Get outside and explore the great outdoors with this easy-to-set-up Nature Summer Camp for kids! Spend the week learning about plants, animals, ecosystems, and more with fun nature activities the whole family will love. Use the printable camp guide to get organized, gather your supplies, and dive into a week of nature discovery.
What Will Kids Learn with Nature Science Camp?
Grab your FREE printable Nature Camp Week Guide below, or download the complete instruction pack with bonus activities to make planning even easier.
Kids will connect with the world around them while building key science skills and observations:
- Observing chemical reactions with a fizzy outdoor experiment
- Investigating habitats with backyard jungle exploration
- Discovering plant biology through hands-on leaf experiments
- Learning about insect life cycles by building bug hotels
- Using natural materials creatively in science art projects
This week of nature-themed science and STEAM activities encourages curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for the environment.
🔎 Make sure to look through all of our camp theme weeks here! Tip: They work well anytime of the year for instant learning and fun!
Nature Camp Activities
Burping Bags
Kick things off with a BANG! Learn about chemical reactions by mixing baking soda and vinegar in zipper bags to make them “burp.”
Related science: Acids, bases, and gas formation.
Make a Birdfeeder
Craft birdfeeder ornaments to hang outside and attract feathered friends. A perfect follow-up to a birdwatching session.
Bonus idea: Start a backyard bird journal!
Backyard Jungle Exploration
Pick a 1×1 square foot of grass or dirt and become a backyard scientist! Examine what’s living there using a magnifying glass and an observation sheet.
Great for introducing ecosystems and habitats.
Build an Insect Hotel
Turn recycled materials into a bug haven! Learn about beneficial insects and their homes by building a shelter for them to visit. Or try a bee house!
Extension: Observe and record what critters move in. You can also Build an Animal Shelter!
How Do Plants Breathe?
Use leaves and water to explore the process of transpiration and discover how plants “breathe.”
This is a great tie-in to plant science and photosynthesis.
Sun Prints
Use the power of the sun to make beautiful shadow art! Collect natural objects or use toys to create sun prints.
No sun? Try making rain prints instead!
Nature Brushes
Head outside and gather natural objects to turn into paintbrushes. Then paint with them to see the incredible textures and effects you can create.
Incorporates nature, process art, and creativity. Try painting with flowers too.
Water Pistol Painting
End the week with a splash! Fill squirt bottles or water pistols with watered-down paint and create colorful masterpieces on paper.
🎨 Find more outdoor art projects here!
Tips for Hosting a Nature Camp
- Safety First: Use non-toxic materials and always supervise outdoor activities.
- Introduce Nature Concepts: Start with a fun talk about ecosystems, habitats, and conservation.
- Mix Indoor & Outdoor Projects: If the weather changes, bring the fun inside with nature crafts.
- Add a Theme: Make it “Junior Naturalist Week” with explorer hats and field guides!
- Take It Further: Invite a local naturalist, visit a botanical garden, or plan a field trip to a park.
Free Nature Camp Guide
Grab your quick and easy nature camp guide and bonus activities [here]. Then check out these free bonus printable activities.
Try These Animal Activities Too!
More Fun Summer Camp Themes
Plan a whole summer of fun science for kids! Check out each camp theme week and have a budget-friendly summer of science at home.
- Art Summer Camp
- Bricks Summer Camp
- Chemistry Summer Camp
- Cooking Summer Camp
- Dinosaur Summer Camp
- Nature Summer Camp
- Ocean Summer Camp
- Sensory Summer Camp
- Space Summer Camp
- Slime Summer Camp
- STEM Summer Camp
- Water Science Summer Camp
Printable Nature Activities Pack
Take this nature pack outdoors for hands-on learning!
- Nature theme writing prompts make for the start of a fantastic outdoor, nature journal.
- Explore nature-themed STEM challenges that encourage your kiddos to use supplies found in nature and natural materials to complete.
- Discover the birds in your backyard, and learn how to make different kinds of kid-friendly bird feeders.
- Observe a favorite flower or leaf, and go on a scavenger hunt or two!
- Discover how to set up a one-square-foot backyard jungle project.
- Explore what it’s like to be a collector and set up your own collection.
- Explore the senses outside
- Simple leaf science activities with leaves including leaf rubbing, how do leaves breathe, and leaf drawing.
- Start a seed jar and observe how a plant grows even under the ground!
- Build an insect hotel for your garden using natural and found materials.
BONUS: Pinecone Pack included!
