Educate Outside Review: Outdoor Classroom Activity Ideas for Kids

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Inside: Educate Outside is an incredible platform offering hands-on outdoor classroom activity ideas for kids ages 4-12. With ready-made, easy-to-use lessons in math, science, and literacy, it’s perfect for homeschoolers, teachers, and co-ops. The activities require minimal prep, encourage teamwork and problem-solving, and foster a love for nature. As a busy homeschool mom, I love how simple it is to integrate outdoor learning into our routine, and my STEM-loving teen still finds the lessons engaging!

Have you ever noticed how much more focused and curious children become when they’re outdoors?

For Marc the great outdoors has always been his favorite classroom. From digging for earthworms to identifying plants with his great-grandfather, nature has fueled his curiosity and passion for learning. Now, at 13, that connection is still going strong, and I truly believe that by nurturing his relationship with nature, we created the perfect environment for his STEM giftedness to thrive.

As a parent, I’ve often wondered how to make these experiences even more meaningful, turning outdoor play into real learning.

When I came across Educate Outside, I knew I had to share it with you. It’s one of those resources I wish we had found sooner. The platform is full of outdoor learning activities that really help kids connect with their surroundings while building both academic skills and personal growth. From scavenger hunts that teach science to hands-on art projects with natural materials, Educate Outside is packed with ideas that make it easy to take learning outside without the hassle.

So let’s learn more about them, but first…

This is a sponsored post. I was given the product to review and I might have been compensated for my time. I would never endorse or recommend programs we wouldn’t use ourselves. Read more about it in my Disclosure.

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Why Outdoor Learning is Important

There’s a growing body of research showing the benefits of outdoor learning, especially for young children. Being outside not only boosts physical activity and health but is also a great way to enhance academic performance and critical thinking. Research has found that children who engage in outdoor play tend to develop problem-solving skills more naturally and gain a deeper understanding of science concepts through experiential learning.

A study published by the Porto Biomedical Journal emphasizes that

“Through play, the child can experiment, solve problems, think creatively, cooperate with others, etc., gaining a deeper knowledge about themselves and the world. From an early age, the possibility to experience several opportunities for unstructured play promotes positive self-esteem, autonomy, and confidence.”​

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6806863/

For Marc, outdoor learning has always fostered his natural curiosity. Early on, his time spent digging for earthworms or learning about ecosystems was an informal introduction to science lessons. Those early experiences blossomed into organized activities like scavenger hunts or bird-watching, which continue to challenge his critical thinking and boost his problem-solving abilities.

Outdoor learning is also an excellent opportunity for children to develop fine motor skills. Activities like creating art from natural materials or building with different objects improve hand-eye coordination and encourage creativity. When children engage in outdoor learning activities with others, they also enhance their communication skills and ability to work in groups.

On top of that, outdoor learning has a big impact on mental health. Getting outside—whether it’s in a local park or at school—gives kids a refreshing change of scenery, helping them focus better and stay more engaged with what they’re learning.

About Educate Outside- Outdoor Classroom Activity Ideas

Educate Outside is designed to make outdoor learning both fun and practical for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents. With resources aimed at children ages 4-12, they provide an incredible range of outdoor classroom activity ideas that blend nature with subjects like math, science, and literacy.

One of the best things about Educate Outside is that you can transform any outdoor space—a backyard, a local park, or even school grounds—into an engaging and interactive classroom. The activities are designed to keep kids active, curious, and connected to the natural world, all while boosting their academic growth.

The platform emphasizes experiential learning, where students gain knowledge by doing. Whether it’s exploring STEM concepts with hands-on challenges like the water filter activity or understanding natural processes through activities like the evaporation experiment, each lesson is built around using nature to explain real-world concepts. The use of natural materials like rocks, leaves, and other objects enhances creativity and encourages critical thinking.

Educate Outside offers something for every learner. They have structured lessons for younger children that focus on developing foundational skills, while older kids can take on more advanced challenges, such as investigating electrical conductivity or tracking weather patterns. Group-friendly activities are also a big part of the platform, promoting teamwork and communication, making it ideal for co-ops, after-school programs, or summer camps.

The best part? Everything is incredibly easy to use. With well-organized lessons that require minimal prep, parents and educators can simply pick an activity, head outdoors, and start learning. Educate Outside truly makes it easy to incorporate outdoor learning into everyday routines, no matter how busy you are.

What Educate Outside Offers

Educate Outside is a fantastic resource for not just homeschool families, but also schools and co-ops looking to integrate outdoor learning activities into their curriculum. Their activities make them perfect for a wide range of learning environments—whether you’re a parent looking for fun, hands-on projects or a teacher hoping to create a more engaging outdoor classroom experience.

Educate Outside covers a variety of subjects, making outdoor learning accessible for multiple areas of education:

• Math: Concepts like fractions, number bonds, symmetry, and coordinates are brought to life in outdoor settings, making abstract ideas more concrete for kids.
• English: Activities include spelling, creative writing, figurative language, and even poetry, with nature as the inspiration. Imagine having kids write stories surrounded by the very world they’re writing about!
• Science: The curriculum includes exciting lessons on living things, weather, the human body, and more—offering a real-world approach to learning about science through direct interaction with nature.

They even offer extras like scavenger hunts, wildflower guides, and insect ID guides that are tailored for kids in both North America and the UK. These activities are ideal for small groups, making them perfect for school settings or co-ops where kids can work together, building communication skills and teamwork while learning.

Pricing and Membership Options

Educate Outside offers a range of pricing options to suit individual families, schools, or co-op groups.

The membership plans are affordable, especially when you consider how much value they provide in terms of high-quality lesson plans and activities that are ready to use. Whether you’re teaching one child or a whole class, the resources are designed to make outdoor education both fun and educational without the need for extensive prep.

Test the Freebies

Here are some of our favorite freebies from their website, feel free to check these out for yourself:

Who Educate Outside is For

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably wondered how to make learning more meaningful for your kids—especially when they seem so much more engaged outside than inside. That’s where Educate Outside really shines. It’s not just for homeschoolers, it’s perfect for schools, co-ops, and really, anyone who wants to bring a bit of the outdoor magic into learning.

• Homeschool Families: I always tried to find creative ways to keep Marc engaged. Let’s face it, sitting at a desk all day isn’t the best way to learn for most kids, especially during elementary years. With Educate Outside, you don’t have to choose between getting them outside and getting schoolwork done—it combines both! The activities are perfect for taking the learning out of textbooks and into nature. Whether it’s a water race to understand gravity or exploring wildflower guides for a nature journal, kids can learn the same concepts they’d cover indoors, but in a way that excites them. If you’re a homeschool parent trying to keep learning fun, Educate Outside takes a lot of the pressure off by providing ready-made ideas that don’t require hours of planning.
• Schools and Teachers: For teachers in schools, I can see how Educate Outside would be such a breath of fresh air—literally! Moving the class outside, even for just a day, can make a huge difference in how students respond. I’ve noticed with Marc, his focus and engagement increase tenfold when we’re out in nature. For schools, it’s a great way to cover academic goals while giving kids the hands-on experience they crave. Whether it’s using school grounds to create an outdoor science lab or incorporating math lessons into a nature walk, Educate Outside helps teachers transform the regular classroom into something special. And the best part? It doesn’t require a huge shift—just a willingness to step outside.

• Co-ops and Learning Pods: If you’re part of a co-op or learning pod, you probably know how powerful it can be when kids work together. The activities on Educate Outside are great for group settings because they encourage teamwork and collaboration. Take their scavenger hunts or STEM challenges—they’re perfect for kids to work on as a team while learning at the same time. What I love most is that it’s not just about learning; it’s about building social skills and encouraging kids to communicate and problem-solve together. So, if you’re in a co-op, these activities make for an awesome group day outside.
• After-School Programs and Summer Camps: Honestly, the activities from Educate Outside are not just for school hours. After-school programs or even summer school can use their resources to keep kids learning in a way that’s fun and relaxed. Imagine kids participating in a STEM water filter challenge at summer camp—learning without it feeling like “school.” It’s the best of both worlds, where kids stay curious and engaged while they’re still having so much fun.
• Parents Looking for Enrichment: And even if you’re not a homeschooler, Educate Outside offers so many ways to make weekends or school breaks more enriching. If you’re the kind of parent who loves getting your kids outside but sometimes runs out of ideas (I’ve definitely been there!), their resources are a goldmine. You don’t have to plan a whole day out, either—simple things like nature crafts or scavenger hunts can easily turn an ordinary day at the local park into a mini adventure. It’s also great for sparking conversations about science concepts or problem-solving skills without your kids even realizing they’re learning.

Educate Outside makes it so easy to blend outdoor learning with everyday education. The best part? You can start small and grow from there—there are no limits to what the outdoors can offer.

Why We Love Educate Outside

There’s a lot to love about Educate Outside, but what really stands out to me is how seamlessly it fits into our lives. The activities are short, not overwhelming, and it’s incredibly well-organized, so you can easily find what you’re looking for—whether by topic, age, or subject.

Plus, there’s no need for parental prep, meaning even busy parents can simply print and go. As a working homeschool mom, I know how precious our time is. While Pinterest is full of ideas, it’s so easy to get sucked into a board that requires hours of prep and materials. Educate Outside eliminates that stress and lets you dive right into learning.

I’m constantly looking for ways to balance Marc’s advanced learning with the need to keep education hands-on and engaging. Even though Marc is a gifted teen in STEM, he still loves being outside, and Educate Outside provides activities that keep him excited and curious even if he’s at the upper age limit for this platform.

While Marc is already diving into more advanced science concepts, I can’t help but wish we had these resources when he was younger. The ready-made experiments and outdoor classroom activity ideas would have been perfect during those early years when he was first discovering his passion for science and nature. I remember how, at just 5 years old, Marc had his very own “weed patch” in our garden where he would replant any weeds we plucked. He was so passionate about saving them, and that early care for the environment has only grown over time. Now, at 13, he still enjoys activities that nurture his love for the planet—like the pollution investigation and save the weeds persuasive writing—both of which align perfectly with his budding passion for ecology.

Even today, when we head out on hikes or even on vacation, Marc always packs gloves and garbage bags to collect litter that others leave behind. It’s something I deeply admire about him, and Educate Outside is a fantastic resource for encouraging that same care for the planet in your kids. The curriculum fosters a deep connection to the environment while teaching practical skills—whether it’s exploring camouflage in nature or conducting a pollution investigation. It’s all about cultivating a sense of responsibility toward the world around us.

What I appreciate most is how adaptable these lessons are. While Marc is deep into complex topics like electrical conductivity or studying weather patterns, Educate Outside still offers activities like the human sundial or the camouflage hunt that engage his curiosity and challenge him in new ways. These activities give him the hands-on experience that keeps his love for learning alive, even in subjects like writing, where he doesn’t feel as confident.

Educate Outside also promotes life skills that go beyond the academic. Many of their activities are geared toward groups, making it ideal for collaborative learning environments like co-ops or even playdates. These group-focused activities foster teamwork, communication, and cooperation, allowing children to develop essential social skills while learning.

For us, Educate Outside makes outdoor learning accessible, effective, and most importantly—fun. Whether Marc is diving into science or working on his writing, it provides the structure I need without limiting his natural curiosity.

Final Thoughts

Educate Outside is such a refreshing way to combine learning with the real world. Whether you’re homeschooling, working in a classroom, or part of a co-op, the platform makes it so easy to add outdoor learning into the mix. For Marc, it’s been a perfect fit, especially as he digs into more advanced STEM concepts. The fact that he still enjoys these activities and that we can implement them—particularly in areas like writing, where he’s still growing—says a lot about how adaptable and engaging the lessons are.

But it’s not just about schoolwork. What really stands out to me is how Educate Outside encourages life skills that go beyond academics—things like teamwork, responsibility, and caring for the environment. It’s the kind of learning that sticks with kids long after the lesson is done. Plus, as a busy parent, I love that everything is organized and ready to go. No stress, no endless prep—just print and head outside.

If you’re looking for a simple, effective way to bring more outdoor learning into your child’s day, I can’t recommend Educate Outside enough. It’s about more than just ticking off lessons—it’s about sparking curiosity, building skills, and nurturing a genuine love for the world around us.

What’s one outdoor learning activity you’ve done with your kids that’s been a big hit? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

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