Pre Park Visit |
Coloring Pages
Print out and color one of these coloring pages made by our Naturalists. Once completed, email us a photo! [email protected]
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Outdoor Activities
 If you don't want to make your own bingo board, print this one out!
Nature Bingo
Students will be able to practice their observation skills to look for details within nature. Hiking will give students the opportunity to release stress and will develop a lifelong appreciation for nature. This activity is great for younger kids, grades K-2, but the whole family can get involved! All you need is a bingo sheet and some markers you find in nature. Kids will practice reading and learn different STEM topics. Nature Scavenger Hunt
This activity is done outside. It can be done at the Galena Creek Regional Park or in other parks in the area with similar flora and fauna. This activity is a guide to help with identifying common plants and evidence of common animals in this area. It encourages observation when in the natural world. This can be fun for all age groups but for NGSS standards the age group is K-2nd grade. 2-LS4-1 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity. Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats. Emphasis is on the diversity of living things in each of a variety of different habitats. Creative Writing in Nature Students can use this activity to write about what they feel when thinking about nature. This is a great activity for grades 3-5, but can work for older or younger kids. Students can choose a specific aspect of nature to focus on such as plants or animals or they can write about nature more generally. Students should make connections and think through their relationship with nature. This will give them a chance to express their feelings with a healthy outlet, as well as connect themselves to nature. This is a great way for kids to practice their writing and reading skills. |
Looking for fun activities that connect your child to nature? Print out our Junior Ranger book or Junior Snow Ranger book and bring it along next time you hike the trails. When you're done, bring your book to the Visitor Center to become an official Junior Ranger of Galena Creek and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
We also have a Scavenger Hunt you can complete along the trails. This is perfect for younger kids or if you're only here for a short hike. |
Indoor Activities
Compost in a Bottle
The Compost in a Bottle activity is a great way for kids to learn about the process of decomposition and how waste is handled in nature. This activity involves some outdoor components that can be done in a backyard or neighborhood, but most of it can be done indoors; you likely have all the materials already. This activity is great for grades 1-4 and involves little parent involvement. Students will learn about STEM subjects like biology and chemistry.
Plant/Not Plant Scavenger Hunt
Lots of things inside your home are made from the leaves, stems, fruits, and seeds of plants. Using this scavenger hunt, see if you can find all the items and determine if they are made from plants or non-plant materials. Ask an adult to help you find some of the items. When you're done, check back to see how many you got correct and what those items are made of! This is a great activity for grades 3-6 and teaches STEM topics like biology and chemistry, as well as reading comprehension.
Grow Your Own Seed
In this activity, we will do what nature does best: grow plants! Fortunately for us, all of the things that a plant needs to survive are readily available either within our home, or just outside. Students will learn about the science behind what plants need in order to germinate, as well as the difficulties that plants must overcome in order to be successful. This is a great activity for all grades, 1st-12th, and teaches STEM subjects like biology.
Compost in a Bottle
The Compost in a Bottle activity is a great way for kids to learn about the process of decomposition and how waste is handled in nature. This activity involves some outdoor components that can be done in a backyard or neighborhood, but most of it can be done indoors; you likely have all the materials already. This activity is great for grades 1-4 and involves little parent involvement. Students will learn about STEM subjects like biology and chemistry.
Plant/Not Plant Scavenger Hunt
Lots of things inside your home are made from the leaves, stems, fruits, and seeds of plants. Using this scavenger hunt, see if you can find all the items and determine if they are made from plants or non-plant materials. Ask an adult to help you find some of the items. When you're done, check back to see how many you got correct and what those items are made of! This is a great activity for grades 3-6 and teaches STEM topics like biology and chemistry, as well as reading comprehension.
Grow Your Own Seed
In this activity, we will do what nature does best: grow plants! Fortunately for us, all of the things that a plant needs to survive are readily available either within our home, or just outside. Students will learn about the science behind what plants need in order to germinate, as well as the difficulties that plants must overcome in order to be successful. This is a great activity for all grades, 1st-12th, and teaches STEM subjects like biology.
Make Your Own Compass and Map Out Your House!
This activity uses common household items to create a functioning compass which students will use to map out their home. Students will be made aware of the Earth’s magnetic field, and how animals use it to navigate around the globe. Younger students may need help, though the activity is appropriate for 1st-8th grade, and teaches STEM topics like physics and Earth science.
Water Cycle in a Jar
This is a great activity for kids to visualize the stages of the water cycle. This activity can easily be done indoors and only involves a jar with a lid, hot water, and ice cubes. This is a good activity for grades 4-8 and involves little parental involvement. Through this project, kids learn science subjects like chemistry and biology.
Strawberry DNA Extraction
This experiment is easier than you would think and will let your kids extract DNA! This is an indoor activity, and it’s likely you already have all the materials needed; kids will likely need parental supervision for this activity and is best for grader 4-12. This activity covers science topics like biology and chemistry.
Sticky Spider Web
This activity is a fun, active way for kids to learn about spider webs and predator-prey relationships. This is a great indoor activity and can provide hours of fun for young kids. After it’s set up, parental involvement is not necessary, and all you need is tape (painter’s tape works best) and balls of paper, newspaper, or other lightweight material. This is a great activity for younger kids, grade K-4. In addition to motor skills, this activity teaches kids about biology, specifically predator-prey relationships.
Salt Dough
If you need something that will keep your kids busy having fun and creating, make a batch of salt dough! This project is great for young kids, grades pre-K - 3rd grade, and requires little parental involvement after the dough is made. It’s a great indoor activity that involves a few simple ingredients. This project teaches kids about science through mixing the dough and creativity through whatever they decide to make out of it.
