School may be out for the summer, but there are plenty of ways to take learning outside as a family! In our June blog post, check out five family field trips or activities you can do with little ones to help them discover a love of nature. These educational activities are perfect for getting children outdoors this summer—without breaking the bank! Read on to find out more.
Looking for something to do with the kids that will get them out in nature over the summer break? We've got some ideas! These summer activities are great for all ages, are budget-friendly (or free), and can be enjoyed over and over again, all summer long. Have fun!
What could be more exciting than a nature scavenger hunt? A scavenger hunt game is easy to set up in your backyard or at the neighborhood park—you don't have to go far to get little ones searching high and low for outdoor clues. Fortunately, Super Teacher Worksheets has plenty of printable scavenger hunt games to get you started. Choose from nature-themed topics, including plant life, butterflies, birds, fish, reptiles, mammals, and weather. Print and cut out the fact cards, hide them around the yard or another outdoor location of your choice, give children the question worksheet to fill out as they look for clues, and let the scavenger hunt begin!
Alternatively, you could try a scavenger hunt on a nature walk or a visit to the park. There are plenty of nature-themed scavenger hunt checklists available online. You could also make your own. Children will keep their eyes out for all sorts of natural objects: pine cones, acorns, tree roots, ants, dandelions, spider webs, feathers, smooth stones, mushrooms, birds...the possibilities are endless!
Another great summer outing is a visit to a local nature preserve, state park, or botanical gardens. You're bound to have several options around or near your hometown. A day trip to your local nature preserve can be an exciting family adventure, and usually the cost of admission is either free or very reasonable.
Your local nature preserve, state park, or botanical gardens probably has a website. Check it out to see if there are any special events going on that your kids might enjoy. During the summer months, you'll be amazed at all the things happening at the nature preserve in town. Guided walks through the woods, beekeeper demonstrations, nature crafts and activities for children, and animal demonstrations are just a few of the highlights. Plan a visit—or two, or three!
There's no better time than summer to get to know your local farmers. Take little ones to your neighborhood farmers' market and let them pick out some of their favorite fruits and veggies from nearby producers. You may even find some new items to try as a family! You could also consider joining a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. For an affordable cost, your family will receive access to weekly produce shares from your local farmer. Make it a fun family tradition to drive out to the farm, pick up your weekly fruits and veggies, and try out seasonal recipes together. Best of all, summer is the perfect time to take kids to the berry patch! Many local growers open up their fields for a U-Pick season, where you and the little ones can pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, and more at a reasonable cost.
All of these ideas are great ways to get to know your local farmers as a family and help your children discover the important role they play in providing delicious, quality, seasonal food for the community.
Stargazing is another memorable summertime activity your whole family will enjoy. There are lots of ways to encourage children to explore the wonders of the night sky. Go outside on warm summer evenings and play a game of "I Spy." Help little ones spot the moon and stars. Older children may even be able to pick out a few constellations. If you want, use a GPS-based constellation app on your phone to locate lesser-known constellations. You may even see a shooting star or a satellite!
Remember all the extras that make a night of stargazing fun! Toast marshmallows and make s'mores over a campfire as you wait for the first stars to appear in the night sky. Grab cozy blankets and hot chocolate to view the skies on cooler evenings. Or read stories from ancient mythology to discover how the constellations received their names.
Planting a garden is another fantastic way to get little ones outside and enjoying nature. Depending on where you live, it might be difficult to commit to planting a traditional garden. Why not plant a container garden instead? Kids can grow a variety of fruits and vegetables in small to medium-sized pots. Set them up on your porch, patio, balcony, or even a sunny window to optimize the sunlight and warm temperature.
Plants that grow well in containers include peppers, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, peas, radishes, herbs, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Take the kids to your local garden store to pick out seeds or seedlings, potting soil, and plant food, as well as a container or several. Give little ones lots of freedom with this easy and fun project. Leave the planting, watering, and harvesting up to them and watch their wonder as their garden begins to grow!
What books are on your kids' summer reading lists this year? What books are they interested in reading? Find ways to make their reading subjects come alive for them. Do you have a child who loves to read about animals? Take a trip to the zoo to celebrate the successful completion of a book. Do you have a reader who is fascinated by outer space? Take advantage of a rainy day to visit the science museum. From history to nature topics, there are tons of creative ways you can plan a family outing to give little ones a taste of adventure that jumps off the page and into their everyday experience. We're excited to see where your summer adventures take your family!
We hope you and your kids have fun trying out some nature-inspired activities and outings this summer. How do you plan to keep learning together as a family over summer vacation? We'd love to hear from you. Drop us a line in the comment section below.
Looking for more fun, educational summer activities to do with kids? Browse the Super Teacher Worksheets Summer Collection for printable worksheets, games, and activities that will keep kids busy and learning all summer long.
Have a great summer!
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