Get Outdoors 4-H Challenge

September/October challenge

Florence Williams, author of the book "The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative," states that nature is in the top two to three triggers for awe. We don’t need to travel to the great unknown to experience awe, but the little moments we spend in nature observing, help us to recognize awe better. 

Find a place to sit outdoors and practice A.W.E.

• “A" for attention - focus your attention on something in front of you that you value, appreciate or find amazing. Notice it deeply. Let go of any other thought.
• "W" for wait - pause and be fully present. Soak it in. This isn’t about thinking. It’s about being here.
• "E" for exhale and expand - Take several deep breaths, lengthening the exhale to activitate the vagus nerve.

Simply spend 15-30 minutes outdoors observing the natural space around you practicing A.W.E., as described above. Use a nature journal and record what you see, hear, smell and feel. Creatively use a camera or phone to capture 10 images you see. Share your pictures with others!

Additional activities

• Get involved with the 4-H photography project to capture the natural world around you! Explore the National 4-H Photography curriculum to grow your skills.
• Become a Junior Park Naturalist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
• Take the free online Leave No Trace Course.
• For older youth and adults, read the research articles, "Self-Transcendent Experiences Early in Life: Children Appreciate Diverse Effects of Awe-Inspiri Experiences" and "Awe Sparks Prosociality in Children."
• Be part of research! The Offal Wildlife Watching project is a citizen science a research project with the University of Minnesota Extension. The purpose of their research is to better understand what and when Minnesota wildlife species use hunter-provided deer gut piles (also called offal) and to understand how offal a wildlife food webs. More information can be found on the Offal Wildlife Watching website or call 612-626-010.

November/December challenge

Choose one of the following

• Feed the birds - make simple pine cone feeders or fat balls to hang out for our feathered friends.
• Make a home for wildlife.
• Develop your own conservation project using available resources from the youth development curriculum library.

Additional activities

• Visit a state park for free on Nov. 24 and become a Junior Park Naturalist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
• Take the free online Leave No Trace Course.

January challenge

Winter provides so many new adventures - snowshoeing, skiing, ice fishing and more! Families tend to avoid going outside because of the cold and snow, but if you use the following tips, you can enjoy the outdoors this time of year.

Tips to keep safe while enjoying the winter season outdoors

• Ensure everyone has the proper gear and layers for activities.
• Choose locations where there are buildings to warm up throughout the day.
• Keep hydrated.
• Wear sunscreen and sunglasses on those sunny winter days to protect your face and eyes.
• Use hand and feet warmers for longer exposures to the outdoors.
• Check local parks and community education sites for rentals on winter gear, such as snowshoes and skis.

Make a family plan for getting outdoors this year. Use this simple lesson plan to start planning now.

Additional activities

• Visit Project Learning Tree’s Winter Break Family Adventure Calendar that is full of activities!
• Get out on a First Day Hike on Jan. 1 at participating Minnesota State Parks. In addition, National Park entrance fees are waived on Jan.15.
• Create a winter nature mandala.
• Take a kid ice fishing for free Jan. 13-15 2024.
• Explore the Minnesota Conservation Magazine’s Young Naturalist lessons and activities.
• Take the free online Leave No Trace Course.

February challenge

Author Michael Easter provides a prescription of nature needed for health benefits into a simple 20-5-3 ratio.

• 20 - We should have 20 minutes of weekly outdoor time, three times a week.
• 5 - We should spend at least five hours outdoors somewhere "semi-wild" every month.
• 3 - We should spend three days a year at a more remote location without distractions of technology, etc.

Get started this month on this 20-5-3 ratio challenge by going snowshoeing! Use the Preparing for a Winter Adventure lesson to make sure you are ready for the winter weather. Refer to the Snowshoeing lesson for safety tips, the history of snowshoes, etc. 

If you are new to snowshoeing, check out the Minnesota State Parks Snowshoe Rentals and Events page to rent snowshoes. Community education departments and local nature centers also sometimes rent snowshoes. Make sure to take pictures along the way!

Additional activities

• Create a winter nature mandala.
• Adults and older youth - Read "From the Sky to the Rivers, a reflection on the complicated relationship of nature and Black America," an article from the Nature Conservancy,
• Explore the Leave No Trace website and resources for taking care of the outdoors.

March challenge

Make a commitment as an individual, family or club to increase your time in outdoors spaces following the 20-5-3 ratio in February's challenge. It can be as easy as spending time in your yard, neighborhood or at a local park. 

Take a Spring Phenology Scavenger Hunt! Use this fun lesson on phenology and scavenger hunt to watch as spring unfolds this month.

