Whether your kiddos are heading to day camp or hanging out at home, spring break is a great chance for some unstructured nature play, local exploring, even an outing to a nearby state or national park! Here are 50+ spring break nature activities for kids to help encourage some outdoor fun. And if travel is on the agenda, make a point to schedule in some time to connect with nature during your trip.
Backyard nature play
Take advantage of spring break to let the kids have plenty of time for unstructured nature play every day. A few ideas for outdoor play spaces that encourage connecting with nature:
- A dirt pile
- Backyard beach or other sand play area
- Mud pie kitchen (we also love a mud bath area)
- Nature play station
- Water play area
- A kid’s-only zone (like a fort, tree house, or other secret hideaway)
- A children’s garden
Local nature exploring
Whether it’s in your own backyard, a local park or a nearby nature destination, find some time to let the kids do some exploring. Some timely activities:
- Go on a spring nature scavenger hunt.
- Create a fairy garden.
- Search for four-leaf clovers.
- Explore a flower up close.
- Visit a local garden or arboretum.
- Take a color walk.
- Make wind streamers.
- Walk barefoot through the grass.
- Arrange a flower bouquet.
- Do some bird watching.
- Camp out in the backyard.
- Head to a local farm for a u-pick adventure.
- Plant a garden.
- Adopt a caterpillar and release a butterfly.
- Fly a kite.
- Pick dandelions.
- Go for a bike ride.
- Have a picnic.
- Start a nature journal.
- Go on a bug hunt.
Grander adventures
Support your local parks! If you’ve got a day free – or even just a few hours – head to a regional, state or national park. While you’re there, you may be able to:
- Take a hike.
- Visit a nature center.
- Participate in a junior ranger program.
- See some wildflowers in bloom.
- Visit a pond.
- Meet a park ranger.
- Watch a sunset.
And if it rains …
