4 Activities for Connecting Your Family to Nature

NPCA and our partner Nature Valley know the importance of protecting parks to ensure more people get the opportunity to make their own memories outdoors. That’s why we created a free downloadable family activity guide, available in both English and Spanish, for your family to access on your phone or print to bring with you on your next adventure in nature. There are plenty of ways your family can connect to nature — including these four interactive activities.

1. Bring a sketchbook and draw your observations

One of the easiest ways to engage with your surroundings is to grab a pad of paper and a pen, markers or even watercolor paints and recreate what you see.

Slow down and pay close attention to the landscape. Are you drawn to the texture of a leaf? Or the colors of a sunset? Even if every member of your family creates their own artwork inspired by the same trail, each finished piece will be different. Share your work with each other along with your inspiration as a great reminder of the wonder within our parks and public lands.

Be sure to avoid disturbing your surroundings as you create your art and leave all rocks, plants and other natural objects as you found them. Avoid picking flowers and instead take home your artwork as a sustainable way to remember your adventure.

2. Play I-Spy and challenge each other to consider your surroundings

Take your observations to the next level by creating a game of I-Spy. You can draw inspiration from our list of items to find or get creative and customize your activity for your nature walk.

If you’re hiking on a dirt trail that recently had rain, can you spy animal tracks in the mud? Or if you’re walking in public lands closer to home, can you spot two different types of birds, or three plants with different leaf shapes? This can also be a great activity for using your binoculars. Make sure you observe from a safe distance and give wildlife extra space.

3. Learn something new about the place you’re exploring

Before you head out on your adventure, take some time to research your destination and see if you can learn something new before you go. Then, while you’re exploring as a family, talk about your new learnings to better connect to that place in nature. Did you know that two-thirds of our national parks are historic and cultural sites? There are many stories of our shared heritage protected by our parks for you to uncover on your next adventure.

As just one example, NPCA and Nature Valley are partnering to further efforts to protect the land within the Rim of the Valley as an expansion of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The Rim of the Valley contains vast amounts of wild spaces near Los Angeles, along with some historic and cultural treasures that reflect the relationship between the land and Hispanic, Latino and other cultures.

This place, which could one day become part of the National Park System, includes El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the city’s birthplace. When exploring this site, you’ll encounter several historic buildings, including Avila Adobe, the oldest house in Los Angeles. Avila Adobe was constructed in 1818 by a prominent ranchero, Francisco José Avila. He was a native of Sinaloa and served as alcalde, or mayor of Los Angeles in 1810. Today, the Avila Adobe is open to the public as a museum and is furnished as it might have appeared in the late 1840s. What stories can you discover about parks and public lands near you?

4. Share your park reflections

After you finish your hike or nature walk, take time to reflect on your experience. Encourage your family to each share a favorite discovery from the day. Did you observe anything new about the plants or wildlife you spotted? Or did you learn a new fact about the place you explored? You can share your reflections verbally, write them down or even draw them.

There are plenty of ways to extend your experience and deepen your connection to national parks. You can share your experience with friends and family, or tell us about your park story. Happy exploring!