Early Childhood (0-5)

In the article Nature Can Be as Engaging as Video Games — How to Help Kids Fall in Love With the Outdoors, which also contains a TEDx video and useful linkes, Scott Sampson encourages parents to help kids fall in love with nature just like he did: through direct experience. He recommends three steps that we — along with the children in our lives — can take to connect with nature. You don’t need to go to a national park to help your kids fall in love with nature; a walk around the block can be enough. Tech also doesn’t have to be the enemy. Instead, use it as a tool to enhance their awe.

How to Make the Most of Indoor Play When You Can't Go Outside is an article with advice, activities, and links on how to bring environmental education into the indoors. This article provides tips on how to redefine what “outdoors” can really mean for each of us. For those who only have access to a backyard or are fully homebound, check out this resource for activities to maximize a small space or bring the outdoors in! 

The Children and Nature Network maintains a collection of free toolkits, reports, infographics and advocacy tools is designed to help connect children, families and communities to nature. 

Learn about the importance of learning with the land, led by Indigenous Peoples. Included are links to other great resources as well. 

This article describes easy-to-use tools and methods for finding and identifying different types of rocks and minerals in your backyard!

Ever Active Schools uses the Comprehensive School Health framework to support schools, providing professional development opportunities, lesson plans and other resources, and an EAS in residence program to help schools develop a custom plan for improving school health.

How to Germinate Beans in your Kitchen (Gr. K-6)

Upcycled Flower Pot (Gr. 7-12)

Biodegradable Paper Planter (Gr. 4-12)

How to make a Mud Kitchen (Pre-K-Gr.1)

Tailpipe Pollution Challenge (Gr. 5)

Birding 101 (K-12)

Teaching the 4 Elements by Shelagh Pyper from Fuse Consulting says, "Children lead with their hands, not their minds. In order for them to develop a relationship with the natural elements of Wind, Water, Earth and Fire (i.e. a connection to Nature) they need to explore the magic and wonder of these things with all their senses." 

Scroll down to Resources for Teachers or Resources for Parents and Guardians to download your free guides today!

This toolkit supports practitioners who encourage children’s outdoor play. It takes a balanced approach to risk and safety. The toolkit was created it because of growing concerns that children are overprotected when playing outdoors or stopped from going outside altogether. As a result, they miss out on the joy and sense of adventure they should have from playing outside, and lose out on the long-term benefits of outdoor play.