Outdoor at Home Learning Resources
Want to turn your time outside into a fun learning experience? We’ve compiled some outdoor learning activities and other resources we’ve used in our Youth Education Program that you can print out and use. Get outside and have some fun!
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Exploration
Looking for something educational to do with the family out in nature? Head out to your local river and explore the places aquatic macroinvertebrates call home!
The small insects that live in our waterways are called aquatic macroinvertebrates. Macro- meaning large enough that you don’t need a microscope to see them. Invertebrate- meaning they have no backbone and rely on their exoskeleton for support. These small critters are food for many species of fish, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. They can also be water quality indicators. See this Macroinvertebrate Identification Key (link to key with colored dots) to find out which species are more sensitive to pollutants and which can survive in more harsh conditions. If you find some that are more sensitive to pollutants, that likely means it is a pretty healthy system.
Most of these insects live on the bottom of shallow bodies of water- Check under rocks, in loose leaf litter, and in slow moving water to find them. Some skim on the top of the water, but you have to be quick to catch them! Take a look at this interactive key with detailed photos to see what you’re looking for before you head out!
Always be aware of where you are stepping and try not to disturb the ecosystem too much in your search. Always put all the organisms back where you found them when you’re done and respect your lands and waters by leaving everything as you found it.
Supplies you’ll need:
- Printed macroinvertebrate key
- Small net
- Shallow bucket or container for viewing
- Tall rain boots or water shoes
- Magnifying glass
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Go on a walk, hike, or even just hang out in your yard and take a look at the world around you!
Print out this scavenger hunt sheet and see how many things you can find.
Garden Activities
Do you have a garden at home or want to start one? Download this garden activities page to find multiple fun ways to get children involved in the garden.
Nature Cyanotype Printmaking
Next time you are on a walk or a hike, on the beach, in the forest or even in your backyard, collect a few fun shaped items and try out cyanotype printmaking! Remember not to pick or take any living plants or animals from the wild- there are still plenty of fun items to find that will already be on the ground! Pinecones, leaves, rocks, shells, and more! If you have flowers or plants growing in your own yard, those can be nice items to collect as well.
- Pre-coated cyanotype paper
- Your collected nature items
- A shallow tub of water for rinsing
- A place to hang art to dry
- Sunlight!
Directions
Start out by moving to an area with NO direct sunlight- as soon as your paper touches sunlight it will react almost instantly. Gather your nature items and arrange them to your liking on the paper. Once you are finished, carefully take your paper outside to a place with direct sunlight (having something hard underneath paper may help with carrying). Leave the paper out for 5-10 minutes. If it is overcast or cloudy, it could take more time. While your art is being exposed, grab your shallow container and fill it with enough water to be able to fully submerge your paper.
When your time is up, move your paper out of the sun, take your items off and submerge into water until it turns to a deeper blue- around 2-5 minutes. Move the paper around a few times to help shed the excess color off.
Take your paper out and hang it to dry! It does not matter at this point if you put it back out into the sun to dry.