Today I’m sharing three fun outdoor activities designed to engage and entertain your 5-11-year-old grandkids while discovering the wonders of nature in a local park or nature preserve. Your backyard could be a substitute location, too.
Fall Outdoor Fun with Grandkids
(This post contains paid links.)
Activity #1: A Nature Scavenger Hunt
The idea: Create a list of items commonly found in the park such as different types of leaves, rocks, flowers, or even specific bird or insect species. Give each child a small bag or basket to collect these items as they find them during your walk. This can make the walk more interactive and educational as you help them identify and learn about the various elements of the park.
Preparing for a nature scavenger hunt with your grandkids involves several
steps to ensure it's fun for all and maybe a little educational. Here's a
step-by-step guide:
1. Choose When You Will Go:
Decide on a suitable date and time for the scavenger hunt. Consider factors like the weather, the park's operating hours, and when your grandkids are most energetic and alert.
2. Create a Scavenger Hunt List:
Develop a list of items or things for your grandkids to find during the hunt. Make sure the items are age-appropriate and can be reasonably found in the park. Here are some ideas:
- Different types of leaves (e.g., oak, maple, pine)
- Rocks of various colors and shapes
- Wildflowers or specific plants
- Pinecones or acorns
- Animal tracks or feathers (if possible)
- A specific bird or insect species (e.g., a bluejay or a butterfly)
3. Prepare Scavenger Hunt Cards:
Create individual scavenger hunt cards or lists for each grandchild. You can make them visually appealing by adding pictures of the items they need to find along with the item names. Here's an example of one I made:
4. Gather Supplies:
Ensure you have the necessary supplies for the scavenger hunt, including:
- Small bags, boxes, or baskets for collecting items
- Pencils or markers for marking off found items on the cards
- Clipboards or hard surfaces for writing and drawing
- Optional: Magnifying glasses or binoculars for closer examination
5. Explain the Rules:
Before starting the scavenger hunt, gather your grandkids and explain the rules and guidelines. Keep it simple, but make sure they understand that they should look for the items on their cards and not pick or disturb living plants or animals.
6. Safety Precautions:
Discuss safety guidelines, such as staying on designated paths, watching out for tripping hazards, and keeping an eye on each other. Remind them of the importance of staying together during the hunt.
7. Begin the Scavenger Hunt:
Set off on your nature walk through the park with your grandkids. Encourage them to observe their surroundings and look for the items on their scavenger hunt cards. Be patient and allow them time to explore and discover.
8. Record Findings:
As they find items on their lists, have your grandkids mark them off using pencils or markers. This can be a great opportunity for them to practice their writing and drawing skills.
9. Celebrate Discoveries:
Celebrate the discoveries your grandkids make during the scavenger hunt. Encourage them to share their findings with you and each other, fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder about nature.
10. Reflect and Learn:
After the scavenger hunt, take some time to discuss what they found and learned about the park and its inhabitants. Share interesting facts or stories related to the items they discovered.
Your grandkids may want to take their found items home with them to help preserve the memory of the fun time they had. Remember to make the scavenger hunt a fun and engaging experience for your grandkids while instilling a love for nature and outdoor exploration.
Scavenger Hunt Bags
Leaf and flower pressing is a creative and educational activity that allows your grandkids to explore the beauty of nature and create lasting mementos from your walk in the park. Here's how to prepare and make this activity fun and successful:
1. Gather Supplies:
- Pressing materials: You'll need a notebook or journal with blank pages, preferably with thick paper, to press the leaves and flowers. Alternatively, you can use loose sheets of paper.
- Cardboard or heavy paper: for creating a protective cover for the notebook.
- Scissors: To trim leaves and flowers if needed.
- Transparent tape or glue: To attach pressed items to the pages.
- Markers or colored pencils: For decorating and labeling the pressed items.
- Small plastic bags or envelopes: To collect and store the leaves and flowers during the walk.
- A backpack or bag to carry all the supplies.
Collection Bags
3. Create a Protective Cover:
Cut a piece of cardboard or heavy paper slightly larger than the notebook or journal's pages. This will serve as a protective cover for the notebook.
During your walk, encourage your grandkids to collect leaves and flowers that interest them. Teach them to pick them carefully and not to damage the plants.
2. Place Items in Notebook:
Once you've collected a variety of leaves and flowers, open the notebook or journal. Place the leaves and flowers between the pages, making sure they are spaced apart and not overlapping. You can press multiple items on one page, but make sure there's enough space to avoid damaging them.
