Family Fun and Learning from Land Trusts
Is your family looking for something fun to do this summer while social distancing? Land trusts across the nation have created educational activities for all ages to get your kids outdoors! The majority of these programs can be done from anywhere, but check out activities by state below and visit FindALandTrust.org to find one near you.
Alabama | California | Connecticut | Delaware | llinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Mississippi | Montana | New Hampshire | New Mexico | New Jersey | New York | North Carolina | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | Washington | Wyoming
Alabama
Family Activites | Land Trust of North Alabama
Ages 4-10
Land Trust of North Alabama offers a variety of activities your family can do outside, including scavenger hunts, a wildflower guide, individual hiking tours and more in Alabama. Learn more.
California
Virtual Summer Calendar | Open Space Authority Santa Clara Valley
All ages
Open Space Authority Santa Clara Valley has a full summer calendar of virtual, livestreamed outdoor events and programs to keep your family connected to nature! Join them for tours of parks, preserves and urban open spaces, mental wellness activities, outdoor art lessons, live animal presentations, native plant walks and more. Learn more.
The Learning Center | Save the Redwoods League
Ages 4-10
Check out Save the Redwoods' Learning Center, which has a wide array of worksheets, lessons and videos that your kids can enjoy from home! Learn more.
50 Ways to Celebrate 50 Years of Earth Day Scavenger Hunt | Save Mount Diablo
Ages 4-10
Though Earth Day is over, your family will love doing Save Mount Diablo's 50 Ways to Celebrate 50 Years of Earth Day Scavenger Hunt! You'll draw, research, write and help clean up the Earth during this fun-filled week. Learn more.
Virtual Book Club | Big Sur Land Trust
Ages 4-10
Join the Big Sur Land Trust's virtual book club — each month, you and your friends can enjoy the latest book and join a video call to discuss it! Learn more.
Virtual Tours and Scavenger Hunts | John Muir Land Trust
Ages 7-11
See the beautiful land in California that John Muir Land Trust is protecting on a virtual tour! Watch past tours and put every upcoming Zoom event on your calendar, including an interactive scavenger hunt for kids. Learn more.
CRANEium Subscription | Solano Land Trust
Ages 5-10
Solano Land Trust's CRANEium subscription inspires children to learn more about the outdoors, providing them with something new to look forward to each month with a new featured animal. Learn more.
Nature at Home | Sonoma Land Trust
Ages 5-10
Solano Land Trust's Nature at Home page features activities for adults and kids alike, in English and Spanish! Click through their free content and enjoy connecting with nature from home. Learn more.
Connecticut
Tree School | Connecticut Forest & Park Association
Ages 4-11
Learn at home with Tree School, a free program for families that emails you weekly with fun activities, nature-based projects and a daily challenge that will earn your family a special prize. Learn more.
Delaware
8 Fun Outodor Activities for Adults and Families | Delaware Nature Society
All Ages
DelNature’s website includes virtual and distanced in-person summer camps, programs, videos, animal track IDs and scavenger hunts, and more. Learn more.
Illinois
Family Nature Adventurers | Natural Land Institute
All Ages
Connect and engage with nature through a series of 13 free guided activities with topics ranging from water to archaelogy! Each Wednesday through August 10, new interactive activiites will be added to the website that can be done from anywhere. Learn more.
Outdoor Activities in McHenry County | The Land Conservancy of McHenry County
All Ages
Whether you're in McHenry County or at home, your family will love their nature scavenger hunt! Plus, if you're near the Wolf Oak Woods, test your compass-wielding skills with the entire family. Learn more.
Indiana
Reddy Red-Tail Explorers | Red-tail Land Conservancy
All Ages
Are you ready to discover all of the blooming, peeping, croaking and furry things in nature? Reddy Red-tail has outdoor activity sheets, educational tools, coloring pages and more for young explorers! Learn more.
Iowa
Kids Corner | Bur Oak Land Trust
Ages 5-10
Take a break from a busy week and enjoy a walk outdoors! Use the guides and activities created by Bur Oak Land Trust to explore your environment and make connections with nature. Learn more.
