Summer Outdoor Ed Activities

Outdoor Adventures: Extend Learning Beyond the Classroom with Pali Institute

Summer break in California oers a fantastic opportunity to extend learning beyond the classroom and explore the wonders of the outdoors. As families and educators, we can transform backyards, parks, and local natural spaces into vibrant learning environments that support science, nature exploration, and Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA)-aligned activities.

Outdoor education and hands-on discovery are at the heart of everything we do at Pali Institute. Throughout the academic year, our students experience unforgettable moments of exploration, curiosity, and artistic expression woven into scientific inquiry. As summer approaches, we invite you to continue this spirit of learning at home or in your communities.

This guide provides a collection of creative and educational outdoor activities for school-aged children (ages 6-16), blending STEM, art in nature, and VAPA-aligned experiences. Let’s step beyond textbooks and dive into the natural world!

Exciting Activities for Young Explorers

1. Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt list for your backyard or local park, featuring specific leaves, rocks, insects, or flowers. This activity builds observational skills and encourages curiosity about local ecosystems. Students can sketch or describe each item in a nature journal, incorporating arts education elements alongside scientific exploration.

2. DIY Solar Oven: Teach children about solar energy by building a simple solar oven from a pizza box. Experiment by cooking s’mores or melting chocolate, demonstrating the power of the sun in a delicious way.

3. Backyard Bug Safari: Equip your children with magnifying glasses and guide them on a bug-finding mission. Encourage them to document their findings through drawings or watercolor sketches—a great way to merge scientific observation with artistic expression.

4. Weather Station Project: For older children (12–16), consider building a simple weather station to track temperature, humidity, and rainfall. Alongside data collection, students can illustrate weather changes or create visual logs, integrating art into environmental science.

5. Star Gazing and Astronomy Night: Host a family astronomy night. Use a telescope or binoculars to observe stars and planets, teaching children about constellations and celestial bodies. Encourage them to draw star maps or recreate constellations using natural materials, combining storytelling, culture, and visual arts.

6. Nature Journaling: Encourage older children to engage in nature journaling with watercolors or sketching. Have them observe and document the details of plants, animals, and landscapes, merging artistic skills with scientific observation. Nature journaling is a powerful VAPA activity that enhances both mindfulness and environmental literacy.

STEM Adventures in Your Backyard

Solar Oven S’mores

• Cardboard box
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic wrap
• S’mores ingredients

Build a solar oven using a cardboard box and aluminum foil to harness the power of the California sun! This is a fun and delicious way to teach your kids about solar energy, heat transfer, and the scientific method. Experiment with different box designs and angles to see how they affect cooking time. Invite children to draw their oven prototypes or present findings visually, incorporating artistic elements into their scientific process.

Don’t forget to enjoy the gooey s’mores as a reward for their scientific efforts! Check out these example designs and tutorials on YouTube if you’re stuck.

DIY Water Filtration System

• Plastic bottle
• Gravel
• Sand
• Coffee filter
• Dirty water

Explore the importance of clean water by creating your own water filtration system. Layer gravel, sand, and a coffee filter inside a plastic bottle to simulate a natural filtration process. Pour dirty water through the system and observe how the different layers remove impurities. This activity demonstrates the principles of water purification and environmental science, crucial lessons in water-conscious California. Have students illustrate their process or design a poster about water conservation, blending environmental science with arts-based learning.

Discuss with your child how this relates to California’s water challenges.

For older children (12-16), consider building a simple weather station to track temperature, humidity, and rainfall. They can learn about data collection, analysis, and weather forecasting, tying into real-world meteorological concepts. Expand on the weather station idea by charting weather patterns over several weeks. Students can graph temperature changes, create color-coded visualizations, or even design weather-themed art projects—a great integration of STEM and VAPA concepts.

Artistic Expression in Nature

Nature Mandalas

• Natural materials (leaves, stones, flowers, twigs)

Encourage mindful creativity by creating nature mandalas. Gather natural materials like stones, twigs, or flowers and arrange them in symmetrical patterns on the ground. This activity encourages mindfulness, artistic design, cultural understanding, and appreciation for symmetry and balance. Discuss the symbolism of mandalas across cultures and take photos of these impermanent, nature-based artworks.

Afterwards, take a photo to remember the beautiful impermanent creation!

Sun Prints (Cyanotypes)

• Cyanotype paper
• Natural objects
• Glass or acrylic sheet
• Water

Explore the magic of sun printing using cyanotype paper. Arrange natural objects on the paper and expose it to sunlight to create beautiful blue-and-white prints. This arts activity introduces children to photography and the impact of light on chemical reactions. Experiment with different exposure times and objects to create unique designs. Frame the results and give them as gifts!

For older children, consider nature journaling with watercolors or sketching. Encourage them to observe and document the details of plants, animals, and landscapes, combining artistic skills with scientific observation.

Tips for Successful Outdoor Learning

• Safety First: Always supervise children during outdoor activities and ensure they wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen.
• Respect Nature: Teach children to appreciate and protect the environment by leaving no trace behind and respecting wildlife.
• Adapt to Your Surroundings: Tailor activities to your local environment, whether it’s a backyard, park, or forest.
• Make it Fun: Keep the activities engaging and enjoyable to foster a positive learning experience.

Final Thoughts

This summer, embrace the opportunity to turn the outdoors into a living classroom. Through STEM and artistic activities, children can strengthen their critical thinking, creativity, and connection to the natural world. Hands-on exploration nurtures a lifelong love of learning.

At Pali Institute, we believe that nature offers endless opportunities for discovery and growth—whether at camp, at school, or in your own backyard. By integrating visual and performing arts into environmental education, we help students build confidence, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for learning across disciplines.