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You are here: Home / Naturally Frugal Mom / 100 Things to Look for on a Nature Walk

100 Things to Look for on a Nature Walk

March 20, 2020 by Alea Milham 2 Comments

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Use this list of 100 things to look for on a nature walk with kids to make your family walks more fun

100 Things to Look for on a Nature Walk- This list has a lot of cool items to watch and listen for the next time you and your kids are out exploring nature.

Here are 100 Things to Look for on a Nature Walk to keep you and your kids busy no matter where you head out to explore. From the classic signs that an animal has been in an area, to the source of water that is necessary for life, this list has tons of fun things for you and your kids to watch out for on the trail.

100 Things to Look for on a Nature Walk

  1. Animal Tracks
  2. Berries on bushes or trees
  3. Fruit from trees
  4. Nuts from trees
  5. Fallen leaves to determine types of trees in the area
  6. Moss on logs, rocks and in shady areas
  7. Local common snakes (wear long pants, boots and never disturb)
  8. Insects
  9. Arachnids (spiders)
  10. Animal homes, holes in the ground or obvious dens (don’t disturb,just observe)
  11. Natural or man made caves or dwellings
  12. Creek beds and rivers
  13. Different types of rocks and minerals
  14. Rock formations
  15. Wild flower species
  16. Trails from humans or animals
  17. Carcass or remains of animals
  18. Animal droppings
  19. Antlers from deer
  20. Various types of spiderwebs
  21. Wild turkeys
  22. Wild hogs
  23. Different species of birds
  24. Lizards
  25. Markings on trees from deer or bears
  26. Evidence of fire (from wildfire or humans building camp fires)
  27. Cocoons from moths
  28. Naturally growing mushrooms
  29. Butterfly chrysalis
  30. Ant hills
  31. Fossils
  32. Natural water springs
  33. Trash or litter you can pick up and dispose of properly
  34. Geocache locations (plan your nature walk around local GPS locations of Geocaches
  35. Tadpoles in rivers, creeks or pools of water
  36. Skin that has been shed from snakes
  37. Fallen branches or limbs that could be used to build shelter
  38. Different colored leaves
  39. Algae on water or ponds
  40. Lily pads on water or ponds
  41. Fractal items like leaves, spider webs and similar
  42. Different types of soil along the way
  43. Beehives
  44. Bird nests
  45. Mistletoe (it is parasite in many trees)
  46. Fallen logs
  47. Off road vehicle tracks (look for dirt bike, 4 wheeler or other similar off road vehicle tracks)
  48. Naturally growing herbs
  49. Different types of grass and ground covering
  50. Different smells (wood, grass, animal droppings, flowers, mold)
  51. Different types of tree bark
  52. Trees that are easy to climb
  53. A rock with multiple colors
  54. New or baby trees around older existing trees (signs of healthy soil and a tree that is dropping seeds)
  55. Different types of seeds from trees and plant life
  56. Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, or Sumac (you want to avoid, but it is a great way to teach kids what they look like)
  57. Worms
  58. Animals or insects that camouflage themselves
  59. Count the different colors you see along the way
  60. Look for frogs
  61. Squirrels nests (where they hoard nuts, berries and other supplies)
  62. Natural compost (areas where leaves and such are rotting to create rich soil)
  63. Pine cones
  64. Something round
  65. Plants with thorns on them
  66. Walking sticks (the insect as well as the stick for use to steady yourself while exploring)
  67. Waterfalls
  68. Vines to pretend you are Tarzan on (only with adults permission and safety precautions)
  69. Quartz Crystals
  70. Money(people often litter or drop change that animals pick up and take back to their nests)
  71. Eggs (birds, snakes and lizards all lay eggs)
  72. Snails
  73. Red clay
  74. Feathers from birds
  75. Arrowheads or slate rocks that could be fashioned into arrowheads
  76. Arrows
  77. Ferns
  78. Remnants of shells used in hunting
  79. Blossoms or buds on a tree or bush
  80. A tree growing through something like another fallen tree, rock formation or similar
  81. Ladybugs
  82. String or twine gathered by birds or discarded by hikers
  83. Carvings on trees from other walkers or hikers
  84. Signs of infestations killing plants (dead trees, grass or areas that look like something has killed plant life
  85. Rocks that are bigger than you are
  86. Something that is soft and fuzzy
  87. Seashells (if near the ocean)
  88. Something straight and narrow
  89. Fish in ponds, rivers, creeks, lakes or tide pools
  90. Clover
  91. Mud puddles (to splash in and have fun)
  92. Grassy areas for picnics
  93. Caterpillar
  94. A leaf with holes in it from insects
  95. A super large leaf that could provide shelter
  96. Sand
  97. Broken glass (litter from other hikers)
  98. Weather balloons
  99. Wild onions
  100. Cactus

This list includes items you would expect to find, a few unusual things, and of course evidence of outside life leaving litter behind. Use this list to create a scavenger hunt for your kids on your next walk!

More Ways to Explore Nature

Nature Activity Jar

Tips for Going on a Nature Walk With Kids

How to Make a Nature Journal

Nature Walk Ideas for Kids of Various Ages

Teaching Kids how to Read a Map and Use a Compass

How to Teach Kids Reading Skills in the Garden

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About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Hailey Garrison says

    April 25, 2022 at 10:52 am

    ”
    This help thanks!”

    Reply
  2. Rebecca Payne says

    April 7, 2020 at 8:37 am

    I love this nature walk ideas

    Reply

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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