Kids and Collecting in Nature

On this morning’s walk, I feel as if I am wading through maple samaras, those little propellers that, when broken open, stick nicely to your nose or fingertips. But we’ve had rain forever and these seeds are plastered to the road. They probably didn’t even pirouette out of the trees.

I pick up one, thinking to take a picture of it at home. Well, I can’t just take a picture of one maple seed and I come upon some more that instead of being bright green are tinged red. Then there are small keys with the propellers going in the same direction instead of leaning off in different directions. And then there were the keys with plump instead of flat seeds. Well, you get the idea.

Many kids are natural collectors. Even if they don’t bring their treasures home, chances are they are inclined to at least pick up a leaf, rock, acorn, stick … something. You can direct that energy – gathering is a great observation activity and can be focusing and calming. This does require a bit of observation on your part; look for something profuse in the area. If you notice a lot of acorns, challenge your children to collect as many acorns as they can in 30 seconds.

After collecting, you can ask your kids to sort what they’ve collected from smallest to largest, lightest to darkest, or whatever pattern the child can think up. If you don’t want your child picking up a handful of pink rocks or a pocketful of maple samaras, but you that he or she is inclined toward picking up something, challenge them to find the biggest and smallest __________ in the space between two trees, logs, rocks, or other markers of a defined space.

To (try to) convince your child to leave their treasures in nature, stop shortly before the end of your walk (when home or the car isn’t in sight) and ask your child to make a picture or pattern with what they’ve collected so other people can see the child’s wonderful finds. If the child knows or is learning her letters, she could write a word with what she’s collected, such as, “Hi,” “Peace,” “Walk,” or whatever short word strikes the child’s fancy.

By collecting, the child is noticing what is out there in nature. Don’t worry that they won’t see everything, the experience, and memory, of the time they collected 107 acorns on a walk will be enough.

Nature Art for Kids – Word Art

Use rocks, twigs, and seashells to write messages to others who'll visit your location after you've left. You can do this art in nature project almost anywhere. This is a fun activity for children just learning their letters; but, it is even more enjoyable for children who can spell. For this kids’ craft, children use natural materials to write messages to others who will later discover their simple endeavors.

Children will need to gather a supply of twigs, pine cones, seashells, pebbles, acorns, etc. with which to write a letter or word. The location will determine the materials the children use. Kids might decide to write out each letter with a different object or use a mix of natural materials to create each letter. Encourage children to experiment and then judge the results.

When you select a location, you want it to be somewhere others will see the message without destroying it should a walker who isn’t paying attention accidentally scattering the letters with her feet. You should also be careful to avoid doing this on lawns – when a lawnmower comes on the scene, it could be dangerous for the operator and anyone in the area if pebbles or twigs start flying as the cutting blade runs over your project.

Children will also find it easier to work if they select a location where others don’t have to sidestep around a child to get to where they are going – so, no doorways, pathways, etc. It can be a challenge to find a spot where kids can work but where others will see their artistic messages.

With a work area and a supply of natural materials, children can write out words or messages to those who’ll come along at a later time and discover these expressions. This can be as simple as “Hello,” or can encourage an action, “Shhh,” or “Look up.” Letters six-to-twelve inches high work up quickly. You may want children to start with words containing approximately five letters.

Young children who are just learning their letters can use their gathered materials to form letters. Have a bit of fun by making a “T” next to a tree or an “S” from seashells. This is a casual way to reinforce what a child is learning in school. If your child is enjoying the process, you could help him write out simple words. When possible, scratch the letters in the sand or dirt and allow the children to form the letters with found objects.

This is a fun and easy kids’ activity to do while you are resting alongside a natural trail or while you are picnicking or having a snack. Children may become inspired to write a series of words, which develop into a short phrase when read together as someone moves along a quarter-mile or even a mile section of trail.

Find more nature-inspired art and craft projects in Art in Nature/Nature in Art: Art Experiences for Kids Ages 8 – to – 14 and their Creative Adults.

Nature Trail Code Game

This game requires two teams of at least two players each – one of the players on each team can be an adult. You can play this in a large, forested backyard or along the trail in a state forest. Avoid playing this in a wide open space because one team will be setting trail markers that tell the other team where to go.

You can make the patterns below with sticks or stones (or leaves, but they can get blown away). Of course, you can create your own codes, but both teams should do this together so the teams speak a common language. A representative of each team should record the codes on index cards or in a nature notebook so they don’t forget their stick and stone language.

One team heads out, laying trail codes that the other team will follow. Set the markers in the center of the trail. Although the sticks or stones should be large enough to be easily seen, there is no need to make them so large that they become a tripping hazard. After a ten minute or so head start, the second team sets out, reading the codes and following the team.

The first team continues laying markers for another ten minutes and then they can find an ending spot, just off the trail, where they can wait, perhaps with some snacks to share with the second team. For the trip back, the second team heads out first, laying new trail markers for the other team to follow.

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Go Straight

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Turn Right (reverse the direction of the arrow to indicate “Turn Left”)

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Turn around and Go Back


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Not This Way

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Cross the Stream

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Gone Home