10 Simple Nature-Based Activities for Summer

Summer is for sunshine, sticky hands, and getting muddy toes! At Tiny Green Learning, we believe nature is the best classroom and that summer is the perfect time to lean in!

Here are 10 easy, low-prep nature activities that help children build skills, confidence, and connection. From infants to tweens, there’s something here for every young explorer.

1. Mud Kitchen Magic

🫖 Grab some old pots, spoons, and soil. Add water—and voilà!

Supports: Sensory play, imaginative thinking, and fine motor development.Ages: 1–10 (and honestly, adults too).

2. Bug Hunt Bingo

🪲Print or draw a bug scavenger chart and go exploring.

Supports: Observation, focus, scientific inquiry, and overcoming fears through gentle exposure.Ages: 3–10

3. Nature Walk with a Twist

👣Add a theme—“find something soft,” “spot five shades of green,” “listen for three bird sounds.”

Supports: Language development, mindfulness, and sensory integration.Ages: 2–10

4. Rock Painting & Storytelling

🎨Paint rocks with faces, animals, or symbols—then use them to tell a story.

Supports: Creativity, narrative skills, and emotional expression.Ages: 3–10

5. Stick Letters and Leaf Numbers

🔤Form letters, shapes, or numbers using twigs and leaves.

Supports: Early literacy, numeracy, and spatial reasoning. Ages: 4–8

6. Water Play with Natural Tools

💧Use pinecones, leaves, or sticks to scoop, pour, and float.

Supports: Cause-and-effect learning, sensory regulation, and gross motor development.Ages: 0–6

7. Backyard Bird Watching

🦉Sit quietly and listen for birds. Use a picture guide or apps like Merlin to ID them.

Supports: Patience, focus, empathy for animals, and early science skills.Ages: 3–10

8. Sun Prints and Shadow Art

☀️Place objects on dark paper and leave in the sun—or trace shadows with chalk.

Supports: Visual-spatial skills, early physics (light/shadow), and creative expression.Ages: 5–10

9. Nature-Based Obstacle Course

🌿Jump over logs, crawl under branches, balance on rocks.

Supports: Physical development, risk assessment, and executive functioning.Ages: 2–10

10. Cloud Watching + Wondering

☁️Lie on a blanket and name what you see in the sky. Follow their thoughts.

Supports: Language development, emotional regulation, and open-ended thinking.Ages: All ages (even babies love to gaze up!).

Why it Matters

Nature-based play isn’t just “fun.” It builds whole children physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually!  Outdoor learning supports brain development, cultivates curiosity, and helps kids regulate their nervous systems in a world that often moves too fast.

So whether you have 10 minutes or a whole afternoon, step outside this summer and let nature do its thing. You don’t need fancy supplies or Pinterest-perfect plans, just a patch of sky and a willingness to explore.

Because every leaf turned over, every bug examined, every barefoot step through grass… is a step toward learning and love of the environment. 💚