3. Add Protective Cover:
Place the protective cardboard cover on top of the notebook to prevent the pressed leaves and flowers from getting damaged during the pressing process.
4. Apply Pressure:
Now, apply pressure to flatten and press the leaves and flowers. You can stack heavy books on top of the notebook or use a dedicated flower press if you have one. Leave the items pressed for several days to a couple of weeks to allow them to dry completely.
5. Decorate and Label:
Once the leaves and flowers are fully dried and pressed, remove them from the notebook. Your grandkids can now decorate the pages of the notebook with markers or colored pencils and label each pressed item with its name or any interesting details about where it was found.
6. Organize and Display:
Store the pressed leaves and flowers in clear plastic sleeves or envelopes to protect them. Your grandkids can create a beautiful collection of pressed items that they can proudly display or share with family and friends.
- Encourage them to be curious and ask questions about the leaves and flowers they collect. You can look up information about the plants together, fostering a love for learning about nature.
- Create a sense of accomplishment by helping your grandkids appreciate the artistry and creativity in their pressed items.
- Consider revisiting the park in different seasons to collect leaves and flowers from different plants, creating a seasonal collection.
- Document the date and location of each collection to add a personal touch to their notebooks.
- Take photos of your grandkids with their completed notebooks to cherish the memories of your outdoor adventure.
Leaf and flower pressing is a wonderful way to connect with nature, spark creativity, and create cherished keepsakes from your time in the park.
2. Secure Paper to the Tree:
- Place the sheet of white paper against the tree trunk where you want to make the rubbing.
- Use masking tape or painter's tape to gently secure the paper to the tree's bark, ensuring it doesn't move while rubbing. Your grandchild might need help with this.
3. Create the Bark Rubbing:
- Give your grandkids crayons or colored pencils.
- Show them how to hold the crayon or pencil flat against the paper and rub it back and forth over the tree's bark. As they rub, the texture and pattern of the bark will appear on the paper.
4. Rotate and Experiment:
- Encourage your grandkids to rotate the paper or change crayon colors to explore different parts of the tree trunk. Experimenting with different colors and angles can create unique and beautiful rubbings.
-A clipboard will come in handy to keep all of the papers together.
5. Label and Collect:
- After making each rubbing, label it with the name of the tree or a brief description of the bark pattern. This helps them remember the tree species and location.
- Remove the paper carefully from the tree. Be sure no papers or pieces of tape are left behind.
6. Organizing Rubbings:
After the rubbing activity, your grandkids may want to organize or display their beautiful rubbings. Here are some ideas.
- To keep the bark rubbings organized and protected, consider placing them in a folder or binder with plastic sleeves. Label each sleeve with the tree's name or a brief description.
- If you want to turn this into an ongoing project, you can compile the rubbings into a Bark Rubbing Book. Include a cover page with the title and date, and arrange the rubbings inside in chronological order. This book can become a keepsake of their adventures. The binder in the link above will work perfectly for this.
- Encourage your grandkids to proudly display some of their favorite bark rubbings in their rooms at home or in a common area of your home. This can serve as a beautiful reminder of their time in the park.
Enjoy your time in the park, and have fun exploring and connecting with nature with your grandkids!
1. Choose When You Will Go:
Decide on a suitable date and time for the scavenger hunt. Consider factors like the weather, the park's operating hours, and when your grandkids are most energetic and alert.
2. Create a Scavenger Hunt List:
Develop a list of items or things for your grandkids to find during the hunt. Make sure the items are age-appropriate and can be reasonably found in the park. Here are some ideas:
- Different types of leaves (e.g., oak, maple, pine)
- Rocks of various colors and shapes
- Wildflowers or specific plants
- Pinecones or acorns
- Animal tracks or feathers (if possible)
- A specific bird or insect species (e.g., a bluejay or a butterfly)
3. Prepare Scavenger Hunt Cards:
Create individual scavenger hunt cards or lists for each grandchild. You can make them visually appealing by adding pictures of the items they need to find along with the item names. Here's an example of one I made:
Ensure you have the necessary supplies for the scavenger hunt, including:
- Small bags, boxes, or baskets for collecting items
- Pencils or markers for marking off found items on the cards
- Clipboards or hard surfaces for writing and drawing
- Optional: Magnifying glasses or binoculars for closer examination
5. Explain the Rules:
Before starting the scavenger hunt, gather your grandkids and explain the rules and guidelines. Keep it simple, but make sure they understand that they should look for the items on their cards and not pick or disturb living plants or animals.
