Outdoor Learning and Nature Activities for Kids

Learn about nature and the mysteries it holds with this fantastic collection of outdoor activities for kids.

This article contains several lists of fun outdoor learning ideas and nature activities for kids of all ages. In it, you can find both child-led and loosely structured outdoor activities for kids from toddlers to preschoolers and kindergarteners to elementary-aged students and teens. And the outdoor learning activities and nature craft ideas on this list of outside activities can be used by homeschoolers, educators, or anyone seeking to enhance their child’s understanding of, or connection to, the natural world.

Many outdoor nature activities for kids included here are also helpful for nature school preschools and forest school kindergartens. The suggestions include nature study ideas, outdoor science ideas, and nature crafts for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, elementary school-age children, tweens, and teens!

Forest school outdoor learning ideas and nature activities for children of all ages.

Nature Activities and Nature School Ideas for Kids of All Ages

Below we have created and collected a slew of fun ways to support outdoor learning in nature. Remember, these forest school nature activities and outdoor learning ideas for kids are only suggestions.

Forest school allows your children to take the lead in their outdoor education. Instead of teaching children about nature and the great outdoors, act as a guide and fellow nature explorer. Use the nature activities on the list of outdoor ideas below as a starting point for your day-to-day adventures in learning.

In other words, it is best to use these nature activities and suggestions to facilitate play rather than teach. But then, once play begins, step aside and allow it to unfold naturally. As parents and educators, we must give children the time they need to find out what most interests them in the natural world.

“Roots of understanding grow deep when curious minds are nourished in nature.“
Nell Regan K.

We must also make the space available for children to ask questions–and learn how to discover and recognize clues to the answers they seek.

child in nature on a dirt path outdoors with quote (photo of C. Kartychok by Nell Regan K.) — My Daughter walking on a local trail–I do my best to follow her lead.

I must admit that a few of the outdoor activities for kids suggested were written long ago and desperately need a tune-up. However, we are updating them all and have plans to add new outside activities, forest school ideas, and nature activities for kids of all ages over the next few months. Stay tuned!

We will add more outdoor learning ideas, nature activities, and nature crafts for nature school preschools, forest schools, and nature-based homeschoolers to this list as we continue to find and create them. So bookmark this page for easy reference, and check back often!

Outdoor learning ideas and nature activities - kid in tree peeking through leaves with quote, "Roots of understanding grow deep when curious minds are nourished in nature." (by Nell Regan K, photo of C. Kartychok) — Here’s a photo of my daughter in her favorite tree peeking at me.

**Click on the title of each forest school suggestion to learn more about each nature activity for kids!**

Related: Get Outside and Connect

Outside Activities for Kids: Outdoor Nature Activities for Kids

Children will love these outside activities so much–they won’t even realize they are learning. This list of nature activities for kids is brimming with some of the best outdoor activities for toddlers to teens–which of these classic outdoor activities is your favorite?

How to Skip a Rock – Learn all about the art and science of Skipping stones in this fun article. Can you beat the world record number of skips?
Birding for Kids – Bird watching, or birding, is a fun wilderness observation activity for children from toddlers to teens.
Squirrel Learning Ideas and Outdoor Activities – Invite children to learn about squirrels with this list of facts, fun squirrel-themed teaching ideas, and cute squirrel crafts for kids! Get the Printable Squirrel Behavior Tally Sheet and invite kids to count the common squirrel behaviors they notice.
Make Mud Pies – Playing with mud is an excellent sensory activity for the developing child. A classic old-school nature activity for kids!
15 Reasons to Climb a Tree and Other Benefits of Risky Play – Tree climbing is an outdoor activity with many benefits for the developing child. In this informative article, learn how to climb a tree, support your child’s first efforts to climb trees, and other benefits of risky play.
Explore a Shore – Take the time to explore a seashore, lakeshore, river shore, or creek shore–learning happens naturally when we get outside!
Go Bouldering – Find an area to let the kids scramble and climb around on small boulders for a fantastic outdoor gross motor activity with many physical, mental, and emotional benefits.
Hug a Tree – A fun outdoor activity for all ages.
Roll Down a Hill – Rolling down a hill is excellent for the developing sensory system.
Walk Across Fallen Trees and Logs – This outdoor gross motor balance challenge for Kids gives children the opportunity to develop their kinesthetic and vestibular sensory systems.
Make Sunprints – Invite children to place objects from nature on sun print paper and expose it to the sun for a fun way to keep kids busy learning outside.
10 Ways to Have fun Outside with Fall Leaves – Autumn is an excellent time of year to get outside to play in falling leaves. We have ten fun ways to make outdoor fall leaf play a little more exciting and fun!
Rainy Day Art – Put marker drawings and doodles outside to be transformed by the rain to create rain art with this fun rainy day STEAM activity for kids.
Fun Ways to Play in the Rain – Here are 20 outdoor rainy-day play activities that will have your kids running for the back door when it rains.

