My family loves to explore and enjoy nature and all our beautiful surroundings here in Missouri.

Today is Earth day and it’s a favorite of ours because we can get outside and appreciate Mother Nature!

Over the years we have done many different activities together on Earth Day week including nature hikes, recycle and upcycle activities, scavenger hunts, and city wide clean ups.

Today we are going to the Botanical Gardens and enjoying a movie in the park! 

I put together a list below of our favorite family activities for Earth Day to share some fun memories and give you a few fun ideas for your Earth Day week.

Feel free to comment below and tell me some of your favorite Earth Day inspired activities too!

Neighborhood Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt

Fresh air and sunshine every day are so important for kids! We have been enjoying family walks, bike rides, and walking our dog in our neighborhood and walking trails.

To make it more exciting for my kiddos, I created this fun Neighborhood Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt printable.

Download and print one for your family too!

Pretty in Pink Picnic 

Picnics have always been an activity we enjoy, ever since my girls were babies. All you need is a nice day, a blanket, and a cooler with snacks and drinks! 

I share two pink themed, kid friendly snacks in the link above to make for your next picnic. 

DIY Upcycled Bird Feeders

Looking for an activity to use up all your extra toilet paper rolls?
I save our paper rolls for crafts with my kids and now that it is springtime our favorite way to upcycle

instead of throw away the empty toilet paper rolls is make bird feeders!

Springtime Nature Trail Scavenger Hunt | Exploring State Parks with Kids

For Earth Day this week I am sharing this free printable Springtime Nature Trail Scavenger Hunt! Get out and explore with this fun game for kids. 

DIY Flower Pens and Painted Pots

These flower pens make great gifts and are a fun craft to make at home with the kids.

Presented in a DIY painted pot gives them a sweet personal touch that Moms and Grandmas will love!

Also teaching kids how to plant seeds and grow their own plant is a fun Earth Day activity too.

Creepy Crawly Dirt Cups for Earth Day

Dirt Cups are sweet and perfectly messy! A fun afternoon treat for Earth Day!

City Wide or Neighborhood Trash Pickup

One of my favorite childhood memories was participating in beach cleanups with my Dad. As a kid it made me feel good to clean up my hometown and feel like I made a difference. Also any time I spent with my Dad was a good time and as I look back I truly cherish those memories! This is why when our city hosted a trash pickup last year, I signed my whole family up. I wasn’t sure how my girls would react but they surprised me and were not only great helpers but enjoyed themselves too. Check out your city, church, and community calendars to sign up or host your own in your neighborhood!

DIY Painted Rocks 

Get outside and paint and hide rocks for others to find! This post includes some tips and many rock painting ideas.

They also make great gifts and garden decor!

Outdoor Movie Night

You can have an outdoor movie night almost anywhere!

We have done our own backyard and driveway, the local drive in, city park and even in a parking lot in a military hosted event on post. 

Check and see if your area hosts any upcoming movie nights or get a projector and play a movie on your garage door or hang up a sheet as a screen in the backyard.

Most importantly, enjoy the fresh air and cool breeze and don’t forget the popcorn!

Also check out:

20+ Earth Day Crafts and Recipes To Make !

The post Fun Earth Day Activities for Families appeared first on For the Love of Food.

Today for Earth Day this week I am sharing this free printable Springtime Nature Trail Scavenger Hunt!

Get out and explore with this fun game for kids.  

My family and I love exploring together. We are blessed to currently live in Missouri and it is seriously breathtakingly beautiful here!

We love the state parks and scenic trails all over the state and adventure to a new one as often as we can. Be sure to check out your local state parks.

There are so many that are free and open to the public that you probably don’t even know about. Here’s a great website to help you search. 

Last Sunday we explored Mills Springs here on Ft Leonardwood. It was an gorgeous cool day and we brought our pup along for the walk too.

I made it extra fun for the girls, who can get bored easily, with this printable nature walk scavenger hunt.

They loved it and it really helped them pay attention to their surroundings!

Scroll down to see more photos from our beautiful hike.

I’ve included the link at the bottom of the post to download and print the free Nature Hike Scavenger Hunt too!

The walk to the spring is easy and peaceful. There are picnic tables, restrooms, and many areas to fish. 

I love all the springs in Missouri! The color of the water and lush green landscape is perfection. 

This time of the year in the Midwest is a great time to explore nature. The air is cool and there are not too many bugs out.

I would love to go back here and bring a picnic lunch and book to read!

The nature walk after the springs is pretty steep and about 1 mile long. But the view from the top made it worth it!

Elvis loved the view too!

There is beauty everywhere. You just have to look for it. 

Scroll down to print out your own scavenger hunt to take on your next trail outing.

Also check out my printable Neighborhood Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt .

A smile at the top. What a fun Sunday Funday!

Print here!

You can print this fun picture scavenger hunt here for free on Dropbox. 

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”   – Albert Einstein

The post Springtime Nature Trail Scavenger Hunt | Exploring State Parks with Kids appeared first on For the Love of Food.