Nature Activities for Families

We depend on all of our senses – touching, tasting, hearing, smelling, and seeing – to gather impressions of our environment. In this activity, children will focus on the many shapes that are found in both natural and built environments.

By way of neighborhood trees and a mystery box, children will explore their sense of touch and discover different shapes and textures in nature.

Evergreen trees offer a sensory overload! Through these experiences, children will touch, smell, see, hear, and taste the season of winter. Consider trying these experiences year-round in areas with our without snow.

Children take a “shrew’s-eye-view” of life in the woods to gain an appreciation for the many living things that make forests their homes, and for the variety of habitats within forests.

Throughout history, people have intentionally and unintentionally moved plants and animal species to new environments. Some of these species have proved beneficial, but others invade natural habitats causing environmental and economic harm.

Children are often surprised to learn how many different products we get from trees. Use this activity to help children learn just how much we depend on trees in our daily lives.

In this activity, children "adopt" a tree, deepening their awareness of individual trees over time and encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of their local environment.

From their leafy branches to their tangled roots, trees provide a habitat for a host of plants and animals. In this activity, children will inventory the plants and animals that live in, on and around trees, discovering how plants and animals depend on trees in many ways.

It’s amazing how many things live in and on rotting logs. In this activity, kids become familiar with some of those organisms by observing fallen logs. They’ll gain an understanding of how decomposition takes place and a better appreciation for microhabitats and communities.

In this activity, students will discover the value of camouflage as they pretend to be birds in search of colored worms.