kid dancing in rain puddle barefoot outdoor rainy day activity with quote (by Nell Regan K, photo of C. Kartychok) — My daughter loves rainy days with big puddles.

Nature Games for Kids

Fall Leaf Counting – Have you ever tried to catch autumn leaves as they fall to the ground? Try this gross motor movement and nature math game this fall with the kids.
Stone Skipping Games – Play some simple stone-skipping math games.
DIY Nature Memory Matching Game for Kids – Excercise the brain and boost memory skills with this fun twist on the classic game of memory. Using items found in nature adds a sensory component to the memory game, increasing its brain-building power.

nature memory matching game set up — **Nature Memory Matching Game**

Fun Nature Scavenger hunt Ideas for Kids

Nature scavenger hunts appeal to the child’s natural interest in discovering all clues that can be seen, heard, and felt in the natural world. Invite your children to discover the magic and wonder of the natural world with some of these creative nature scavenger hunt ideas for kids.

Sensory Card Nature Scavenger Hunt for Toddlers – Make a nature sensory card with your children and send them on a nature scavenger hunt.
Nature Sensory Bin Scavenger Hunt– Collect natural items and use them to make a nature sensory bin for children. (Photo below)
Heart Shape Nature Scavenger Hunt – Have you ever been on a scavenger hunt for colors or shapes? My daughter and I love looking for hearts in nature. Check out the fantastic video we made.
Birding Scavenger Hunts – Head to our bird-watching activities post for a few fun birding scavenger hunt ideas for kids.
Seasonal Nature Scavenger Hunt Ideas – Invite your children to witness the changes in nature as one season changes to the next with these seasonal nature scavenger hunt ideas.

how to make a nature sensory bin — *Nature Sensory Basket*

Outdoor Gardening Activities for Kids

A garden is also a fantastic place for children to plant the seeds of their learning. Early literacy, math, and science concepts are abundant in homegrown gardens. And, when children know how to grow and harvest the foods they eat, their minds, bodies, and the future of our planet will benefit immensely. Tending the cycle of nature in our backyards is becoming a lost art. Learn how to become one of the way-showers for the next generation in your neck of the woods, whether rural, urban, suburban, or city.

final image in fairy garden step-by-step DIY tutorial — How to Make a Fairy Garden

Related: 15 Ways to Raise a Helper

Nature Study Ideas for Kids

We have a few nature study ideas to use as a starting point in your outdoor learning adventures. Stay tuned for more ways to learn from and with nature soon! Learn more on our Nature Study Resource Page.

How to Make and Keep a Nature Journal – Nature journals are an excellent place for our children to write about their observations in nature and are used to create artwork when out in nature.
The Best Nature study supplies for Kids – A must-have list of nature study supplies to keep in your child’s nature backpack.
Bird Watching Activities and Lessons for Kids – Children love to watch and learn about birds in their backyard, neighborhood, local park, and nature reserves.
Squirrel Facts and Fun Ways to Learn All About Squirrels – Invite children to learn everything there is to know about squirrels with this list of squirrel-themed nature study ideas! Spend time observing the squirrels in your backyard and more with these fun outdoor learning activities for kids. And, get our Printable Squirrel Behavior Tally Sheet in Rhythms of Play Learning Center.
Observe Bees – Watching bees is an excellent way for children to learn about the importance of pollination and much more!
Investigate Worms – Learn how worms make the soil rich and help your garden grow.
Explore a Shore – Take the time to explore and study a seashore, lakeshore, river shore, or creek shore. Learning happens–naturally when we get outside!

Child studying a caterpillar in a nature forest school kindergarten. — My daughter and a local caterpillar friend.

More Outside Activities for Kids: Outdoor Learning Ideas and Suggestions for Children

Outdoor Science and STEAM Activity Ideas for Kids

There are so many fun ways to learn and play with nature. Try some outdoor science, STEM, and STEAM ideas for children.

Rock balancing stone stacking outdoor art — My daughter stacking rocks.

DIY Outdoor Play Areas to Support Learning Outside

It’s important to challenge the minds and bodies of children with outdoor place spaces that support and benefit the development of a healthy vestibular system, cardiovascular system, and gross and fine motor muscle movements.

Below you are a list of fun outdoor play areas for nature school preschools, forest school kindergartens, homeschoolers, and backyards everywhere that help do just that! Give your children the opportunity to get outside and learn through play with any of these fun outdoor play spaces.

How to Make an Outdoor DIY Chalkboard
Sand and Water Tables Kids LOVE!
How to Grow a Sunflower House or Fort
DIY Outdoor Art Table and Mud Kitchen
How to Make a Fairy Garden
Sandboxes Children LOVE!
Swingsets, swings, and hammocks
Little slides and big slides
Climbing wall or structure
Balance beams, logs, stumps, stepping stones, or large boulders to walk on or climb
Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course
Zipline pulley and slack lines
Outdoor trampoline

Field Trip Ideas for Parents and Educators

Go on a field trip with the kids for even more outdoor learning fun!

Apple Orchard Field Trip Ideas
Pumpkin Patch Field Trip Family Guide
Get Lost In a Corn Maze!
Berry Picking and Wild Foraging
Enjoy nature reserves near and far for wildlife viewing and more.
Visit the information center at local, national, and state parks to learn more about activities and adventures to go on in each area.

kid walking in tall reeds outside in nature with quote, " the best education does not happen at a desk, but rather engaged in everyday living; hands on, exploring, in active relationship with life. (photo by Nell Regan K. of daughter C. Kartychok) — My daughter walking through tall reeds near a small local lake.

Nature Activities for Kids: More Fun Ways to Learn about Nature

Nature Tables for Every Season

A nature table is a space in the home dedicated to nature and the natural world. Items collected in the natural world–or natural objects representing nature–are placed on the table to be learned about, played with, and enjoyed.

We change our nature table every few months to reflect the season, so the items are added and taken away throughout the year. Check out our nature table ideas for each season! Invite your children to bring the treasures they collect in the natural world home to their nature table or shelf to explore more depth.

More Learning Fun for All Seasons

Here’s a list of traditional seasonal celebration ideas during the year’s rhythm. Celebrating the changes that occur throughout the year and observing seasonal changes is a great way to educate children and bring more meaning to family life.

Seasonal Celebration Ideas

Celebrate the changing seasons with the solstice and equinox solar festival celebration ideas, and cross-quarter day sabbat festivals below.

Fun Seasonal Activities To Do with Kids

Here’s a list of fun outdoor activities for kids (and adults) for each season of the year.

Seasonal Books for Kids

Reading seasonal books with your children is a beautiful way to share the wonder and magic of nature and the changing seasons.

"Who needs television when there is a whole world to watch." ~Nell Regan — My daughter in another one of her favorite trees–she would sit in it all day if I let her–lol!

Nature Arts and Crafts for Kids (And adults, too!)

We have collected many awesome nature art and craft ideas you can try with your children. Click on the links below for all our favorite ideas!

Seasonal Art Projects for Kids

Creating seasonal art is an excellent way for children to learn about nature and the changing seasons. Try any of the fantastic art project ideas below!

Four season handprint tree fingerprint tree art

The Best Books for Outdoor Parents and Educators Raising Nature-Loving Kids

The list of books below has my all-time favorites for outdoor parents and nature school educators passionate about getting kids outside to learn naturally. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Child-led forest school outdoor learning suggestions and nature activities for kids.

The Best Nature Activities for Kids and Educators

We hope you enjoy this collection of outdoor learning ideas for homeschoolers, outdoor educators, and anyone looking to enhance their child’s connection to the natural world. You may also like this collection of nature crafts and art ideas.

We will add to this list of nature school preschool, forest school kindergarten, and nature study ideas as we find and create more, so don’t forget to bookmark this list of outside activities for kids and check back often!

Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!