6. Safety Precautions:
Discuss safety guidelines, such as staying on designated paths, watching out for tripping hazards, and keeping an eye on each other. Remind them of the importance of staying together during the hunt.
7. Begin the Scavenger Hunt:
Set off on your nature walk through the park with your grandkids. Encourage them to observe their surroundings and look for the items on their scavenger hunt cards. Be patient and allow them time to explore and discover.
8. Record Findings:
As they find items on their lists, have your grandkids mark them off using pencils or markers. This can be a great opportunity for them to practice their writing and drawing skills.
9. Celebrate Discoveries:
Celebrate the discoveries your grandkids make during the scavenger hunt. Encourage them to share their findings with you and each other, fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder about nature.
10. Reflect and Learn:
After the scavenger hunt, take some time to discuss what they found and learned about the park and its inhabitants. Share interesting facts or stories related to the items they discovered.
Your grandkids may want to take their found items home with them to help preserve the memory of the fun time they had. Remember to make the scavenger hunt a fun and engaging experience for your grandkids while instilling a love for nature and outdoor exploration.
Here are some things that will help you get going: (Amazon affiliate)
Scavenger Hunt CardsScavenger Hunt Bags
Magnifying Glasses
Then, place these items between the pages of the notebook or journal, and press them using heavy objects (like books). This will preserve the natural beauty of the park and serve as a memento of your walk.
Activity #2: Leaf and Flower Pressing
The Idea: Bring along some small notebooks or journals and show your grandkids how to create leaf and flower presses. Collect leaves, flowers, or even small branches during your walk.Then, place these items between the pages of the notebook or journal, and press them using heavy objects (like books). This will preserve the natural beauty of the park and serve as a memento of your walk.
Leaf and flower pressing is a creative and educational activity that allows your grandkids to explore the beauty of nature and create lasting mementos from your walk in the park. Here's how to prepare and make this activity fun and successful:
1. Gather Supplies:
- Pressing materials: You'll need a notebook or journal with blank pages, preferably with thick paper, to press the leaves and flowers. Alternatively, you can use loose sheets of paper.
- Cardboard or heavy paper: for creating a protective cover for the notebook.
- Scissors: To trim leaves and flowers if needed.
- Transparent tape or glue: To attach pressed items to the pages.
- Markers or colored pencils: For decorating and labeling the pressed items.
- Small plastic bags or envelopes: To collect and store the leaves and flowers during the walk.
- A backpack or bag to carry all the supplies.
Supplies You May Want: (Amazon Affiliate):
Flower and Leaf PressCollection Bags
Small Notebooks
2. Select Pressing Materials:
Before your walk, choose a few leaves and flowers that catch your grandkids' attention. Opt for a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Make sure they are not too delicate, as very delicate flowers might not press well.
2. Select Pressing Materials:
Before your walk, choose a few leaves and flowers that catch your grandkids' attention. Opt for a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Make sure they are not too delicate, as very delicate flowers might not press well.
3. Create a Protective Cover:
Cut a piece of cardboard or heavy paper slightly larger than the notebook or journal's pages. This will serve as a protective cover for the notebook.
What to do When you get to the Park
1. Collect Leaves and Flowers:During your walk, encourage your grandkids to collect leaves and flowers that interest them. Teach them to pick them carefully and not to damage the plants.
2. Place Items in Notebook:
Once you've collected a variety of leaves and flowers, open the notebook or journal. Place the leaves and flowers between the pages, making sure they are spaced apart and not overlapping. You can press multiple items on one page, but make sure there's enough space to avoid damaging them.
3. Add Protective Cover:
Place the protective cardboard cover on top of the notebook to prevent the pressed leaves and flowers from getting damaged during the pressing process.
4. Apply Pressure:
Now, apply pressure to flatten and press the leaves and flowers. You can stack heavy books on top of the notebook or use a dedicated flower press if you have one. Leave the items pressed for several days to a couple of weeks to allow them to dry completely.
5. Decorate and Label:
Once the leaves and flowers are fully dried and pressed, remove them from the notebook. Your grandkids can now decorate the pages of the notebook with markers or colored pencils and label each pressed item with its name or any interesting details about where it was found.
6. Organize and Display:
Store the pressed leaves and flowers in clear plastic sleeves or envelopes to protect them. Your grandkids can create a beautiful collection of pressed items that they can proudly display or share with family and friends.
Tips for Fun and Success
- Make the activity interactive by involving your grandkids in the entire process, from selecting materials to decorating the notebook and labeling the pressed items.- Encourage them to be curious and ask questions about the leaves and flowers they collect. You can look up information about the plants together, fostering a love for learning about nature.
