Forestry and nature present many opportunities for outdoor fun and activities. Whether hiking, biking, or just observing nature, getting outside in nature is proven to benefit human health and wellbeing. Explore nature on your own or try some our activity ideas below.
Nature Near You Seasonal Activity Sheets
Choose a season and find activities the whole family can do together at a local park, on a trail, or in your own backyard.
Image | Title | ID | Description | View |
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Enjoy Nature Near You in Fall | F00003 | Family fun activity sheet provides activities to get young people outdoors in nature, including leaf art, find it, family tree, treasure box, and staying safe when out in nature during fall. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | View | |
Enjoy Nature Near You in Spring | F00001 | Family fun activity sheet provides activities to get young people outdoors in nature, including paint by nature, where does water go, family tree, bird nest building, and staying safe when out in nature during spring. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | View | |
Enjoy Nature Near You in Summer | F00002 | Family fun activity sheet provides activities to get young people outdoors in nature, including color walk, butterfly feeder, family tree, quiet time, and staying safe when out in nature during summer. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | View | |
Enjoy Nature Near You in Winter | F00004 | Family fun activity sheet provides activities to get young people outdoors in nature, including bird cookies, feeder watching, family tree, bark rubbings, and staying safe when out in nature during winter. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | View |
Additional Resources
- Online tool, Teaching with iTree, allows middle and high schoolers to apply field data to real-world situations
- Pictorial Tree Identification Key developed by 4-H
- Wildfire prevention education with Smokey Bear educational activities
- Fun learning online at the USDA Forest Service Kids page
- Outdoor fun and tips for families at Discover the Forest
- Ten Backyard Nature Activities for Kids
- Nature activities for families
Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | View | hf:tax:document-category | hf:tax:Media |
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Bark Types | Pictorial sheet showing the types of bark with photo samples of each. | Document | View | education public-information | document | ||
Camp Wood & Wildlife 2019 Camper Slideshow | PowerPoint presentation of the camper slideshow for 2019 Camp Woods & Wildlife. (Warning – large file) | Presentation | View | education public-information | presentation | ||
Camp Wood & Wildlife 2022 Camper Slideshow | PowerPoint presentation of the camper slideshow for 2022 Camp Woods and Wildlife. (Warning – large file) | Presentation | View | education public-information | presentation | ||
Camp Wood & Wildlife 2023 Camper Slideshow | PowerPoint presentation of the camper slideshow for 2023 Camp Woods and Wildlife. (Warning – large file) | Presentation | View | education public-information | presentation | ||
Camp Wood & Wildlife 2024 Camper Slideshow | PowerPoint presentation of the camper slideshow for 2024 Camp Woods & Wildlife. (Warning – large file) | Presentation | View | education public-information | presentation | ||
Camp Woods & Wildlife Application and Nomination Form | 13.05 | Form is used to apply and nominate students for Camp Woods & Wildlife. | Form | View | public-information | form | |
Camp Woods & Wildlife Application and Nomination Form | 13.05 | PDF format. Form is used to apply and nominate students for Camp Woods & Wildlife. | Form | View | public-information | form | |
Camp Woods and Wildlife Annual Report 2019 | Report is published each year following camp and provides the highlights of camp, staff, programs, sponsors, budget summary and announcement of dates for the following year’s camp. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | ||
Camp Woods and Wildlife Postcard Advertising Camp | Camp Woods and Wildlife is typically held each year, normally in June. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | ||
Coloring Book for Smokey’s Friends | Coloring book teaches Smokey’s 5 rules of fire prevention for children. | Publication | View | fire-and-emergency-response | publication | ||
Common Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia: Identification Guide | P00027 | Identification book is a favorite of teachers, Scout leaders and outdoor enthusiasts. Book features descriptions, line drawings and an identification key to the most common native Virginia shrubs and woody vines. It also contains hints for effective plant identification, invasive species threats, and more. Printed copies available for sale. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Common Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia: Identification Guide (2-page-spread) | P00027 | Identification book is a favorite of teachers, Scout leaders and outdoor enthusiasts. Book features descriptions, line drawings and an identification key to the most common native Virginia shrubs and woody vines. It also contains hints for effective plant identification, invasive species threats, and more. Printed copies available for sale. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Enjoy Nature Near You in Fall | F00003 | Family fun activity sheet provides activities to get young people outdoors in nature, including leaf art, find it, family tree, treasure box, and staying safe when out in nature during fall. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Enjoy Nature Near You in Spring | F00001 | Family fun activity sheet provides activities to get young people outdoors in nature, including paint by nature, where does water go, family tree, bird nest building, and staying safe when out in nature during spring. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Enjoy Nature Near You in Summer | F00002 | Family fun activity sheet provides activities to get young people outdoors in nature, including color walk, butterfly feeder, family tree, quiet time, and staying safe when out in nature during summer. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Enjoy Nature Near You in Winter | F00004 | Family fun activity sheet provides activities to get young people outdoors in nature, including bird cookies, feeder watching, family tree, bark rubbings, and staying safe when out in nature during winter. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Environmental Education Activities to Do at Home from Virginia Department of Forestry and Project Learning Tree | Listing of environmental education activities to do at home. | Document | View | education public-information | document | ||
Farm Life 360 | Video provides a 360° forestry experience on a timber harvest. Read the Fact Sheet or do the Activity Suggestion: Create a Tree. | Video | View | education forest-management water-quality public-information | video | ||
