We love to homeschool outside. We can be having a day full of arguments and no motivation, and when we move our schooling outside, the behaviors and moods of everyone instantly improve. Follow along as I share some of my favorite outdoor activities for homeschoolers.
Take a Trip to a Local Spring
We recently went on a field trip to a nearby spring. This spring is only 10 minutes from our house. I can’t believe it was our first time there! It was an overcast day, which made the 95° heat tolerable, and the water was a refreshing 75°.
This spring is set up so you can start tubing at the spring head and follow the river down to the bridge, which reaches about 1 mile and takes about 25 minutes to float down. When you arrive at the bridge, you get out of the river with your float and take a 10 minute walk back to the spring head.
There was a sandy beach to picnic on with a perfect spot for the boys to swim and snorkel while collecting snails and watching the fish swim by.
“Children learn from anything and everything they see. They learn wherever they are, not just in special learning places.” -John Holt
Learn How to Start a Fire and Fire Safety
One of my other favorite activities that we have done over the years is learning how to start a fire and forest fire safety. We had a park ranger come and teach us how forest fires work and controlled burns help prevent forest fires.
Last week, they did a controlled burn behind our house. The fire lasted for about three days. It felt a bit scary. Like the fire was going to creep into our yard or sparks were going to fall on our roof. But the forest fire fighters had everything under control and made their job look easy.
“We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.” -Charlotte Mason
The Great Backyard Bird Count
I also love our bird watching activities during school. We have created pine cone bird feeders, go on nature walks with our binoculars, and love participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count each year hosted by Cornell University.
“We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole. In my children’s memories, the adventures we’ve had together in nature will always exist.” -Richard Louv
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