7 Nature Activities and Exploration Ideas for Kids

With the cold weather letting up, now is the perfect time to get outdoors! We’ve put together some fun, yet simple activities that incorporate nature to encourage creativity, learning and exploration!

Flower Petal Suncatcher

Activity by Messy Little Monster

This adorable idea by Messy Little Monster gets the kids out to hunt for different kinds of flowers to create their own suncatcher. This is a great way to encourage pattern building and putting a picture together, while making a beautiful piece of art to show off at home!

Backyard Dollar Tree Fairy Garden

Project by Glitter on a Dime

Decorate your backyard with a fairy garden. Your children can use their imagination to come up with what they think a garden fairy would love at a home. In this project, Glitter on a Dime was able to find cheap accessories at Dollar Tree and then used existing branches and plants to create their landscape design.

Nature Scavenger Hunt + Free Printable

By The Printables Fairy

This is such an adventurous activity and one you can knock out while taking a nature walk. Encourage your children to find all the items on the list, which prompts them to use their senses (sight, touch, smell, sounds) and identity color and shapes. My son loved this scavenger hunt and we plan to do many more in the future!

Spring Outdoor Challenge + Free Printable

Activity by We’re Parents

This challenge looks incredibly fun! We’re Parents put together this Spring Outdoor Challenge which gives you and your little one 10 places to go, 10 things to find and 10 things to take pictures of. This is not only a spring challenge to get your kids outdoors and active, but is a great bucket list for spring!

Cardboard Tube Bird Feeder

Project by Glitter on a Dime

What’s a nature activity without making a DIY bird feeder? This simple activity can be made with common households items and brings more of the nature to you! We love making this easy tube bird feeders and seeing all the different bird species that stop by, you’d be surprised how many there are!

Stick Craft Nature Paintbrushes

Activity by Messy Little Monster

Nature can create some amazing art. Encourage your child to go on a nature walk and collect different materials with interesting prints. Then make your paint brush and experiment with paint and see what crazy types of patterns your nature paint brushes make!