Resource
IDEA SETResource
Outdoor Family Fun
Outdoor Family Fun
Get ideas for fun family activities you can do outdoors.
Grades
K, 1 - 12+
Subjects
Biology, Earth Science, Geology
Photograph by Patricia Norris, National Geographic
No matter where you live, gather friends and family and enjoy some time outdoors! Begin an outdoor project, like planting a garden, that will keep you in touch with nature for seasons to come.
Design a Flower Garden
Plant seeds that will result in a planned pattern of flowers when they bloom. Take photos to document your design.
Help Monarch Butterflies
Create a way station, grow milkweed, or even raise them from eggs.
Create a Treasure Hunt
Give clues based on the cardinal points. If you don't have a compass, remember, sunrise happens in the east. Sunset happens in the west.
Compare Neighborhoods
Compare your neighborhood with another nearby neighborhood. Note differences in the amount of houses and apartments, size of yards, and amount of green space. Be sure to take an adult with you when exploring a new neighborhood.
Take a Neighborhood Inventory
Count houses, apartments, and cars per block in different parts of town. Consider reasons for the differences you observe.
Soil lnvestigation
Use your eyes, hands, and nose to investigate the soil in your backyard. Is it moist? Sandy? Muddy? Does it have any particular odor? What grows best there?
Map Your Neighborhood
Create a map for visitors that shows your favorite neighborhood places to play and explore. Add photographs or drawings to your map.
Make an Exploration Bag
Create a toolkit for exploring the plants, animals, and nature in your neighborhood. Include binoculars, a hand lens, small gardening tools such as a trowel and claw, measuring tape, a camera, flashlight, plastic bag for collecting, a weatherproof notebook, and pens and pencils.
Explore Biodiversity
As a family, discuss the importance of biodiversity. Spend time outdoors together observing wildlife. Keep a family field notebook in which you record your family's animal and plant observations during weekly or monthly nature walks.
Create a Backyard Habitat
Choose and research a native animal species. Create a habitat that will provide the species with food, water, cover, and a place to raise young. Observe the habitat over time. Take photos and use your observations to create a guide.
Soil Conditions
Dig up some soil from a few different areas in your neighborhood. Use the soil to plant and grow the same type of small potted plant. Which plant grows the best? What does this tell you about the different soil?
Investigate Growing Conditions
Explore your neighborhood to see what types of plants grow in different conditions, for example, shade versus sun or dry versus wet.
Put Out Birdseed
Identify which animals come to eat it. Keep a photo journal of the birds and animals.
Identify Rocks
Collect and identify rocks from your neighborhood. When you get home, sort the rocks by type or appearance. How many different kinds can you find? Try a different route and see if you find different types of rocks.
Look for Invasives
Take an inventory of the different types of plants growing in your neighborhood. Are any of them invasive species? With permission, remove weeds or plants that are not native to the area.
Plant a Garden
Plant a garden of flowers, vegetables, or plants for your family. You can do this in your yard, on your balcony, or even inside!
Plant a “Birthday Garden”
The next time someone in your family has a birthday, instead of presents guests should bring local plants to contribute to the garden. During the party invite everyone to plant what they brought. If conditions aren’t right for planting, guests can bring a packet of seeds, a potted plant, or other garden-related gifts.
Create a Compost Pile
In layers, add “wet” waste, such as kitchen scraps or grass clippings. Add “dry” waste, such as dry leaves or hay. Add some water as you go. Fruit and vegetable material is great for compost; never add raw meat, eggs, or human or pet waste. Consider getting worms to help with the project.
Look for Tracks
Look for animal and bird tracks in the mud or snow. Draw a quick sketch of what you see. Try to identify which animal left the track.
Dig in the Dirt
Dig down up to six inches into the soil. Find and record all the critters, such as bugs and worms, that live in the dirt.
Adopt a Plant
Choose a plant to observe throughout the growing season. Measure its growth each week, starting when sprouts first appear out of the ground. Record the appearance of buds, flowers, and other growth.
Collect Insects
Using a butterfly net, go out and collect some insects. Note how many different types you find and where you found them. Repeat the activity during a different season and compare your findings. Be sure to be gentle with the bugs and let them go when you are finished observing them.
Photograph Nature
Keep a camera handy for impromptu photography sessions and bring your camera along when you visit the park and other community locations. You can even take photos of the treasures right in your backyard. Keep a scrapbook of photographs taken around town and share them with out-of-town guests who want to learn more about your community.
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Last Updated
July 18, 2023
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