Activities for Kids and Families

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.

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Enjoy Nature Near You in Fall
Enjoy Nature Near You in FallF00003

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.

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Enjoy Nature Near You in Spring
Enjoy Nature Near You in SpringF00001

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.

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Enjoy Nature Near You in Summer
Enjoy Nature Near You in SummerF00002

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.

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Enjoy Nature Near You in Winter
Enjoy Nature Near You in WinterF00004

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.

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Additional Resources

ImageTitleIDDescriptionContent TypeViewhf:tax:document-categoryhf:tax:Media
Bark Types
Bark Types

Pictorial sheet showing the types of bark with photo samples of each.

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Camp Wood & Wildlife 2019 Camper Slideshow
Camp Wood & Wildlife 2019 Camper Slideshow

PowerPoint presentation of the camper slideshow for 2019 Camp Woods & Wildlife. (Warning – large file)

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Camp Wood & Wildlife 2022 Camper Slideshow
Camp Wood & Wildlife 2022 Camper Slideshow

PowerPoint presentation of the camper slideshow for 2022 Camp Woods and Wildlife. (Warning – large file)

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Camp Wood & Wildlife 2023 Camper Slideshow
Camp Wood & Wildlife 2023 Camper Slideshow

PowerPoint presentation of the camper slideshow for 2023 Camp Woods and Wildlife. (Warning – large file)

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Camp Woods & Wildlife Application and Nomination Form
Camp Woods & Wildlife Application and Nomination Form13.05

Form is used to apply and nominate students for Camp Woods & Wildlife.

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Camp Woods & Wildlife Application and Nomination Form
Camp Woods & Wildlife Application and Nomination Form13.05

PDF format. Form is used to apply and nominate students for Camp Woods & Wildlife.

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Camp Woods and Wildlife Annual Report 2019
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.

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Camp Woods and Wildlife Postcard Advertising Camp
Camp Woods and Wildlife Postcard Advertising Camp

Camp Woods and Wildlife is typically held each year, normally in June. Printed copies available.

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Coloring Book for Smokey's Friends
Coloring Book for Smokey’s Friends

Coloring book teaches Smokey’s 5 rules of fire prevention for children.

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Common Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia: Identification Guide
Common Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia: Identification GuideP00027

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.

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Common Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia: Identification Guide (2-page-spread)
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.

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Enjoy Nature Near You in Fall
Enjoy Nature Near You in FallF00003

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.

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Enjoy Nature Near You in Spring
Enjoy Nature Near You in SpringF00001

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.

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Enjoy Nature Near You in Summer
Enjoy Nature Near You in SummerF00002

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.

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Enjoy Nature Near You in Winter
Enjoy Nature Near You in WinterF00004

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.

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Environmental Education Activities to Do at Home from Virginia Department of Forestry and Project Learning Tree
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.

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Farm Life 360
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.

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Forest Facts: Forestry in Virginia
Forest Facts: Forestry in VirginiaF00010

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.

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Forest Facts: Forestry in Virginia - Crossword Puzzle
Forest Facts: Forestry in Virginia – Crossword PuzzleF00010A

Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Forestry in Virignia publication.

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Forest Facts: How A Tree Grows
Forest Facts: How A Tree GrowsF00005

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.

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Forest Facts: How A Tree Grows - Crossword Puzzle
Forest Facts: How A Tree Grows – Crossword PuzzleF00005A

Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts How a Tree Grows publication.

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Forest Facts: Identifying Trees
Forest Facts: Identifying TreesF00008

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.

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Forest Facts: Identifying Trees - Crossword Puzzle
Forest Facts: Identifying Trees – Crossword PuzzleF00008A

Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Identifying Trees publication.

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Forest Facts: Trees and Wildlife
Forest Facts: Trees and WildlifeF00012

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.

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Forest Facts: Trees and Wildlife - Crossword Puzzle
Forest Facts: Trees and Wildlife – Crossword PuzzleF00012A

Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Trees and Wildlife publication.

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Forest Facts: Trees Protect Water
Forest Facts: Trees Protect WaterF00007

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.

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Forest Facts: Trees Protect Water - Crossword Puzzle
Forest Facts: Trees Protect Water – Crossword PuzzleF00007A

Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Trees Protect Water publication.

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Forest Facts: Virginia in the Fall
Forest Facts: Virginia in the FallF00009

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.

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Forest Facts: Virginia in the Fall - Crossword Puzzle
Forest Facts: Virginia in the Fall – Crossword PuzzleF00009A

Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Virginia in the Fall publication.

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Forest Facts: Virginia's Alien Invaders
Forest Facts: Virginia’s Alien InvadersF00011

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.

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Forest Facts: Virginia's Alien Invaders Crossword Puzzle
Forest Facts: Virginia’s Alien Invaders Crossword PuzzleF00011A

Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Virginia’s Alien Invaders publication.

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Forest Facts: Why We Need Trees
Forest Facts: Why We Need TreesF00006

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.

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Forest Facts: Why We Need Trees - Crossword Puzzle
Forest Facts: Why We Need Trees – Crossword PuzzleF00006A

Crossword puzzle tests knowledge learned from the Forest facts Why We Need Trees publication.

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Let's Learn About Trees Coloring Book
Let’s Learn About Trees Coloring BookP00215

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.

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Nature Activities for Families
Nature Activities for Families

Listing of free online Project Learning Tree materials and resources for nature activities for families.

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People of Forestry - Discover Careers in the Forest
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.

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Smokey Bear Face Pumpkin Pattern
Smokey Bear Face Pumpkin Pattern

Pattern to be used in carving a Smokey Bear face on a pumpkin.

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Smokey Bear Halloween Coloring Sheet
Smokey Bear Halloween Coloring Sheet

Coloring sheet for Halloween with a fire prevention message.

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Smokey Bear Happy Holidays Coloring Sheet
Smokey Bear Happy Holidays Coloring Sheet

Coloring sheet with a happy holidays message.

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Smokey Bear St. Patrick's Day Coloring Sheet
Smokey Bear St. Patrick’s Day Coloring Sheet

Coloring sheet with a happy St. Patrick’s Day message.

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Trees are Renewable!
Trees are Renewable!

A mini-curriculum for the book “Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down?”

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Virginia Reader
Virginia ReaderP00110

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.

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Virginia's Least Wanted - Emerald Ash Borer
Virginia’s Least Wanted – Emerald Ash BorerPST003

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.

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Virginia's Least Wanted - Invasive Plants
Virginia’s Least Wanted – Invasive PlantsPST004

Poster helps identify invasive plants, which threaten our forest ecosystems. Designed for 24 in. x 36 in. poster. Target audience: Youth – elementary age.

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Virginia's Least Wanted - Thousand Cankers Disease
Virginia’s Least Wanted – Thousand Cankers DiseasePST005

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.

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Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down?
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.

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