Forest Facts: Forestry in Virginia | F00010 | Forest facts information sheet provides an illustrated overview of forestry in Virginia, what is forestry, how does forestry help Virginia, what are working forests and why do we need them, what does a forester do, why do we cut down trees, will we run out of trees, and what can I do to help save our forests. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Forestry in Virginia – Crossword Puzzle | F00010A | Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Forestry in Virignia publication. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: How A Tree Grows | F00005 | Forest facts information sheet provides an illustrated explanation of how a tree grows, including starting from a seed; how trees grow up, down and out; and tree rings. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: How A Tree Grows – Crossword Puzzle | F00005A | Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts How a Tree Grows publication. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Identifying Trees | F00008 | Forest facts information sheet provides an illustrated explanation of the key methods for identifying tree species, what defines a tree, identifying features, leaf characteristics, bark characteristics, and other tips for identifying trees. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Identifying Trees – Crossword Puzzle | F00008A | Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Identifying Trees publication. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Trees and Wildlife | F00012 | Forest facts information sheet provides an illustrated explanation of the importance of trees to wildlife, how trees provide home sweet habitat, how to improve wildlife habitat at home, and how the wildlife changes as the forest changes through forest succession. Target audience: Youth – elementary age Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Trees and Wildlife – Crossword Puzzle | F00012A | Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Trees and Wildlife publication. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Trees Protect Water | F00007 | Forest facts information sheet provides an illustrated explanation of how trees help to protect our water, understand a tree’s relationship to the land and water, understanding watersheds, the Chesapeake Bay watershed, how trees protect watersheds, the riparian zone, and how you can help by planting trees. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Trees Protect Water – Crossword Puzzle | F00007A | Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Trees Protect Water publication. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Virginia in the Fall | F00009 | Forest facts information sheet provides an illustrated explanation of the science of leaves changing colors, the role of pigments, effects of the calendar and weather, why these changes occur, and fall leaf identification information. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Virginia in the Fall – Crossword Puzzle | F00009A | Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Virginia in the Fall publication. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Virginia’s Alien Invaders | F00011 | Forest facts information sheet provides an illustrator explanation of non-native insects and plants, including how a definition of native or non-native, upsetting the balance, how they spread, how we can stop them, and Virginia’s least wanted species. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Virginia’s Alien Invaders Crossword Puzzle | F00011A | Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Virginia’s Alien Invaders publication. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Why We Need Trees | F00006 | Forest facts information sheet provides an illustrated explanation of just why we need trees, trees are beautiful, provide wildlife habitat, clean the water, give us products, produce oxygen, clear the air, save energy and money, and the loss of trees that is occurring. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Forest Facts: Why We Need Trees – Crossword Puzzle | F00006A | Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Why We Need Trees publication. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Let’s Learn About Trees Coloring Book | P00215 | Coloring book teaches children about the value of trees while through the fun activity of coloring. Target audience: Youth – preschool and young elementary age. Printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Nature Activities for Families | Listing of free online Project Learning Tree materials and resources for nature activities for families. | Document | View | education public-information | document | ||
People of Forestry – Discover Careers in the Forest | Activity book helps youth explore careers in the forest through a variety of activities. Limited printed copies available. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | ||
Smokey Bear Face Pumpkin Pattern | Pattern to be used in carving a Smokey Bear face on a pumpkin. | Publication | View | fire-and-emergency-response | publication | ||
Smokey Bear Halloween Coloring Sheet | Coloring sheet for Halloween with a fire prevention message. | Publication | View | fire-and-emergency-response | publication | ||
Smokey Bear Happy Holidays Coloring Sheet | Coloring sheet with a happy holidays message. | Publication | View | fire-and-emergency-response | publication | ||
Smokey Bear St. Patrick’s Day Coloring Sheet | Coloring sheet with a happy St. Patrick’s Day message. | Publication | View | fire-and-emergency-response | publication | ||
Trees are Renewable! | A mini-curriculum for the book “Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down?” | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | ||
Virginia Reader | P00110 | Newspaper-style publication provides fire safety and prevention information for youth, including fire and water, fire behaviour, the fire triangle, history of fire, fighting wildland fires, effects of fire on water quality, effects of fire on air quality, and a crossword puzzle to test what you learn. | Publication | View | fire-and-emergency-response | publication | |
Virginia’s Least Wanted – Emerald Ash Borer | PST003 | Poster shows the damage done but this threat to our native ash trees. Designed for 24 in. x 36 in. poster. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Virginia’s Least Wanted – Invasive Plants | PST004 | Poster helps identify invasive plants, which threaten our forest ecosystems. Designed for 24 in. x 36 in. poster. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Virginia’s Least Wanted – Thousand Cankers Disease | PST005 | Poster shows the damage done but this threat to our native black walnut trees. Designed for 24 in. x 36 in. poster. Target audience: Youth – elementary age. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication | |
Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down? | NA–IN–01–12 | Illustrator children’s book discusses the benefits of trees, why we cut trees, and how we can plant trees back. Produced by the USFS. | Publication | View | education public-information | publication |
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