homesummer calendar index of activities






In nature, a child finds freedom, fantasy and privacy: a place distant from the adult world, a separate peace.

— Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods




Celebrate Summer and the Wonders of the Great Outdoors!

When you were young did you lie in the grass, looking at clouds and seeing fanciful animals? Or spend hours hunting fireflies and tadpoles? Kids these days often spend more time in front of computers, TVs, and video games than exploring the wonders of the great outdoors. Getting them off the couch can be a challenge, so we've compiled some fun activities that will entice kids to celebrate nature.

Gardens and parks offer endless opportunities for exploring. And when kids' curiosity is sparked they're excited to learn. "I wonder why grass is green." "I wonder why birds sing." Curious kids become lifelong learners — and they're rarely bored. Here's to a wonderful — and wonder-filled — summer! Growonder!

10 Easy Ways for Kids to Connect with Nature this Summer

1. Visit a park or garden and collect photos, drawings, words and other reminders of your visit and put them in a nature journal.

2. Take a nature hike and learn the six parts of most plants and their functions. Start a plant book and, after your hike, learn more about the plants you studied on the Internet.

3. Start a "learning garden" in your backyard or in a neighborhood plot and keep a photographic diary of how it grows. >>more

Featured Activity


Making a
Worm Bin




Most kids love to dig in the dirt, where they naturally uncover earthworms. These squirmy creatures pique kids' curiosity, and they can help keep many a child occupied while adults busy themselves with garden chores.>>more

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"When you garden, you grow" is trademark of the National Gardening Association. For more ideas and inspiration on gardening with children, visit NGA's Kids Gardening Web site.