Kansas
Families Exploring Outdoor Kansas | Kansas Land Trust
All ages
Check out the Families Exploring Outdoor Kansas Facebook page for activities and resources for things to do at home with your family - from anywhere! If you're in the Douglas County area, you can also join the Discover Natural Douglas County Summer Activity. Learn more.
Maine
50 Outdoor Activities for Kids | Harpswell Heritage Land Trust
Ages 5-10
Every weekday, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust posted a simple outdoor activity idea and nature riddle for kids, as well as other resources, like downloadable chapters of its Junior Ranger Activity Book. Learn more.
Friends From the Field | Island Heritage Trust
All ages
Every Thursday at 4 p.m. ET, join the Island Heritage Trust for a one-hour webinar featuring local naturalists, environmental professionals and outdoor learning experts. Learn more.
Maryland
Nature Activities | Howard C
All ages
Howard County Conservancy has assembled a page full of activities—including outdoor explorations, nature and science at home, arts and crafts, and more—with new ones added every week. Learn more.
Massachusetts
123 Hike with Me | North County Land Trust
Ages 5-10
Looking to do a trail in Massachusetts? Check out North County Land Trust's videos of its trail systems from a kid's perspective before you get out and create memories on the trail. Learn more.
Nature Bingo | Mass Audubon
All ages
Print out Mass Audubon's themed bingo cards and see if you can be the first of your friends and family to fill it out on a walk. Learn more.
Virtual Learning with the Land | Kestrel Land Trust
All ages
Watch Kestrel Land Trust's videos on a variety of topics like trees, carbon & climate and more for your family. Learn more.
Activities on Buzzards Bay | Save Buzzards Bay
All ages
Live near Southeast Massachusetts? There are so many ways to discover Buzzards Bay, from beachcoming to bicycling. Learn more.
Michigan
Virtual Hikes | Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
All ages
Enjoy the beauty of Michigan with Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy's virtual hikes. Learn more.
Socially-Distant Science and Adventure | Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy
All ages
Learn about a variety of topics like backyard gardening, bird identification and more with Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy's Science and Adventure videos. Learn more.
#OutdoorDetective Nature Scavenger Hunt | Chikaming Open Lands
All ages
Make your family walks more fun with Chikaming Open Lands' #OutdoorDetective Scavenger Hunt to help your kids be more aware of all the wonderful things nature as to offer. Learn more.
Social Distancing Adventure Hub | Heart of the Lakes
All ages
Visit Heart of the Lakes' Adventure Hub for ideas of fun indoor activities, responsible recreation and ideas for what to watch, read or listen to while at home. Learn more.
Mississippi
Teaching Resources | Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain
Adults
Are you new to the world of homeschooling? The Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain has lesson plans and other resources for you to teach about South Mississippi's forest, waterways and historic sites. Learn more.
Montana
Learning at Home | Kaniksu Land Trust
All ages
Each week, Kaniksu Land Trust is releasing a new activity or lesson to help children explore nature while learning and playing. Learn more.
Young Explorers Passport to Adventure | Gallatin Valley Land Trust
All ages
Download the Young Trail Adventurer Passport and get your family outside to enjoy Bozeman's parks and trails. Learn more.
New Hampshire
Learning at Home | Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests
All ages
Each week, watch the Society's Woodshop Wednesday, Fireside Friday and Virtual Field Trip videos with your kids to read nature stories and learn more about New Hampshire's forests. Learn more.
Activities + Nature Education Resources | Bear-Paw Regional Greenways
All ages
Bear-Paw Regional Greenways put together a file of resources from organizations across the country that kids of all ages can use to learn about nature and their role in it. Learn more.
New Mexico
Nature is Not Closed | Taos Land Trust
All ages
Taos Land Trust offers options for kiddos of all ages for things to do on preserves and at home in New Mexico. Learn more.
New Jersey
Learning Resources | Raritan Headwaters
All ages
Updated every Monday, find new resources for learners of all ages including “creature features,” crafts, educational videos and more. Learn more.
