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

This small bird, with a wingspan of just eight inches weighs barely one half ounce. Yet this bird makes two annual migration flights that can exceed 1,200 miles. Many birds winter in Mexico, the Caribbean islands or South America. Wandering vagrants have been documented in far-flung locations like Denmark, Iceland and even Serbia. Click here to read more about this fascinating animal.

Create your own field guide

Animals are so fascinating! Why not pick one to research and create your own page for a field guide? Maybe you’ll create a field guide to the animals that live in your yard or neighborhood!

We encourage you to research an animal that lives near where you live, maybe even one you can observe yourself. You can download the blank field guide page template below or create your own.

There are lots of good resources for online research, including National Geographic Kids, Biokids Critter Catalog and the Nature Notes section of our website.

Widgeon Cove Trail 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 Widgeon Cove Trail chapter of the book, which focuses on signs of animals. Check out the introductory section of the book for instructions on how to complete the diy treasure hunt.

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.