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Adolescence in the age of technology has dramatic impacts on the development of young adult minds. The activities on this page support the development of middle-schoolers by promoting their social-emotional learning, empathy, connection-making, and sparking passion in the process!
Need some conversation starters? Talk with your child(ren) about recycling and the consequences excess waste and littering have on our environment. Discuss how animals adapt in different seasons, such as bird migration or winter hibernation. Reflect on your relationships with nature and what it means to you as a family!
Below you'll find 4 clickable categories of free activities to encourage your kids to connect with nature in a way that they're most familiar with, or in a way that challenges them to grow and live outside their comfort zones!
Citizen Science
Citizen Science
(Click Here for Activities)
(Click Here for Activities)
Be part of the process by helping scientists collect data:
Be part of the process by helping scientists collect data:
Help NASA and other scientists gather data on clouds, mosquitos, land cover areas, and trees. Add images from observations in your neighborhood to the GLOBE app to participate!
Choose your own project to participate in with Zooniverse! Projects range in scale - from microbial (microscopic) data collection to dark energy galaxies, billions of light-years away in our own universe.
Get outside with your family and identify trees in your local neighborhood! This activity is a great way to connect with nature, as it supports understanding of your own ecosystem.
Active
Active
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(Click Here for Activities)
Go outside, explore, and do something fun with one of these activities:
Go outside, explore, and do something fun with one of these activities:
Have fun in nature with this scavenger hunt! Want to increase your level of activity? Increase the cardio! Compete with family members to see who can finish the hunt first.
What better way to appreciate our world by contributing to it? Get your gardening gloves on and PLANT! Level up by planting things you can eat. Use this planting guide to get you started on what to plant and when based on your region!
Search for Treasure with this Geocaching app, no matter where you are on the planet! Connect with other people who've done the same...or make your own geocache and get it certified through the app!
Get outdoors and just enjoy nature. Go on a hike, run, bike ride, cross-country ski, white-water raft, or downhill ski day with your family!
Explore how things move through our world with this Playground Physics app! Get out to the playground, do some jumping jacks & cartwheels, go for a jog, or track the movement of other organisms in this app that brings movement to life.
Visit your local zoo, aquarium, or nature center!
Mindful
Mindful
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(Click Here for Activities)
Take a look inward as you explore nature:
Take a look inward as you explore nature:
Take a notebook and a writing utensil to your favorite spot in nature and free-write! Where does your mind go? Do you want to draw, write, write a letter?
For more ideas, try sit-spotting in nature with ideas from Journaling with Nature's site
Try some yoga outside, listening to the sounds of nature as you flow through poses. What do you notice? What sounds relax you the most? How does your body feel?
Paint with the sounds of the ocean, birds, or other nature in the background with Spotify Nature Sounds. Studies show your brain has the potential for greater creativity when stimulated with sound!
Make a goal to sit outside and reflect on your life each day! Below is a progression of questions to get you started:
Day 1: What are some things you like about yourself?
Day 2: What goals do you have for yourself? From eating more vegetables to big life goals - everything counts! What can help you achieve your goals? What have you already achieved?
Day 3: Who is your dream team, aka the people in your life who you can count on and who challenge you to grow? Do they know they're on your dream team?
Digital
Digital
(Click Here for Activities)
(Click Here for Activities)
Can't venture outside? Try one of these digital opportunities to join the fun:
Can't venture outside? Try one of these digital opportunities to join the fun:
Do you love March Madness? Blend that love of nature with knowledge by creating your own March Mammal Madness animal bracket! This educational organization challenges you to research and track different species as they "compete" against each other.
Take an international virtual field trip using EarthEcho! Dive into the water challenge, embark on one of the international expeditions, or explore the multitude of STEM opportunities available.
Explore the world's biomes with BiomeViewer! This app lets you explore, in incredible detail, the ecosystems of the world with just the tap of your finger!
Explore the games, videos, & animals NatGeo has to offer! This site also offers information and activities on Space, History, and so much more.
Top Background Photo Courtesy of R. Arbor
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