"Trail of Breadcrumbs: Nature in Fairytales" Virtual Art Exhibit | D&R Greenway Land Trust
All ages
Visit D&R Greenway Trust’s virtual art exhibit, “Trail of Breadcrumbs: Nature in Fairytales,” for a delightful retreat into mystery and enchantment — and you’ll never look at chameleons the same way again. Learn more.
New York
Virtual Programs | Columbia Land Conservancy
Ages 2-6
Columbia Land Conservancy turned its Little Explorers program virtual for the summer! Check out their monthly videos and download other educational activities. Learn more.
Nature Time | Hudson Highlands Land Trust
All ages
Hudson Highlands staff members put together a series of fun, educational videos to capture spring in the Hudson Highlands. Learn more.
Nature Nuggets | Mohonk Preserve
All ages
Mohonk Preserve staff members created a collection of their favorite nature-based learning activities for kids of all ages that can be done inside or from outside your front door. Learn more.
Tug Hill 10 Challenge | Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
All ages
If you're near the Tug Hill region, join the Tug Hill 10 Challenge to explore the many diverse landscapes and wildlife habitats there. Document your 10 trails that you visit and fill out the challenge form to receive the Challenge patch. Learn more.
North Carolina
Nature Video Series | Southern Appalachian Highland Conservancy
All ages
Check out the wide array of educational Youtube videos Conservancy staff have created on topics such as astronomy, lichen and snakes. Spanish-language videos are also available. Learn more.
Backyard Explorers | Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
All ages
Your kids can get in the backyard with these fun activities on birds, water, insects and more. Learn more.
Oregon
Outside Everyday | Southern Oregon Land Conservancy
All ages
Southern Oregon Land Conservancy has partnered with other regional environmental education providers to share daily video prompts for kids and families to get outside and connect and learn with nature. Learn more.
Pennsylvania
Brandywine at Home | Brandywine Conservancy
All ages
Brighten your day with a dose of virtual art and nature! With virtual tours, at-home activities, calming nature videos and conservation resources, you'll find plenty to do to keep your family occupied at home. Learn more.
Outdoors Online | Natural Lands
All ages
Explore nature remotely with themed nature activities, Facebook converstaions with staff and nature wordplay. Learn more.
At Home with Nature | Heritage Conservancy
All ages
Watch a video lesson and do an activity each week with your kids on a variety of topics, including rain, watersheds, signs of spring and more. Learn more.
Tennessee
Around the Farm Videos | The Land Trust for Tennessee
All ages
Check out videos from Glen Leven Farm and schedule a virtual call with a beekeeper or to meet the farm's two donkeys. Learn more.
Texas
At Home With the Bay and Virtual Camp | Galveston Bay Foundation
All ages
At Home With The Bay” is a virtual series of engaging environmental education lessons that include a lab, conservation craft, talk with a Bay biologist and an activity of the week. Learn more.
Virginia
Virtual Treks | The Conservation Fund
All ages
Visit land protected by The Conservation Fund from your home! Using Google Earth technology, you can take a look at a variety of trails and preserves. Learn more.
Virginia Photo Contest | Northern Virginia Conservation Trust
All ages
If you're in the northern Virginia area, submit a photo to the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust's photo contest. Learn more.
Washington
Wild & Scenic Kids Activities | Blue Mountain Land Trust
All ages
Blue Mountain Land Trust has created events and activities for kids of all ages to do at home. Learn more.
Nature in Your Neighborhood | Jefferson Land Trust
All ages
Join Jefferson Land Trust each week for a virtual nature walk, presentation and study group on topic sike insects, native trees, geology and more. Learn more.
Guide to Summer Activities | San Juan Preservation Trust
All ages
San Juan Preservation Trust offers a long list of activities to do on the San Juan Islands of Washington state, including ideas for birding and plant identification. Learn more.
Wyoming
Open Space Adventures | Jackson Hole Land Trust
All ages
Your kids will love the adventures that Jackson Hole Land Trust has put together (both in English and Spanish), which includes coloring sheets, videos and activities to learn about Wyoming's unique natural world. Learn more.