Outdoor activity ideas and inspiration

From mid-March to the end of May 2020, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) posted a simple outdoor activity idea and nature riddle for kids every weekday. Some days we also posted other resources, like downloadable chapters of the Junior Ranger Activity Book.

Created to support parents who found themselves homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic, these activity ideas are a great jumping off point for any outdoor adventure. Click here for a list with links to all 50 activity ideas.

Nature riddle

What local bird looks like he is dressed in a lovely gray tuxedo with a jaunty hat on top, as if going to a formal dance? Click here to read more about this cute little bird.

A game: Which one is missing?

Have each person collect two to six unique natural objects. One by one, place your items on a towel or blanket. Give each object a creative name. Have your kids close their eyes. Take away one of the objects and hide it behind your back. Have your kids open their eyes and guess which object is gone. Repeat, this time removing two or three objects. Keep playing.

This game could be played during a video chat with a friend. Have each kid collect at least six objects and lay them out on a table within sight during the video chat.

Houghton Graves Park chapter of the Junior Ranger Activity Book

The Junior Ranger Activity Book includes engaging science content, activity ideas and trail maps! It’s a great resource to learn about and explore nature and get outdoors, even if you don’t live near Harpswell. The book was created by Emma Levy, who was a high school senior when she wrote it. Click here for more about the book.

You can download the entire book, chapter by chapter, from our outdoor activity ideas posts.

Click here for the Houghton Graves Park chapter of the book, which delves into how animals survive the winter.

If you would like a physical copy of the whole book, you can order it on our website for just $8 + shipping. Click here to order.