• Start a rock collection

• Explore a tree

• Go stargazing

• Stack rocks

• Find north with a stick

• Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count

• Build a stick tower

• Design your own chalk garden

• Play the listening game

• Walk to school

• Watch a sunset

5 Ideas for Nature Walks & Scavenger Hunts

• Go on a winter nature photo hunt

• Take a color walk

• Go on a micro safari

• Take a winter nature walk

• Go on a nature art walk

5 Winter Nature Crafts

• Make nature wands

• Create ice art

• Make wind streamers

• Try a Valentine nature craft

• Make a recycled nature rattle

20 Ways to Connect with Nature in the Snow

• Explore snowflakes

• Make a snow sculpture bird feeder

• Build a snow fort

• Make a snow castle with sand toys

• Hunt for heart reflectors

• Track animals in the snow

• Paint snow angels

• Turn your mud pie kitchen into a snow kitchen

• Try backyard snowshoeing

• Go icicle hunting

• Build snow animals

• Turn fresh snow into an icy treat

• Enjoy a snow picnic

• Design a snowy treasure hunt

• Make snow track pictures

• Catch a snowflake on your tongue

• Make your own snow sculpture

• Create a snow maze

• Have a snowball fight

• Go sledding or tubing

Fun Friday: Go on a Nighttime Creature Hunt

Your kids may be familiar with the animals they see around your front yard, backyard and neighborhood in the daylight. But what happens at night? Will you still see the same animals – or different ones? Time to go on a nighttime creature hunt to find out! Before you head outdoors at night, make sure to dress for the weather so everyone stays comfortable. All you’ll need to … [Read more...]

10 Ways to Explore Nature at Night

Summer is full of warm days that blend right into slightly cooler evenings – most of which are perfect for being outside. Combine that with less pressure to get the kids to bed at a certain time and you’ve got a winning combination. Time to head outside and explore! A few tips for exploring nature at night with kids: Keep it short and simple. Since our kids are usually … [Read more...]

Backyard Movie Night

The first item on our summer fun list to be checked off? Watching a movie in our backyard.It all started when we talked a dear family member into loaning us a digital projector – the key component in pulling off a backyard movie night. Then we set a date, invited friends and picked a film. The night turned out to be such a big hit, we’re hoping it’ll be a new start-of-summer … [Read more...]

Thanksgiving Nature Activities for Families

We haven’t even finished putting away our Halloween decorations yet, and Christmas is cropping up everywhere I look. What ever happened to savoring November? If you’re like me and refuse to talk about Christmas until Thanksgiving has passed, these Thanksgiving nature activities for families are right up your alley. Here are a few fun ways to enjoy the season with friends … [Read more...]

Fun Friday: Glow Stick Walk

Winter’s shorter daylight hours come with at least one benefit: The chance to go exploring outside in the dark before bedtime. There are all kinds of fun ways to explore nature at night, like going on a glow stick walk. (If you don’t have a glow stick, don’t worry. Try a flashlight walk instead.) Before you head out, make sure everyone is dressed for the weather. Layer up … [Read more...]

50 Ideas for Your Fall Outdoor Bucket List 

Here are 50 ideas for your fall bucket list. When it comes to seasons, fall seems to get the short end of the stick. After all, it arrives on the heels of our beloved summer, which never seems to last long enough.

But around here, fall is full of its own treasures. Pumpkin patches, apple cider, puddle jumping, trick-or-treating, nature crafts, cool-weather hikes, birthday celebrations, Thanksgiving, the countdown to Christmas and more.

For me, fall represents family traditions, so I look forward to it each year. One of our traditions is creating an outdoor bucket list. Some items on our list stay the same from year to year; others are entirely new. (You can see the lists we made back in 2010 and 2012 if you want.)

If you’d like to make your own fall outdoor bucket list, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few fun and festive ways your family can connect with nature this fall.

10 Things to Do in Your Backyard

• Go puddle jumping

• Host a snail race

• Jump or run through a pile of leaves

• Go on a spider web hunt

• Plant a fall garden

• Go on a leaf hunt

• Make bark rubbings

• Create land art

• Go bug hunting

• Play I Spy Crows

5 Ideas for Fall Nature Walks and Scavenger Hunts

• Go on fall nature photo scavenger hunt

• Take a flashlight walk

• Go for a walk in the rain

• Try a Thanksgiving Day neighborhood scavenger hunt

• Take a thankfulness walk

5 Fall Nature Crafts

• Make leaf prints

• Make a thankfulness tree

• Create rain art

• Make a leaf crown

• Design your own leaf placemat

10 Activities to Try in Your Community

• Go apple picking

• See fall foliage

• Drink fresh apple cider

• Go to a harvest festival

• Take a hike

• Navigate your way through a corn maze

• Visit a farmers’ market

• Go on a fall camping trip

• Visit a farm, zoo or wildlife rescue center

• Take a field trip in nature to a place of your choosing

10 Halloween Nature Activities

• Visit a pumpkin patch

• Make a snack-o-lantern for the birds

• Go on a Halloween nature scavenger hunt

• Create a pet rock cemetery

• Go on a pumpkin counting walk

• Make your own scarecrow

• Roast pumpkin seeds

• Decorate and/or carve pumpkins

• Make a pumpkin planter

• Watch a pumpkin rot

Valentine’s Day Nature Activities for Kids

Last year’s 9 Valentine nature crafts for kids post was a big hit around here. So I figured you might be interested in seeing some of the amazing ideas that have surfaced around the web since then. Here are some of my favorite Valentine’s Day nature activities for kids. 1. Nature rocks: Or add a twist … [Read more...]

Winter Backyard Astronomy for Kids

With winter’s shorter days come more opportunities to explore nature at night. Heading outside and looking up at the night sky for a few minutes is one of the simplest ways for you and the kids to make a nature connection right in your own backyard. Photo by Jonas Wiklund Don’t panic if astronomy isn’t your thing (it’s not mine). You don’t have to have all … [Read more...]

Backyard Weather Station

The Big Explorer was pretty excited by the weather station he received for Christmas last year. The mild winters we have in Southern California meant we could put it right to use. (In the absence of snow or freezing temperatures, a backyard weather station can be operational any time of the year.) Data from weather stations helps forecasters to see patterns in the weather, … [Read more...]

Day 31: Start a Rock Collection

Welcome to the final day of 31 Days of Backyard Nature Fun, a month-long series offering simple ways to get outside exploring the natural world. To see activities from earlier this month, head here. We made it! Thirty-one days in a row, each featuring a different idea for backyard nature fun. Phew! If you’ve been playing along, I hope you’ve come to realize that helping … [Read more...]

25 Christmas Nature Activities for Families

It’s official: Christmas is a mere 24 days away. In our house – semi-remodeled/semi-chaotic as it might be – the excitement is palpable. It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year. And with reason. We have lots of family traditions to look forward to. The challenge is to stress less and have more fun as we enjoy those traditions. That’s where these 25 Christmas nature … [Read more...]