A Simple Summer Holiday Outdoor Activity for Families
Looking for a calm, creative summer holiday activity to help your child get outdoors? A Summer Nature Journal is a simple way for children to notice nature, explore local spaces, draw, write, collect memories and spend more time outside during the school holidays. Do you feel a little overwhelmed or hit hurdles when it comes to actually getting your children outside? Try reading our parents’ guide: How to Get Your Children Outdoors.
This activity is perfect for gardens, parks, walks, picnics, holidays, local green spaces or even a quiet moment on the doorstep. You do not need to be an outdoorsy family or have lots of equipment — just a few minutes, a notebook and a little curiosity.
Inside The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club, families can find ready-made summer outdoor activities, nature journal prompts and holiday ideas to help children enjoy more fresh air, creativity and connection with nature.
You can start today with a 60-day free trial.
To find the full catalogue of outdoor activities for families, head to the Parents Hub.
New to nature journaling? Start here
A nature journal is simply a place where children record what they notice outdoors.
They might:
- Draw flowers, leaves, bugs or clouds
- Write about what they can see, hear, smell and feel
- Stick in leaves or petals
- Make weather notes
- Record birds, insects or animals
- Write summer memories
- Create maps of walks or gardens
- Make lists of things they find
It does not need to be neat. It does not need to look perfect. It is not about spelling, handwriting or producing beautiful work. It is about helping children slow down, notice the world and enjoy being outside.
If your child is reluctant to write, they can draw, tick, colour, photograph, collect or talk instead.
Try this today
The 5-Minute Summer Nature Page
If you only do one thing today, try this.
Take a notebook or piece of paper outside and ask your child to complete one simple page:
Today I noticed:
Something yellow:
Something moving:
Something soft:
Something noisy:
Something that made me smile:
Time: 5–10 minutes
Prep: Very low
Where: Garden, park, walk, beach, woodland, local green space or doorstep
Best for: EYFS, KS1, KS2 and SEND children
Why it works: It gives children a gentle reason to go outside without feeling like a big activity.
This is ideal for a quiet summer morning, after lunch, before bedtime or as a screen break.
Why a Summer Nature Journal is a brilliant holiday activity
The summer holidays can feel long, expensive and hard to fill. A nature journal gives children something simple and meaningful to return to again and again.
It can help children:
- Get outside more often
- Slow down and notice nature
- Build confidence with drawing and writing
- Practise observation skills
- Reduce screen time gently
- Develop independence
- Support wellbeing and calm
- Create a keepsake of the summer holidays
- Explore gardens and local spaces in a new way
It is also low-cost. You can use a notebook, scrap paper, a clipboard, a folder, recycled card or printed journal pages.
What can children put in a Summer Nature Journal?
Children can add anything that helps them remember and explore the summer.
They could include:
- Drawings of flowers
- Leaf rubbings
- Weather records
- Bug spotting pages
- Bird watching notes
- Cloud drawings
- Nature treasure lists
- Colour hunts
- Maps of walks
- Favourite outdoor memories
- Pressed flowers
- Photos from days out
- Stickers or labels
- Poems or short sentences
- “I wonder…” questions
You can keep it very simple. One page every few days is enough.
Summer Nature Journal idea
Summer Colour Hunt Page
Ask your child to look for summer colours outdoors.
They could find:
- Something yellow
- Something green
- Something pink
- Something brown
- Something white
- Something blue
- Something orange
Then they can draw or write what they found.
For example:
Yellow – buttercup
Green – grass
Pink – flower
Brown – stick
White – cloud
Blue – sky
Orange – butterfly
This works beautifully in gardens, parks, meadows, woodland walks or on holiday.
SEND-friendly nature journal ideas
A Summer Nature Journal can work really well for SEND children because it can be calm, flexible and child-led.
If your child finds writing difficult, try:
- Drawing instead of writing
- Taking photos
- Using stickers
- Ticking boxes
- Colouring simple prompts
- Collecting leaves or petals
- Talking while an adult scribes
- Using symbols or visuals
- Recording voice notes
- Making one tiny observation at a time
If your child becomes overwhelmed outdoors, keep the journal predictable.
Try using the same format each time:
- Look
- Choose one thing
- Draw or record it
- Share it
- Finish
This makes the activity feel safe and manageable.
What if my child does not want to do a nature journal?
That is okay. Do not make it feel like schoolwork.
Try changing the wording.
Instead of saying:
“Let’s do your nature journal.”
Try:
“Can you help me find something strange outside?”
“Shall we make a summer scrapbook?”
“Let’s draw one thing before we go back in.”
“Can you take a photo of the best thing you see?”
“Shall we make a bug detective page?”
“Let’s make a memory book of the summer.”
Some children prefer a mission, a role or a challenge rather than an open-ended journal.
You could make them:
- Nature detective
- Bug expert
- Weather reporter
- Flower photographer
- Cloud watcher
- Leaf collector
- Map maker
This makes the activity feel more playful.
Nature journal ideas for children of different ages
Toddlers and preschoolers
Keep it sensory and simple.
Try:
- Finger painting nature colours
- Sticking leaves
- Making marks with mud
- Drawing circles for flowers
- Choosing one nature treasure
- Saying what they can see
Adults can write down their words.
