Summer Fun for the Family - Nature Walk Activities

Summer means kids out of school who are looking for new ways to be entertained. Even busy parents can utilize the options below to create positive quality time which is fun and educational with their children. These great activities help children explore their world and expand their powers of observation and creativity.

Collecting:flowers, leaves, rocks, insects, etc to be preserved or studied.

Art: drawing or painting pictures of what they see.

Writing: writing a story using the plants and animals they see as their main characters.

I Spy: the guessing game which starts with player one saying, "I spy with my little eye. . ." and then giving a brief description of something they see (usually one way by which to describe it such as a color or size). As the other players guess incorrectly, Player One may add more details one at a time, until someone makes a correct guess. The correct guesser then gets to be 'Player One'.

Bingo:make up bingo cards with pictures of things which might be seen on the nature walk such as clouds, the sun, stars (if going at night), the moon ( if going at dusk or night), a flower, a tree, a stick, a rock, a stream, etc. Players can use a crayon to cross off what they see as they go (calling out each item as it is seen for all of the players), or dry beans can be used as markers if the game is played while stationary. It can start as a simple bingo only, to be finished as 'blackout' with the final winner being the one who covers their entire card first.

Bird Watching and More: books from the local library can be carefully utilized on a nature walk to help identify the various birds, plants, and more which are seen. Educational, and fun for the kids to see how many birds or plants they can spot and then correctly identify. Be sure to bring along binoculars. Magnifying glasses can be useful, as well. More information and even free guides on identifying species may be created online, downloaded, and printed.

The Nature Walk List Game: The 'I am going on a trip and with me I am taking' game with a twist. In this game, players say they are going on a nature walk, and with them they are taking _____ and then fill in the blank with something they see on the walk. Each player must add something new as well as repeat all the items named to that point. For example, Player One may say, "I am going on a nature walk and with me I am taking a cloud." Player Two may then say, "I am going on a nature walk and with me I am taking a cloud, and a giant yellow sunflower." Player Three may then say, "I am going on a nature walk and with me I am taking a cloud, a giant yellow sunflower, and a rabbit with long floppy white ears." The player who messes up the list, or fails to come up with a new item to add, is 'out' and the other players continue until only one player is left.

The most important part of the nature walk is to have fun with each other. Learning to see the world through a child's eyes is a skill that will benefit not only creating a better relationship with the child; but will also open an adult mind to a new and refreshing way of thinking.