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 assertive blue and white bird will not tolerate others of its species in nearby nesting boxes, but will accept the easygoing Eastern bluebird? Click here to read more about this fascinating animal.

Chlorophyll rubbings

Soon we will be starting to see more green plants! Some plants stay green all winter. There are more green leaves in the spring and summer because plants are busy performing photosynthesis, a process that uses chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a green pigment that absorbs the energy of the sun so plants can turn it into food.

I have an experiment for you. Go outdoors and find as many different green leaves as you can. Take the back of a metal spoon (you can also use your fingers!) and rub one of the leaves on a piece of white paper. The color you see on the paper is the green chlorophyll! Test out a few different kinds of leaves and see which produce the most chlorophyll. Why do you think one might make more than another?

This activity idea contributed by Emma Levy.