Summer’s here and outdoors is calling. Whether you’re in your backyard, at the beach, or wandering through wildflowers, there’s a bundle of fun to unpack with the kiddos. Let’s dive into some of our favourite Educate Outside activities for the summer break—get ready for a mix of exploring, creating, and discovering nature in playful ways.
1.Outdoor Photo Challenge
Let your little explorers become nature photographers!
A downloadable photo-collecting checklist (available in a free version and a full pack) that encourages kids (ages 4–12) to capture things like shadows, leaves, insects, and more
They learn to observe, frame, and share their world. Plus, great for home learning, summer camps, or lazy holiday afternoons.
Tweak it: Create a nature photo album or digital slideshow with their snaps.
Download the pack here.
2. Wildflowers Scavenger Hunt
Perfect for budding botanists!
Spot and identify 12 wildflowers, in separate UK and North America versions—age 5–12 .
It teaches plant recognition, boosts observation skills, and connects kids with local ecosystems.
Pair it with: A plant diary to sketch or press specimens as they find them.
Download the outdoor scavenger hunt here.
3. Beach Scavenger Hunt
Turn a beach day into nature’s treasure hunt!
A printable list of nine beach-themed items—shells, driftwood, seaweed, tiny critters, and more.
The scavenger hunt blends discovery with sandy play—perfect for parties, family outings, or educational beach trips.
Bonus: Add a rockpool guide to explore marine life up close .
Download the beach scavenger hunt here.
4. Garden Riddle Trail
Riddle fun in your garden.
This garden treasure hunt for kids uses rhyming riddles and hidden clues to turn your backyard into an outdoor adventure. Perfect for ages 5–11. Includes printable clues and teacher/parent guide.
With rhyming riddles, secret clues, and a final hidden prize, this activity turns your garden (or any outdoor space) into a mini adventure zone.
Download the riddle cards here.
5. 20 Things To Do Before I’m 12
Educate Outside’s 20 Outdoor Challenges To Do Before I’m 12 is a bucket-list style adventure series for kids—packed with fun, physical activity, and discovery. Whether they’re in the garden, the park, or on a family walk, these challenges turn ordinary days into mini adventures.
Perfect for a summer holiday challenge or homeschooling fun!
Download the bucket list pack here.
6. Outdoor Challenge Cards
The Outdoor Learning Activity Cards pack is perfect for teachers and parents wanting grab-and-go ideas. With 20 simple activity prompts covering subjects like math, literacy, science, and wellbeing, these cards make outdoor learning fun, flexible, and totally doable.
Download the outdoor challenges cards here.
7. Stick Towers STEM Challenge
STEM learning meets outdoor fun! In this challenge, kids use sticks and string to build the tallest freestanding tower. Great for team-building, problem-solving, and hands-on learning. Includes full teacher guide and instructions.
Download the activity pack here.
8. Woodland Tracker
urn your backyard or nearby woodland into a mini wildlife investigation! The Woodland Tracker from Educate Outside lets kids (ages 4–12) set up a “track trap” with sand or fine soil overnight, then come back to identify which animals have visited. With teacher-led guides, record sheets, and track matching sheets (UK & US), it’s perfect for observational science, habitat studies, and nature spotting—no fancy gear needed. Ideal for extending learning over different locations, seasons, or setups.
Download the science activity pack here.
9. Massive Outdoor Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable
If you need something quick, fun, and guaranteed to burn some energy, check out the Massive Outdoor Scavenger Hunt. It’s a free printable with 30 nature-themed things to find—from leaves and feathers to shadows and spiderwebs. Perfect for kids of all ages and ideal for parks, gardens, or even walks around the block. No prep, just print and go!
10. Our Huge Outdoor Challenge Pack
Need a long-term fix for outdoor fun? The Home Learning Outdoor Challenges – One Year Activity Pack is exactly that. It’s packed with 52 weekly challenges—everything from bug hunts and mini wildlife surveys to nature art and weather tracking. Great for families, homeschoolers, and teachers who want a year’s worth of fresh, no-fuss outdoor learning. Print the PDF once and enjoy weekly adventure inspiration all year long!
With these 10 outdoor activity ideas, summer doesn’t have to mean screen time overload or cries of “I’m bored!” Whether it’s tracking animals in the garden, snapping photos of wildflowers, or tackling a year’s worth of challenges, there’s something here for every kind of explorer. Simple to set up and packed with learning, these activities make it easy to turn any outdoor space into a summer adventure. So grab your printables, head outside, and let the exploring begin!
