Nature study printables + ideas for the mom who’s not outdoorsy

Have you ever completed a nature study in your homeschool? We did about a month ago and it was the most fun we’ve had so far!

As a mama who’s never really been an “outdoorsy” kind girl, the concept of Wild + Free homeschooling makes me nervous. I feel safe indoors, nothing will sting you there. Or bite you. Or make you sweat.

But ever since we went on a nature scavenger hunt with a couple of other homeschool families, I am obsessed. I feel like I’m 10 years old again, in my backyard after dark, making mud pies. Being outside just brings something out in you that you had no idea was there.

Nature makes you curious and full of joy.

If you haven’t done a nature study, like a REAL nature study… Where you actually go outside. Do it! You will not regret that time exploring creation, big and small, with your kids!

| Related: Why you should create a blog for your homeschool

If you do not consider yourself outdoorsy, as I did, don’t be afraid to start small. Head to a park with a walking trail (or even your own backyard) and complete a nature scavenger hunt!

Pinterest is FULL of scavenger hunt options, but there’s also some fun, strategy-based hunt ideas in our Nature Journal.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

This journal was specifically designed for kids with pre-writing skills, however, anyone can use the ideas in this journal to document their next wild + free adventure! 

You can print it to create your own nature journal or pick and choose single pages to complete on certain days. 

Now, you’re probably wondering what the heck you’re going to do with all the nature you find on your hunt… Well – let me show you a fun idea!

Something you may or may not know about me is that I struggle with letting my kids complete things on their own. Before homeschooling, any time we did a craft I would make sure the stickers were in the right place, the colors were painted correctly, it was bad.

I’m an 8 on the Enneagram though… So it’s expected.

But I didn’t want to be like that during anymore, especially during homeschool. So I’ve been working really, really hard not to take over craft time and this project was the first one I let the kids complete 100% on their own.

And can I just tell you… My kids have an incredible imagination?!

I helped Luke (our youngest) with his, because he’s one. And I love to craft. haha. The problem is, I had seen all of the nature study art on Pinterest and thought it needed to just be a collage of nature on a sheet of paper.

My older two really showed me up in the nature study art department.

Look at the designs they came up with all by themselves!

I was blown away!

This was a simple craft idea, that literally only cost a sheet of paper and some glue, that solidified all the things we learned about in our nature study.

I even learned something new! Did you know that pinecones open and close depending on the weather?! I did not! Until the very closed pinecones, we glued to the paper looked completely different after being inside our warm home all night.

Something else we got to learn about, observe, and document on our nature study adventure!

Don’t let your fears or uncomfortableness drive the learning opportunities for your kids. Always listen to your gut feeling about any situation, and take another family with you on hikes and to secluded state parks, but if it’s safe and your kids are ready for an adventure, go for it, mama!

I’d love to see pictures of your nature study in action, especially if you’re using the nature journal from the shop! Consider following me on Instagram so that we can connect and tag your photos with #createyourhomeschool