What to do + Where to go

Children who spend time outdoors are healthier, happier, more creative, have better concentration and even get better grades. (Visit the Children & Nature Network for research findings – click here.) Who wouldn’t want that for their youngster – or themselves? And getting your family outdoors is easier and less expensive than you might think. NH Children in Nature Coalition partner organizations offer a wide variety of fun and educational activities to get you and your family outside. Keep checking back for new activities and ideas! And check our EVENTS page for programs, events, and partner organizations that can help you take that first step into the outdoors.

NOTE – The NH Children in Nature Coalition is not responsible for the content of links outside this site.

Resources (general)

Great ideas for outdoor activities

Nature Rocks – naturerocks.org/find-activities
From the National Wildlife Federation – nwf.org/Get-Outside/Be-Out-There/Activities
Discover the Forest - from US Forest Service

Parks and playgrounds

NH State Parks – statewide! Find a place near you for a walk, hike, paddle, swim, campout….. www.nhstateparks.org

White Mountain National Forest - trails, camping, and outdoors adventure as far as the eye can see! www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain

LOCAL: Most communities have parks and playgrounds. Be sure to check your town’s web site for information. (Click here for an alphabetical index of NH towns, and follow the links to find your own city or town’s home page.)

Outdoor learning opportunities

4-H: extension.unh.edu/4h/4h.htm
Appalachian Mountain Club: amc-nh.org
NH Audubon: www.nhaudubon.org
The Harris Center for Conservation Education: www.harriscenter.org
 Squam Lakes Natural Science Center: www.nhnature.org
 NH Fish and Game Department: www.wildnh.com
University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension: extension.unh.edu
 Great Bay Discovery Center: www.greatbay.org
 Amoskeag Fishways Learning Center: www.amoskeagfishways.org
Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center: prescottconservancy.org
Seacoast Science Center: www.seacoastsciencecenter.org
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center: www.starhop.com

Take your child fishing

Fishing with kids from NH Fish and Game
Little Lunkers Learning Center from Take Me Fishing
Getting Started – Guidelines for Children

Bicycling

Kids and Bike Safety – from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Ideas for Teaching Cycling to Children
Bike/pedestrian maps from NH Dept. of Transportation
NH bike trails – listing
Biking in NH (includes list of regional biking clubs and trails)

Gardening

No space for a garden? Many cities and towns have community gardens where you can plant your own plot (check your town’s web site). Or, try container gardening on your deck, porch or patio. Even window boxes can hold a few herbs, flowers and vegetables.
Kiddie Gardens
Jr. Master Gardeners, run by 4-H
Kids Gardening
Starting a community garden
NH Farm to School
The Edible Schoolyard

Hiking and camping

www.tothewoods.net/HikingWithKids.html
www.backpacking.net/featured4.html
www.outdoorplaces.com/Features/Kids/kidsout1.htm
www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/Act/Hiking/Hikekids.htm

Family-friendly hikes, outings and activities

Many NH communities also have their own parks, trails and nature reserves.
Be sure to check your town’s web site for information. (Click here for an alphabetical index of NH towns, and follow the links to find your own city or town’s home page.)

www.americantrails.org/resources/statetrails/NHstate.html
www.amc-nh.org
www.nhaudubon.org
www.harriscenter.org
 www.nhnature.org
 www.wildnh.com
www.greatbay.org
 www.seacoastsciencecenter.org
 www.amoskeagfishways.org
www.prescottconservancy.org

Bird watching and wildlife watching

http://www.biglearning.com/treasurebirds.htm
http://www.camping.com/camp-kids/1390-wildlife-watching-tips
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Outdoor_Recreation/wildlife_watching.htm
Bird biology and observation for older kids and families: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/adv/birding/beginbird/kidbird.htm

Nature journaling

www.connecting-with-nature.net/journaling-with-kids.html

Astronomy

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center: www.starhop.com
stardate.org/nightsky/meteors
spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids

Geocaching

www.geocaching.com/default.aspx
 www.associatedcontent.com/article/77646/tips_to_make_geocaching_with_kids_a.html?cat=25
www.springhurst.org/geocachingkids/how.htm

Snowflake viewing

www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/kids/kids.htm

Beachcombing and tidal pooling

Pools of Discovery (from NH Wildlife Journal magazine)
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2043409/how_to_go_beach_combing_with_your_kids.html?cat=25
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2700055/beachcombing_102_when_to_walk.html?cat=24
www.carandcaboodle.com/?p=1411

Scavenger hunts

Fun Nature Treasure Hunt from The Nature Conservancy
www.hometrainingtools.com/article.asp?ai=1341&bhcd2=1269270768
www.scavenger-hunt-guru.com/nature-scavenger-hunt-1.html
www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/kids/scavengerhunt.htm

Odds & ends

Classic outdoor games (Hopscotch, Capture the Flag, etc.) – gameskidsplay.net
Jumprope, games, and rhymes – jumpropeinstitute.com/kids | 42explore.com/rope | gameskidsplay.net/jump_rope_ryhmes
Fairy houses – www.fairyhouses.com/how_to_build.html
Kite flying – www.windpowersports.com/guides/kites-for-kids.html
List of NH skate parks – www.newhampshire.com/outdoors/skate-parks.aspx

Spending time in nature…
• Is fun
• Is safe
• Reduces stress
• Makes children more focused
• Enhances children’s emotional and social development
• Improves school performance
• Enhances creativity, problem solving ability, self-esteem and self control
• Improves cognitive ability
• Improves health and well-being
• Reduces obesity
• Gives kids a reason to care about and conserve their environment
• Can lead to careers in the environment
• Can inspire a lifelong lifestyle
• Can happen near where you are, whenever you’re ready.