Some projects and exploration ideas may need materials you can print off, while others can be found around the house or at a store. They will also be linked to corresponding posts on this site for more detailed information.
Exploration ideas:
Photo Safari - Take a camera and go out and take pictures.
Log Roll - Find a log while hiking? See what is under the log by gently rolling it over. Possible finds include small amphibians like salamanders or frogs, insects or worms. (Remember to roll the log back where you found it.)
Map it - take paper and markers and draw a map of your surroundings.
Rainbow Hunt - go on a search for all the colors in the rainbow in nature make a collage of what you found
Paint Chip Color Search - This is a variation of the Rainbow Hunt, take random paint color sample chips from the home improvement or paint shop on your next hike see if you can find those colors, call them out when you do. Be sure to not get just green and brown colors.
Scent and Seek - Do you have an herbal or flower garden? Have a buddy take a sample of the scented plants from the garden while you are not looking and wrap the sample in tissue. Without looking inside the tissue, try to figure out what plant the sample came from by just their scent. When you think you know the answer look inside the tissue and see if it matched. Switch roles and see if your buddy can find what picked.
Animal Track Detective - Great for when there is snow or through the mud or dirt during any season. Find any animal tracks? Think like a detective and find the answers to these three questions: Who do the tracks belong to? What were they doing? and Where did they go? If you have no tracks to follow, make some of your own tracks and see if a friend can answer the same questions. Depending on where you are you may find deer, squirrel, rabbit, bird, even cat and dog prints.
Nature Bingo/Scavenger Hunt - use Bingo board or make a list of items like: tree with leaves that look like a hand, slimy animal, flying animal, color in nature not green or brown, feather, etc. and go track them down
