Around these parts, fall is all about The Big Explorer’s birthday (he turns 8 next week – gasp!), Halloween, Thanksgiving and getting ready for the biggest holiday of them all in December. It’s a time full of crisp evenings, yummy foods and general mass excitement.
The catch for us during all this fun is finding time to slow down, head outside, connect with each other and with nature.
If you need a few ideas for exploring nature this fall, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been collecting ideas for a while now (and have a few of my own, of course!).
Here are just a few great ways to get outside and connected with nature this fall:
- Create a fall fun list & turn your “want tos” into “to dos”
- Go on a fall nature photo scavenger hunt
- Gather leaves on a nature walk, then make a fall leaf crown, leaf necklace or leaf people
- Jump in a pile of leaves
- Go apple picking (then polish them, bake them, bob for them – anything that sounds fun to your family)
- Visit a pumpkin patch
- Hunt for spider webs (bonus if you see spiders, too)
- Get into the garden with 10 fall garden activities for kids
- Play a game of I Spy Crows
- Try one of 10 ideas for Halloween nature fun
- Go on a Halloween scavenger hunt
- Treat your backyard wildlife to a snack-o-lantern
- Head outdoors & play on rainy days
- Plan a fall camping trip
- Take a hike
- Go on a thankfulness walk
- Jump in puddles after a rain (or during!)
- Take a flashlight walk
- Make a thankfulness tree
- Design your own rain art
- Create autumn brushes
- Visit a local state or national park
- Adorn your front door with a leafy door hanger
- Enjoy a Thanksgiving Day scavenger hunt
- Fly a leaf kite
PLUS even more ideas for fall nature fun!
- 10 fun fall activities with kids from Appalachain Mountain Club
- 40 pumpkin activities for kids from hands on: as we grow
- Fall activity guide from ActiveKidsClub.com
- Fall Activity Guide (pdf) from Nature Rocks
- My Fall Outdoor Fun ideas on Pinterest
Debi says
The simple ideas are always the best, aren't they?
snowbird says
I love the idea of flying a leaf kite.xxxx