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 owl do we see only in the winter when food supplies become less abundant in northern Canada? Click here to read more about this fascinating animal.

Painting on rocks

Rocks and shells make great painting surfaces. If you use paint designed for outdoor use, you can leave your painted rocks on your lawn or porch or in your garden. Can you make a rock look like an animal?

Long Reach Preserve 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 Long Reach Preserve chapter of the book, which explores trees. Check out the introduction for the book for instructions on the diy treasure hunt you’ll find in this chapter.

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.