Kids activities

 

 

Girl with Monarch

 

In many ways every child is born a scientist—exploring their world, leading small experiments, asking questions, searching for answers. That innate curiosity and drive to inquiry is what Rachel Carson, the groundbreaking conservationist and author, called a sense of wonder. “A child’s world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement,” she wrote. “It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision, that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring, is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood.”

Maybe you have budding naturalists in your life, that kid that always asks "why",  or they really enjoy all things outside. This page aims to bring together activities across local and national resources to assist parents, grandparents, siblings, sidekicks and mentors to get out with the children and enjoy the birds, nature and the outdoors. The goal isn’t to teach a child how to name and identify bird, insect or plant species, but rather to give them space to explore and feel connected to the natural world. If you’re a parent or caretaker, that means you don’t need to worry about your own knowledge of birds, bugs, or plants. All you need to be is a companion to your child’s curiosity. If you know of other awesome programs we should add to this list please let us know!  

Audubon for Kids 

Cornell Lab 

Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center 

Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City 

Ernie Miller Nature Center 

Outdoor Education Laboratory Summer Camp 

Lakeside Nature Center 

Baker Wetlands 

Powell Gardens Arboretum Nature Activities 

Overland Park Arboretum Children's Garden and Train Garden 

Monarch Watch 

Firefly Watch 

Geocaching 

Outdoor Scavenger Hunts 

“We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole. In my children's memories, the adventures we've had together in nature will always exist.”

― Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder