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Discover the Forest

@discovertheforest

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We help families and educators find simple, fun ways to play + learn in nearby nature, building confidence, connection, and curiosity along the way.

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National Play Outside Day Is Tomorrow!⁠
The first Saturday of every month is National Play Outside Day. There's no official activity list and no right way to do it. Pick a park, a backyard, or even a driveway, and let your kids lead, but if you’re looking for some inspiration, Discover the Forest has over 70 activities to choose from.⁠
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DiscovertheForest.org⁠
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#DiscoverTheForest #ChildrenInNature⁠ by @discovertheforest

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3 days ago

Bear 89, known as Backpack, has been crowned the 2026 Fat Bear Week champion at Katmai National Park. Backpack got his nickname as a cub when he used to climb onto his mom's back when she swam across this river. His mom, Holly, was 2019 Fat Bear Week champion. Unlike the other big bears that fought for the best fishing spots on the river, Backpack remained cool, calm, and confident to eat his way to victory. Congratulations Backpack, Happy Hibernating!⁠
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Educators, you can still bring Fat Bear Week to the classroom with curated resources from the National Park Service to introduce extension topics that relate to the most anticipated week of the year! Check the link in bio for more information on all the bears, live cams, and educational resources. ⁠ by @discovertheforest

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3 days ago

A pumpkin is one of the most versatile props that will likely be sitting on your front steps soon! Roll it down a hill, weigh it, measure around it, guess how many seeds are inside before cutting it open, or paint it. There are so many possibilities! Make a day of visiting a pumpkin patch, bring a few home, and see how many ways you can play with it. 📸Nature Ninos Prescott⁠
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#DiscoverTheForest #ChildrenInNature⁠ by @discovertheforest

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5 days ago

A scavenger hunt is more than a game. It's a mindfulness exercise disguised as fun. Searching for a red leaf, a pinecone, or the perfect walking stick forces children to slow down and really look, tuning into small details they'd otherwise walk right past. That kind of focused attention is its own form of presence, the same skill mindfulness practices are built around, just wrapped in something a child actually wants to do. Save this fall list, head outside, and see how much you can find together.⁠
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#DiscoverTheForest #ChildrenInNature⁠ by @discovertheforest

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6 days ago

Although it’s still Fat Bear Week, this bear is quite different from the brown bears of Katmai National Forest. Woolly Bears are fuzzy, black and brown caterpillars that are easy to spot crossing sidewalks and trails this time of year as they search for a place to overwinter.⁠
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Folklore says the width of their brown band predicts how mild or harsh winter will be. Not exactly science, but a fun one for kids to test against the actual forecast.⁠
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#DiscovertheForest #ChildreninNature.⁠ by @discovertheforest

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7 days ago

A child who experiences nature early, and feels safe and welcome in it, tends to carry that comfort forward. That early sense of belonging outdoors is often what grows into a genuine desire to protect it later on. That's why this matters so much. The children spending time outside today will be the ones deciding how to protect it tomorrow. 📸 Appalachian Forest School⁠
#DiscovertheForest #ChildreninNature⁠ by @discovertheforest

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9 days ago

Saturday is National Public Lands Day, the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the country, and entrance fees are waived nationwide.⁠
This year's theme, Together for Tomorrow, is about exactly that, showing up alongside neighbors to clean up a trail, plant native species, or restore a shared space for the next generation to enjoy.⁠
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Can’t make it out this weekend? Many parks, forests, and nature centers run regular volunteer days throughout the year, trail cleanups, planting projects, invasive species removal.⁠
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#DiscoverTheForest #ChildrenInNature⁠ by @discovertheforest

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11 days ago

Catching a falling leaf takes more coordination than it looks like. This activity prompts kids to try to catch leaves drifting down on a breezy day, or toss one up and see if they can grab it before it hits the ground. Simple, seasonal, and a great way to sharpen hand-eye coordination. ⁠
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📸Cedarville Global Community School⁠
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#DiscoverTheForest #ChildrenInNature⁠
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⁠ by @discovertheforest

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12 days ago

Today marks the first day of fall! Fall is a great time to talk about seasonal changes. Ask your students if they've noticed the light outside starting to change. How many other changes can they name?📸 Dominique Bostic Arrington⁠
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#DiscoverTheForest #ChildrenInNature⁠
⁠ by @discovertheforest

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13 days ago

Move over football, it’s FAT BEAR WEEK! ⁠
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Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament celebrating the success of Brown bears preparing for winter hibernation in Katmai National Park. This is a single elimination tournament. For each match-up, vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies success. The bear with the most votes advances to the next round. Only one will be crowned Fat Bear Week champion.⁠
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Educators, you can bring Fat Bear Week to the classroom with curated resources from the National Park Service to introduce extension topics that relate to the most anticipated week of the year! Check the link in bio for more information on bear match-ups, voting, and educational resources. ⁠
⁠ by @discovertheforest

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14 days ago

Before you can spot a bird, you can usually hear one.⁠
Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds tool (linked in bio) lets you search birds by zip code, then listen to real recordings of their calls and songs right from your phone. Pick two or three common birds in your area and practice with your kids before your next walk. See how many you can identify by ear alone.⁠
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#DiscoverTheForest #ChildrenInNature⁠ by @discovertheforest

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16 days ago

In 1995, 31 gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, and what happened next surprised even scientists.⁠
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Elk started avoiding open areas, which let willow and aspen trees recover along riverbanks. Then the beavers returned and built dams creating habitat for otters, fish, and songbirds. Surprisingly, the reintroduction of the gray wolf changed the whole ecosystem of the park.⁠
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Writer George Monbiot explores this inspiring story in his 2013 TED Talk “For more wonder, rewild the world”- a great watch for older kids or curious adults.⁠
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#DiscoverTheForest #ChildrenInNature⁠
⁠ by @discovertheforest

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17 days ago