- Create a sense of accomplishment by helping your grandkids appreciate the artistry and creativity in their pressed items.
- Consider revisiting the park in different seasons to collect leaves and flowers from different plants, creating a seasonal collection.
- Document the date and location of each collection to add a personal touch to their notebooks.
- Take photos of your grandkids with their completed notebooks to cherish the memories of your outdoor adventure.
Leaf and flower pressing is a wonderful way to connect with nature, spark creativity, and create cherished keepsakes from your time in the park.
Activity #3: Bark Rubbings
The Idea: Planning a bark-rubbing activity is a fantastic way to engage your grandkids with the natural world and encourage their creativity. Bark rubbings can be done in every season, too!
Here's how to prepare and organize this activity effectively:
1. Gather Supplies:
- Thin, white paper or lightweight sketch paper: This will be used for making the rubbings.
- Crayons or colored pencils: Choose a variety of colors to make the rubbings visually appealing.
- Masking tape or painter's tape: To secure the paper to the tree trunk.
- Clipboards (optional): These can make it easier to hold the paper in place while rubbing.
- A backpack or bag to carry all the supplies.
1. Gather Supplies:
- Thin, white paper or lightweight sketch paper: This will be used for making the rubbings.
- Crayons or colored pencils: Choose a variety of colors to make the rubbings visually appealing.
- Masking tape or painter's tape: To secure the paper to the tree trunk.
- Clipboards (optional): These can make it easier to hold the paper in place while rubbing.
- A backpack or bag to carry all the supplies.
Some Supplies You May Need: (Amazon Affiliate):
Tracing Paper
Magnifying Glasses
2. Choose Suitable Trees:
Before your walk, identify trees with interesting bark textures that are easily accessible and safe for your grandkids to reach. Trees with rough, textured, or patterned bark work best for rubbings.
3. Dress Appropriately for the Season:
Make sure your grandkids wear comfortable, seasonal clothes and closed-toe shoes suitable for walking in the park.
-When you arrive at the park, help your grandkids choose a tree with interesting bark to make their rubbings.
-Ask them to feel the tree and describe how it feels. Ask them to tell you what they see.
2. Choose Suitable Trees:
Before your walk, identify trees with interesting bark textures that are easily accessible and safe for your grandkids to reach. Trees with rough, textured, or patterned bark work best for rubbings.
3. Dress Appropriately for the Season:
Make sure your grandkids wear comfortable, seasonal clothes and closed-toe shoes suitable for walking in the park.
MakingYour Rubbings
1. Select a Tree:-When you arrive at the park, help your grandkids choose a tree with interesting bark to make their rubbings.
-Ask them to feel the tree and describe how it feels. Ask them to tell you what they see.
2. Secure Paper to the Tree:
- Place the sheet of white paper against the tree trunk where you want to make the rubbing.
- Use masking tape or painter's tape to gently secure the paper to the tree's bark, ensuring it doesn't move while rubbing. Your grandchild might need help with this.
3. Create the Bark Rubbing:
- Give your grandkids crayons or colored pencils.
- Show them how to hold the crayon or pencil flat against the paper and rub it back and forth over the tree's bark. As they rub, the texture and pattern of the bark will appear on the paper.
4. Rotate and Experiment:
- Encourage your grandkids to rotate the paper or change crayon colors to explore different parts of the tree trunk. Experimenting with different colors and angles can create unique and beautiful rubbings.
-A clipboard will come in handy to keep all of the papers together.
5. Label and Collect:
- After making each rubbing, label it with the name of the tree or a brief description of the bark pattern. This helps them remember the tree species and location.
- Remove the paper carefully from the tree. Be sure no papers or pieces of tape are left behind.
6. Organizing Rubbings:
After the rubbing activity, your grandkids may want to organize or display their beautiful rubbings. Here are some ideas.
- To keep the bark rubbings organized and protected, consider placing them in a folder or binder with plastic sleeves. Label each sleeve with the tree's name or a brief description.
- If you want to turn this into an ongoing project, you can compile the rubbings into a Bark Rubbing Book. Include a cover page with the title and date, and arrange the rubbings inside in chronological order. This book can become a keepsake of their adventures. The binder in the link above will work perfectly for this.
- Encourage your grandkids to proudly display some of their favorite bark rubbings in their rooms at home or in a common area of your home. This can serve as a beautiful reminder of their time in the park.
Enjoy your time in the park, and have fun exploring and connecting with nature with your grandkids!
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