Spending quality time outdoors as a family is a great way to enjoy nature and strengthen family bonds. With our fast-paced and technology-driven world, it’s crucial to make time for these precious moments. This article will explore 10 creative and affordable outdoor activities that allow families to connect, create lasting memories, and have loads of fun together.
Activity #1: DIY Backyard Camping Adventure
Transform your backyard into a campground and create an exciting camping adventure for the entire family. Set up a tent, arrange some cozy sleeping bags, and don’t forget the essentials like flashlights and marshmallow roasting sticks.
Prepare delicious campfire treats like s’mores, read stories around the fire, or share funny family stories. This backyard camping experience will create lifelong memories and ignite the spirit of adventure in your family.
Pro-tip: Hot or rainy weather? No problem, bring the sleeping bags inside! We’ve got whole guide for making your indoor campout just as much fun, if not more fun than being outdoors! There’s the added bonus of no bugs!
Other Fun Backyard Camping Activities:
- Star Walk: Take stargazing to the next level with this awesome phone app (both Android and iPhone). Using your phone, you can see where all the stars are and even get information about them. It also has awesome visualizations to help you see the constellations. It’s the perfect way to get the current generation interested in stargazing.
- Childhood Games: bring back the old schoolyard fun by passing down games from your childhood such as “Simon Says,” “Mother, May I,” “Freeze Tag,” and “Red Light, Green Light.”
- Classic Card Games: teach your kids the simple joys of card games with a standard pack of playing cards. I bought a book called “The Card Games Bible” in 2016, and over the years it has been a huge help in recalling the rules of games.
Activity #2: Scavenger Hunt in the Park
Organize a thrilling scavenger hunt in a local park to engage the whole family in an exciting adventure. Create a customized list of items to find and include fun challenges to complete. Encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity as your family hunts for natural treasures and enjoys the beauty of nature.
Pro-tip: You can even include animals and plants in the scavenger hunt and have the kids take pictures of them as proof (and memories).
Activity #3: Nature Collage
Take a leisurely stroll through a nearby park, forest, or backyard, and gather natural materials like leaves, flowers, and rocks. Later, use these treasures to create a beautiful nature collage together. This artistic activity provides an opportunity to appreciate the wonders of nature and showcase everyone’s creativity.
Pro-tip: You can print out line drawings of things in nature, such as owls or trees, and have your kids use glue to attach their materials to the line drawing. To get free line drawings, just do a Google image search. Here are some example phrases you can search for:
- Free owl line art
- Free tree line art
- Free flower line art
Activity #4: Picnic in the Park
Plan a delightful family picnic in the park with delicious homemade treats and exciting games. Pack easy-to-make recipes such as sandwiches, salads, and fruit skewers. Don’t forget to bring outdoor games like frisbees, badminton, or a soccer ball. Enjoy good food, friendly competition, and relaxed conversations in a serene outdoor setting.
Pro-Tip: We always check the Google Maps app for our local parks to see how busy they are. This is a great way to figure out which times of the day are too busy or which parks might be better if you prefer fewer people being around. Here’s a screenshot of what it looks like for New York’s Central Park:
Activity #5: Outdoor Movie Night
Create a magical outdoor movie experience right in your own backyard. Set up a projector and a white screen or use a large white sheet. Arrange blankets, pillows, and comfortable seating for everyone.
Prepare some popcorn, snacks, and refreshments as you settle down to watch a family-favorite movie under the stars. This cozy outdoor movie night will bring laughter, love, and togetherness.
Pro-tip: Check out our complete guide to hosting the perfect family movie night.
Activity #6: Gardening and Planting
Start a family garden and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of gardening while teaching your children about nature and responsibility. Choose plants suitable for your region, prepare the soil together, and let each family member have their own section to nurture.
Engage in ongoing tasks like watering, weeding, and harvesting. Witness the beauty of nature blooming as your garden grows, and create a space for tranquility and connection.
Pro-Tip: To get our kids excited, I love showing them time lapse videos of plants growing. It gives them a quick preview of what they can expect, and they love seeing how the plants move. Here’s one of the videos we watched recently:
Activity #7: Outdoor Water Games
When the weather heats up, indulge in refreshing water games that guarantee laughter and joy. Organize a water balloon fight, set up a slip-and-slide for exciting races, or challenge each other in a sponge relay. These simple and enjoyable water activities will keep your family cool while creating unforgettable memories.
Pro-Tip: Most weather apps will show you what the UV-index is outside, but you can also check it at the EPA’s website here. This is very important to know. According to the EPA, if the UV-index is 3 or higher, then make sure you use sunscreen. The sun is strongest between 10am and 4pm.
Activity #8: Bike Ride Adventure
Embark on a bike ride adventure with the family and explore scenic routes or trails in your local area. Before heading out, ensure everyone wears appropriate safety gear like helmets and knee pads. Discover new places, admire the beauty of nature, and spend quality time together while staying active and healthy.
Activity #9: Family Field Day
Organize a friendly sports tournament in your backyard. Set up games like soccer, kickball, or even create a homemade obstacle course. Divide into teams and engage in some healthy competition while enhancing teamwork and physical fitness. This tournament will bring out the competitive spirit while strengthening the family bond.
More Fun Tournament Activities
You can also consider turning into a school-yard style field day with fun games such as:
- 3-Legged Race
- Tug-of-War
- Potato Sack Races
- Egg Toss
- Hula Hooping
- and Flag Football
Activity #10: Firefly Capture and Release
On a warm summer night, embrace the enchantment of fireflies as a family. Venture into the outdoors at dusk, equipped with jars for observation. Allow the magic of fireflies to charm everyone as you capture them gently, observing their magnificence and glow. Emphasize the importance of releasing them unharmed after observation, understanding the value of respecting and preserving nature’s wonders.
Pro-Tip: If Fireflies aren’t around in your area, then another great alternative is to find different plants in nature and use the Google Lens app on your phone to identify what they are. You can get Google Lens on your iPhone by downloading the Google App from the app store.
Final Thoughts
In a world filled with distractions and obligations, making time for outdoor activities as a family is essential. These creative and affordable ideas provide an opportunity to connect, create unforgettable memories, and strengthen family members’ bonds.
Whether it’s a DIY backyard camping adventure, a thrilling scavenger hunt, or a serene picnic in the park, each activity offers unique experiences that will bring joy, laughter, and lasting relationships. So step outside, explore, and cherish the wonders of nature together – for they hold the key to building strong and cherished family bonds.
