Nature Activities
Heading outside? Print one or more of these activity and information sheets and take them with you the next time you go exploring.
If you see words you don't understand in these guides, you can look up the definition here:
Words beginning with A - H (PDF) (74 KB)
Words beginning with I - Z (PDF) (74 KB)
Outdoor Observations & Journaling
Keep a record of the things you see, hear, smell and feel while you're exploring
- My Field Journal (PDF) (42 KB)
- Bird Profile (PDF) (42 KB)
- Nature Watch (PDF) (154 KB)
- Morning Watch (PDF) (172 KB)
- Sunset Watch (PDF) (74 KB)
- Night Watch (PDF) (145 KB)
- Fish Watch (PDF) (150 KB)
- Sound Map (PDF) (104 KB)
Try a BINGO game that you play outside
using your eyes, ears and nose.
Outdoor Bingo and Observation Checklists
- Insect BINGO (PDF) (199 KB)
- Sensory BINGO (PDF) (148 KB)
- Nature Detective Checklist (PDF) (161 KB)
- Things with Wings Checklist (PDF) (204 KB)
- Eye Spy Checklist (PDF) (231 KB)
Seek and Find Hikes
Take a hike and look for things that match the themes of these recording sheets
- Colors Hike (PDF) (394 KB)
- Shapes Hike (PDF) (380 KB)
- Colors and Shapes Hike (PDF) (324 KB)
- A to Z Hike (PDF) (231 KB)
- Leaf Hunt (PDF) (184, KB)
- Turtle Hike (PDF) (399 KB)
All About Animals
The Eastern bluebird (Photo Jeff
Nadler)
Birds:
- Songbirds of New York State (PDF) (149 KB)
- Raptors of New York State (PDF) (127 KB)
- New York State Bald Eagle Restoration Project (PDF) (155 KB)
- Beaks and Feet (PDF) (97 KB)
Mammals:
- Mammals of New York State (PDF) (122 KB)
- Busy as a Beaver (PDF) (171 KB)
- Presenting: The Black Bear (PDF) (117 KB)
- Life of a Black Bear (PDF) (116 KB)
- A Bit About Bites (teeth) (PDF), (226 KB)
Wildlife:
- Wildlife of the Forest Preserve (PDF) (140 KB)
- Fishes of New York State (PDF) (210 KB)
- Animal Adaptations (PDF) (135 KB)
- Reptiles and Amphibians in Winter (PDF) (373 KB)
- The Eyes Have It! (PDF) (165 KB)
Food Chains
Learn about how energy flows through a food chain and who eats whom
- Energy Flow Chain (PDF) (414 KB)
- Snapping Turtle Food Chain (PDF) (113 KB)
- Beavers in the Food Chain (PDF) (129 KB)
- Black Bear's Food Web (PDF) (138 KB)
Invasive Species
- Alien Invasion-invasive species (PDF) (482 KB)
- Alien Invasion-invasive plants (PDF) (201 KB)
- Invasive insect-Asian Longhorned Beetle (PDF) (254 KB)
The snapping turtle, the New York
State reptile
State and National Symbols
- The New York State Mammal: The Beaver (PDF) (126 KB)
- The New York State Bird: The Bluebird (PDF) (94 KB)
- The New York State Insect: The Ladybug (PDF) (65 KB)
- The New York State Tree: The Sugar maple (PDF) (212 KB)
- The New York State Gem: The Garnet (PDF) (96 KB)
- The New York State Freshwater Fish: The Brook trout (PDF) (125 KB)
- The New York State Reptile: The Snapping turtle (PDF) (275 KB)
- Our National Emblem: The Bald eagle (PDF) (95 KB)
Trees
Rocks and Minerals
- Meet the Minerals and Mineral Match (PDF) (86 KB)
- Common Minerals of New York (PDF) (225 KB)
- Rocks and Minerals-What's the Difference? (PDF) (130 KB)
- What's Your Birthstone? (PDF) (92 KB)
Campfires are a lot of fun.
Learn how to use fire safely.
Camping and Stewardship
- Stewardship (PDF) (109 KB)
- Leave No Trace (PDF) (130 KB)
- Good Fire vs. Bad Fire (PDF) (234 KB)
- Follow the Rules when Camping (PDF) (242 KB)
- It's Up to You: Safety in the Campground (PDF) (211 KB)
- Bear Sense (PDF) (75 KB)
Climate Change
Recycling
- Become a Paper Pal (PDF) (273 KB)
- Recycling Counts (PDF) (119 KB)
- Nature Recycles/People Recycle (composting) (PDF, 222 KB)
- New York Recycles!-The Bear Facts (PDF) (103 KB)
- How Long Does Litter Last? (PDF) (181 KB)
- Deputy Deposit and the Great Bottle Round-up (PDF) (105 KB)
- Recyclable Treasure Hunt (PDF) (185 KB)
- New York Recycles-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (PDF) (161 KB)
Crafts
- Make a Milk Box Boat (PDF) (111 KB)
- Eastern Bluebird Nest Box (PDF) (253 KB)
More about Nature Activities:
- Quick Family Activities - Quick, easy family nature activities to do outside or inside.
