Observing and learning about the importance of pollinators fosters a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of living things and their environment, while cultivating a profound desire to conserve and protect our delicate ecosystem. Each one of our Junior Naturalist week-long lesson plans takes kids outside with daily outdoor learning assignments that involve a wide … [Read more...]
Junior Naturalist Week Two – Tree Observation Lesson Plan
The observation of trees creates a captivating introduction for budding botanists and arborists into the science of fungi, microorganisms, and giant trees, while providing a bold and exciting curriculum for outdoor STEM learning. Each one of our Junior Naturalist lesson plans contains a full week's worth of activities, centered around a specific, nature-based theme, … [Read more...]
Junior Naturalist Week One – Bug Observation Lesson Plan
The observation of bugs creates a fascinating introduction for budding naturalists into biology, ecology, the environment, and even health, creating a challenging and inspiring environment for outdoor STEM learning. Our Junior Naturalist lesson plans are comprised of week-long curriculum, focused on one nature-based subject, inviting kids and parents to get outside and … [Read more...]
130+ FREE Outdoor Learning Activities For Kids Unexpectedly Stuck at Home
As people across the world are coping with the recent uncertainties, we at Outdoor Families Magazine want to express our support to everyone affected during this time. As families gear up for school closures, spending time outside can be a great way for kids to naturally boost their energy and exercise their brain power while continuing the learning process with you as their … [Read more...]
How To Talk To Your Kids About Climate Change
by Erin Kirkland and Stephanie Harper - The climate change headlines are ominous: Unprecedented heat waves, violent storms, melting sea ice, reductions of species. For any adult watching or reading news reports these days, the term “climate change” is a sobering reminder that Earth is undergoing a swift and drastic shift in environments in every region. So, how do you talk … [Read more...]
11 Nature Books for Kids (Plus, 2 for Adults)
by Jennifer Fontaine - It's summertime. 'Tis the season for exciting, less structured opportunities to engage children in exploring and discovering the world around them. Whether in a city or out in the countryside, scenery is constantly changing. The trees are getting greener, birds are carrying twigs for nest-building, bees are pollinating, and every puddle and pond is filled … [Read more...]
50 Outdoor Easy Science Experiments For Kids
by Sarah Benton Feitlinger - Science is everywhere, and it is easy to fuel children’s natural curiosity outdoors with a quick and easy science experiment. Kids are natural born scientists, always inventing and experimenting, with whatever just happens to be right in front of them. Throwing spaghetti against a wall? A science experiment. Stacking blocks. A science experiment. … [Read more...]
What is Wildschooling?
Wildschooling, noun; a progressive parenting philosophy which encourages the creativity, curiosity, and joy that children naturally express. by Nicolette Sowder - When my oldest daughter turned preschool age, my husband and I began having conversations about what we wanted her schooling to look and feel like. We found that aspects of the local school system and … [Read more...]
34 Nature Books for Kids
by Jennifer Fontaine - Children are the future stewards of the earth. Starting in childhood, it's important that they learn to appreciate and take care of nature, so why not nurture that with vibrant and informative nature books? This list of children's books gently discusses critical subjects like what we can do to help preserve our natural resources, how to investigate and … [Read more...]
30 Reasons Why Trees Are Important – A Springtime Printable
Protecting nature is a communal activity that all people play a role in, but knowing why is an important motivating factor. One of our best allies in the continued survival of humanity, be it from global warming or just nature itself, are trees. Trees come in all shapes, sizes, and uses. Some trees are evergreen, meaning they never lose their leaves, and produce incredibly … [Read more...]
Saving the Outdoors: Scholarship Awardee Giving Hope For the Future
by Melynda Harrison - Anyone who has spent any time recreating outdoors has seen the effects of pollution, climate change, or neglect on one of their favorite places. As users of outdoor space, we have an obligation to take care of them and wild lands for the next (many) generations. Jessica Casey is taking that obligation seriously. She grew up on the shores of St. Albans … [Read more...]
26 Outdoor STEM Activities For Kids
Building a stick sculpture [photo courtesy Randen Pederson] by Sarah Benton Feitlinger - Outdoor STEM activities for kids are all around us and sometimes easier than you ever thought. Getting outside in nature is always a learning experience in one way or another. There are the obvious links to learning like the biology and ecology of flora and fauna, geology and … [Read more...]
20 More Outdoor STEM Activities for Fun Summer Learning
Examining the properties of mud [photo courtesy Hackney Council] The world needs kids who treasure science, can conquer the latest technologies, and engineer brave solutions to solve the challenging problems of a new world. Outdoor STEM activities create the next generation of inventors, innovators, and leaders by opening up their minds to the complexities hidden … [Read more...]
Backyard Explorers
Editor note: Welcome to a new column by mother and writer Kristin Wognild. Kristin lives, works, and plays in the forests of Central Oregon and is an advocate of place-based learning. Thus, this new regular column's title "Nature's Place" should appeal to those families who desire to have a deeper connection to how, when, and where their kids learn. We hope you enjoy it. ~Erin … [Read more...]
Forest Schools: Education in the great outdoors
Images courtesy Sabrina Norrie by Sabrina Norrie - Eliza Minnucci came onto my radar last spring. This public school teacher in Vermont did something somewhat revolutionary. Inspired by a forest school in Switzerland, but understanding the realities of traditional schooling models in the United States, she approached her principal about bringing students outdoors for a … [Read more...]
Taking ‘STEM’ Learning for a Hike
by Jessica Schaefer? If STEM learning is important in the classroom, it?s important outdoors. But here?s the glory: It?s even easier outside. Far from the busy box of a traditional classroom, outside, things get real. Balls don?t stop at the edge of the gym; things that fall, break; water and wind create changes everywhere. The biggest value of STEM learning outdoors is … [Read more...]
Nature Stewards: Four Fun Ways to Let Kids Participate
by Matthew Treadwell Fracking. Climate change. Mountaintop removal, overfishing, shark finning, oil spills, poaching, poisoned water, toxic air, deforestation, extinction. We're constantly bombarded with bad environmental news, and it's easy to become despondent, to feel helpless, hopeless. What do we do? What should we do? Besides living an environmentally conscious … [Read more...]