Regrow Food Waste - grow your own veggies!
Did you know you can regrow vegetables, fruits and herbs from their scraps! This is an easy fun at home project to reduce food waste and grow your own veggies, fruits, or herbs. Some can regrow inside and others require being potted or planted in a garden. It’s fun to do as a group or individually (with some adult or young adult's guidance). This is specifically designed for K-2nd graders but fun for all ages.
Create your own Environment
Students will have the opportunity to get creative and explore possibilities of different environments. They will be able to test their knowledge on surviving in the wild. Students will be able to think critically and apply their knowledge to a topic that interests them. They will be asked to think about all parts of their animal, shelter and environment to properly acknowledge everything it takes to survive in the wild. This activity is great for grades 3-5, and kids learn STEM topics like biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology, as well as art and social studies.
Balloon Rockets
This activity teaches kids how to make a balloon rocket, demonstrating concepts like gravity, force, and inertia. This activity is perfect for indoors, and requires limited parent supervision; this activity will work best for grades 3rd-9th, but can be altered to work well for other ages. The materials are common household items that can be reused to make several rockets. This project teaches kids about physics and engineering.
Tree Cookies
By observing annual rings of tree ‘cookies,’ or slices of a tree, we can learn about the tree’s growth. This is an indoor activity, but if there are tree stumps, what was left over after a tree was cut down, it can be down outdoors. Parent involvement is not necessary and you only need paper to complete this activity. This is a great activity for grades 3-8, and covers STEM topics like biology and forestry
Understanding our Watershed
In this activity, students will use a model to create their own watershed. Students will gain a better understanding of what a watershed is and how the water cycle works in real life. This is a great indoor activity and involves common household materials. Parent involvement is not necessary, and this activity is great for grades 1-5. Through this activity, kids will learn STEM topics like hydrology, geography, and geology.
This activity uses common household items to create a functioning compass which students will use to map out their home. Students will be made aware of the Earth’s magnetic field, and how animals use it to navigate around the globe. Younger students may need help, though the activity is appropriate for 1st-8th grade, and teaches STEM topics like physics and Earth science.
Water Cycle in a Jar
This is a great activity for kids to visualize the stages of the water cycle. This activity can easily be done indoors and only involves a jar with a lid, hot water, and ice cubes. This is a good activity for grades 4-8 and involves little parental involvement. Through this project, kids learn science subjects like chemistry and biology.
Strawberry DNA Extraction
This experiment is easier than you would think and will let your kids extract DNA! This is an indoor activity, and it’s likely you already have all the materials needed; kids will likely need parental supervision for this activity and is best for grader 4-12. This activity covers science topics like biology and chemistry.
Sticky Spider Web
This activity is a fun, active way for kids to learn about spider webs and predator-prey relationships. This is a great indoor activity and can provide hours of fun for young kids. After it’s set up, parental involvement is not necessary, and all you need is tape (painter’s tape works best) and balls of paper, newspaper, or other lightweight material. This is a great activity for younger kids, grade K-4. In addition to motor skills, this activity teaches kids about biology, specifically predator-prey relationships.
Salt Dough
If you need something that will keep your kids busy having fun and creating, make a batch of salt dough! This project is great for young kids, grades pre-K - 3rd grade, and requires little parental involvement after the dough is made. It’s a great indoor activity that involves a few simple ingredients. This project teaches kids about science through mixing the dough and creativity through whatever they decide to make out of it.
Regrow Food Waste - grow your own veggies!
Did you know you can regrow vegetables, fruits and herbs from their scraps! This is an easy fun at home project to reduce food waste and grow your own veggies, fruits, or herbs. Some can regrow inside and others require being potted or planted in a garden. It’s fun to do as a group or individually (with some adult or young adult's guidance). This is specifically designed for K-2nd graders but fun for all ages.
Create your own Environment
Students will have the opportunity to get creative and explore possibilities of different environments. They will be able to test their knowledge on surviving in the wild. Students will be able to think critically and apply their knowledge to a topic that interests them. They will be asked to think about all parts of their animal, shelter and environment to properly acknowledge everything it takes to survive in the wild. This activity is great for grades 3-5, and kids learn STEM topics like biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology, as well as art and social studies.
Balloon Rockets
This activity teaches kids how to make a balloon rocket, demonstrating concepts like gravity, force, and inertia. This activity is perfect for indoors, and requires limited parent supervision; this activity will work best for grades 3rd-9th, but can be altered to work well for other ages. The materials are common household items that can be reused to make several rockets. This project teaches kids about physics and engineering.
Tree Cookies
By observing annual rings of tree ‘cookies,’ or slices of a tree, we can learn about the tree’s growth. This is an indoor activity, but if there are tree stumps, what was left over after a tree was cut down, it can be down outdoors. Parent involvement is not necessary and you only need paper to complete this activity. This is a great activity for grades 3-8, and covers STEM topics like biology and forestry
Understanding our Watershed
In this activity, students will use a model to create their own watershed. Students will gain a better understanding of what a watershed is and how the water cycle works in real life. This is a great indoor activity and involves common household materials. Parent involvement is not necessary, and this activity is great for grades 1-5. Through this activity, kids will learn STEM topics like hydrology, geography, and geology.
Online Resources
- NASA Image and Video Library
- NASA e-Books
- Zooniverse
- Washoe County Library System
- PBS*
- PBS Kids
- NOVA PBS Official on YouTube*
- PBS Eons on YouTube
- NileRed on YouTube
- Mark Rober on YouTube
- SciShow on YouTube*
- Adam Savage's Tested*
- Instructables
- ProjectExplorer
- Discover the Fun of Backyard Geology
- Generation Genius