Summer’s here and outdoors is calling. Whether you’re in your backyard, at the beach, or wandering through wildflowers, there’s a bundle of fun to unpack with the kiddos. Let’s dive into some of our favourite Educate Outside activities for the summer break—get ready for a mix of exploring, creating, and discovering nature in playful ways.
1.Outdoor Photo Challenge
Let your little explorers become nature photographers!
A downloadable photo-collecting checklist (available in a free version and a full pack) that encourages kids (ages 4–12) to capture things like shadows, leaves, insects, and more
They learn to observe, frame, and share their world. Plus, great for home learning, summer camps, or lazy holiday afternoons.
Tweak it: Create a nature photo album or digital slideshow with their snaps.
Download the pack here.
2. Wildflowers Scavenger Hunt
Perfect for budding botanists!
Spot and identify 12 wildflowers, in separate UK and North America versions—age 5–12 .
It teaches plant recognition, boosts observation skills, and connects kids with local ecosystems.
Pair it with: A plant diary to sketch or press specimens as they find them.
Download the outdoor scavenger hunt here.
3. Beach Scavenger Hunt
Turn a beach day into nature’s treasure hunt!
A printable list of nine beach-themed items—shells, driftwood, seaweed, tiny critters, and more.
The scavenger hunt blends discovery with sandy play—perfect for parties, family outings, or educational beach trips.
Bonus: Add a rockpool guide to explore marine life up close .
Download the beach scavenger hunt here.
4. Garden Riddle Trail
Riddle fun in your garden.
This garden treasure hunt for kids uses rhyming riddles and hidden clues to turn your backyard into an outdoor adventure. Perfect for ages 5–11. Includes printable clues and teacher/parent guide.
With rhyming riddles, secret clues, and a final hidden prize, this activity turns your garden (or any outdoor space) into a mini adventure zone.
Download the riddle cards here.
5. 20 Things To Do Before I’m 12
Educate Outside’s 20 Outdoor Challenges To Do Before I’m 12 is a bucket-list style adventure series for kids—packed with fun, physical activity, and discovery. Whether they’re in the garden, the park, or on a family walk, these challenges turn ordinary days into mini adventures.
Perfect for a summer holiday challenge or homeschooling fun!
Download the bucket list pack here.
6. Outdoor Challenge Cards
The Outdoor Learning Activity Cards pack is perfect for teachers and parents wanting grab-and-go ideas. With 20 simple activity prompts covering subjects like math, literacy, science, and wellbeing, these cards make outdoor learning fun, flexible, and totally doable.
Download the outdoor challenges cards here.
7. Stick Towers STEM Challenge
STEM learning meets outdoor fun! In this challenge, kids use sticks and string to build the tallest freestanding tower. Great for team-building, problem-solving, and hands-on learning. Includes full teacher guide and instructions.
Download the activity pack here.
8. Woodland Tracker
urn your backyard or nearby woodland into a mini wildlife investigation! The Woodland Tracker from Educate Outside lets kids (ages 4–12) set up a “track trap” with sand or fine soil overnight, then come back to identify which animals have visited. With teacher-led guides, record sheets, and track matching sheets (UK & US), it’s perfect for observational science, habitat studies, and nature spotting—no fancy gear needed. Ideal for extending learning over different locations, seasons, or setups.
Download the science activity pack here.
9. Massive Outdoor Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable
If you need something quick, fun, and guaranteed to burn some energy, check out the Massive Outdoor Scavenger Hunt. It’s a free printable with 30 nature-themed things to find—from leaves and feathers to shadows and spiderwebs. Perfect for kids of all ages and ideal for parks, gardens, or even walks around the block. No prep, just print and go!
10. Our Huge Outdoor Challenge Pack
Need a long-term fix for outdoor fun? The Home Learning Outdoor Challenges – One Year Activity Pack is exactly that. It’s packed with 52 weekly challenges—everything from bug hunts and mini wildlife surveys to nature art and weather tracking. Great for families, homeschoolers, and teachers who want a year’s worth of fresh, no-fuss outdoor learning. Print the PDF once and enjoy weekly adventure inspiration all year long!
With these 10 outdoor activity ideas, summer doesn’t have to mean screen time overload or cries of “I’m bored!” Whether it’s tracking animals in the garden, snapping photos of wildflowers, or tackling a year’s worth of challenges, there’s something here for every kind of explorer. Simple to set up and packed with learning, these activities make it easy to turn any outdoor space into a summer adventure. So grab your printables, head outside, and let the exploring begin!
Adam