Primary-aged children
Give them simple prompts.
Try:
- Draw what you noticed today
- Write three outdoor words
- Make a summer nature list
- Create a bug spotting page
- Record the weather
- Draw your favourite flower
Older children
Give them more independence.
Try:
- Nature photography
- Poetry outdoors
- Map making
- Weather tracking
- Bird or insect research
- Sketching in detail
- Writing a summer reflection
Let them make it personal rather than babyish.
Garden nature journal ideas
You do not need to travel anywhere. A garden, yard or doorstep can be enough.
Children can journal:
- What grows in the garden
- What insects visit
- How the sky changes
- What birds they hear
- Which flowers open or close
- What happens after rain
- Shadows at different times of day
- The same plant each week
- A mini beast hunt
- A favourite outdoor spot
Even a tiny outdoor space can become interesting when children are encouraged to look closely.
To find the full catalogue of outdoor activities for families, head to the Parents Hub.
Nature journal ideas for walks and local spaces
Take the journal on a walk and record one thing from the journey.
Try:
- A leaf from the walk
- A map of the route
- A rubbing from tree bark
- A drawing of a flower
- A list of sounds
- A cloud sketch
- A tally of birds seen
- A picture of the biggest tree
- A note about the weather
- One sentence about how the walk felt
This is a lovely way to make ordinary walks feel more purposeful.
Print this handbook to have something to refer to with outdoor tips for your children of all ages: Outdoor Activities Handbook for Parents.
Summer holiday nature journal routine
A nature journal works best when it becomes a gentle routine, not a big project.
Try this simple weekly rhythm:
Monday: Colour hunt
Find and record summer colours.
Tuesday: Bug watch
Look for insects, spiders, worms or butterflies.
Wednesday: Weather page
Draw the sky and record the temperature or weather.
Thursday: Leaf or flower page
Draw, rub or stick a nature treasure.
Friday: Outdoor memory
Record one thing you enjoyed outside this week.
You do not have to do it every day. Choose the days that work for your family.
Want ready-made summer outdoor activities?
The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club helps busy parents and educators find simple, ready-to-use outdoor ideas for children.
Inside, you can explore:
- Summer holiday outdoor activities
- Nature journal prompts
- Garden play ideas
- SEND-friendly outdoor activities
- Weekend family ideas
- Outdoor wellbeing activities
- Low-prep nature ideas
- Seasonal learning resources
You can start today with a 60-day free trial.
Parent resources to explore next
You may also like:
- Beginner’s Guide to Getting Your Kids Outdoors
- Summer holiday outdoor activity ideas
- Garden activities for children
- Nature walks for children
- Outdoor ideas for SEND children
- Rainy day outdoor play ideas
- Outdoor activities for children who love screens
- Low-cost outdoor activities for families
- Weekend outdoor itineraries
- Nature crafts for kids
FAQs
What is a Summer Nature Journal for kids?
A Summer Nature Journal is a simple notebook, scrapbook or printable activity where children record what they notice outdoors during the summer holidays. They can draw, write, stick, collect, colour, photograph or make lists about nature.
How do I start a nature journal with my child?
Start with one easy page. Ask your child to draw or record one thing they can see outside. Keep it short, relaxed and fun. A five-minute nature journal activity is enough to begin.
What should children write in a nature journal?
Children can write about the weather, flowers, insects, birds, trees, colours, sounds, walks, outdoor memories or things they wonder about. They can also draw or use photos if writing feels difficult.
Is nature journaling good for children?
Yes. Nature journaling can support observation, creativity, wellbeing, writing, drawing, confidence, curiosity and outdoor time. It is also a calm activity for the school holidays.
Can SEND children use a nature journal?
Yes. Nature journals can be adapted for SEND children by using visuals, drawing, photos, stickers, tick boxes, adult scribing, sensory prompts or very short activities. The journal does not need to involve lots of writing.
What age is a Summer Nature Journal suitable for?
A Summer Nature Journal can work for toddlers, preschoolers, primary-aged children and older children. Younger children may draw or stick things in, while older children may write, sketch, photograph or research what they find.
Do I need a garden to make a nature journal?
No. You can make a nature journal in a park, on a walk, at the beach, in woodland, at a picnic spot, on the school run or even from a doorstep or window. Nature can be found in many everyday places.
How often should children use a nature journal?
Children can use a nature journal daily, weekly or whenever they go outdoors. It should feel enjoyable, not like homework. Even one page a week can create a lovely summer keepsake.
What equipment do I need for a nature journal?
You only need paper or a notebook and something to draw or write with. Optional extras include crayons, pencils, glue, stickers, a clipboard, a camera, a magnifying glass or printed prompts.
How can I make nature journaling fun?
Make it playful. Turn your child into a bug detective, weather reporter, flower finder, colour hunter or nature photographer. Keep sessions short and let your child choose what they want to record.
Ready to make the summer holidays feel easier?
A Summer Nature Journal is a simple, low-cost way to help children get outside, slow down, notice nature and create a memory of their summer.
Inside The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club, you can find ready-made summer outdoor ideas, nature prompts and family-friendly activities to make outdoor time easier.
You can start today with a 60-day free trial today and help your child enjoy more outdoor moments this summer.