Additional activities

• Learn how to ID trees in the winter.
• Watch the DNR Eagle Cam.
• Download the iNaturalist app to easily record and document the species and wildlife that you observe. Submissions to the iNaturalist community helps scientists to record data and observations around the world.
• Adults and older youth - Read "Five Benefits of Nature Journaling," by the New England Botanic Garden
• Explore the Project Learning Tree website for more resources.

April challenge

Make a nature journal and record five pages. Download the guide on creating a nature journal for help if needed.

Use the following journaling activities from How to Teach Nature Journaling from the Wild Wonder Foundation:

• I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of
• Comparison
• My secret plant
• To each its own
• Zoom in/Zoom out

Additional activities 

• Enjoy Free Minnesota State Park Days on April 22 - take your newly created journal and observe what you see!
• Celebrate Earth Day on April 22.
• Participate in City Nature Challenge. Explore nature around you and share your observations through iNaturalist.

May challenge

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, fishing provides physical activity and builds resiliency skills. So, grab a pole or some easy supplies, and get "hooked" on this month’s challenge options.

Choose one of the following to do this month

• Go fishing! The Minnesota Fishing Opener is May 9-10, 2025. Make sure to follow all state fishing regulations. Check out this map of water access points and public fishing piers to find a spot near you - no boat access.
• Take the pledge to protect Minnesota waters.
• Watch the how to video on pop can casting (YouTube) from MinnAqua Leader Guide and then give it a try!
• As a family or club, play the first 14 minutes of Grandpa, Can We Go Fishing video (YouTube) from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
  • Complete the following reflection after watching:
    • Why is catch a release important?
    • How do we know what places are safe to go fishing?
    • What skills are you excited to practice, now that we know more about fishing?
    • Make a plan to develop and practice more fishing skills.

Additional activities

• Check out the amazing MinnAqua curriculum for a ton of lessons and activities.
• Learn more about Minnesota aquatic invasive species and report any findings.
• Learn more about the 4-H fishing sports project. Start a 4-H fishing club in your local area!
• Explore additional lessons from the fishing day session plan from the Outdoor Skills and Stories Day Camp series.
• Check out this 4-H fishing curriculum from the 4-H Mall.  
• Volunteer with the Nature Conservatory in Le Sueur. Check out their work at Ottawa Bluffs.
• Make dandelion iced tea.

June challenge

Choose one of the following to do for your challenge this month

• Go camping for three days as a family or club.
• Set up a tent in your own backyard and sleep outside overnight.
• Create a tent of blankets in your home and make s’mores in the microwave.

Additional activities

• Find more information on Minnesota’s outdoor trails, parks and campsites at Minnesota Trails.
• Visit a Minnesota State Park for free on June 14, 2025.
• Participate in the National Wildlife Federation's Great American Campout, and take the Clean Earth Challenge.
• If camping is new to you, check out the book "Camping Basics, Adventure Skills Guide," by Johnny Molloy.
• Explore additional lessons from the camping day session plan from the Outdoor Skills and Stories Day Camp series.
• Make some delicious recipes from the books "Cooking on a Stick; Campfire Recipes for Kid" by Linda White or "The New Trailside Cookbook," by Kevin Callan and Margaret Howard.

July challenge

Hike 10 miles! This can be broken down into small chunks throughout the month. It is only .3 miles a day or 2.5 miles a week. Note: For increased accessibility, check out the DNR’s website for All-Terrain Track Chairs. In addition, many county and local
environmental learning centers and parks offer these chairs.

Additional activities

• Find more information on Minnesota’s outdoor trails, parks and campsites at Minnesota Trails.
• Join the MN DNR Hiking or Passport Clubs or the Minnesota Geocaching Association.
• Explore additional lessons from the hiking day session plan from the Outdoor Skills and Stories Day Camp series.
• Make a compass, first aid kit or decorate your own backpack using the hiking day skills lesson.
• Read more on tips for responsible hiking from the organization Tread Lightly.

August challenge

• Observe, identify and make a birding list of 10 species of birds. Use bird identification books or apps to aid in your identification skills.
  • Guides:
    • "Golden Field Guides, Birds of North America" by Chandler S. Robbins
    • Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine’s Bird Songs Interactive Picture
    • "Birds of Minnesota Field Guide" by Stan Tekiela
  • Apps:
    • Seek- by iNaturalist
    • eBird- similar to Seek, but focuses on birds
    • Merlin- includes a bird call feature

Additional activities

• Check out the bird lessons and activities in the youth development curriculum library, including make a pine cone bird feeder and develop more observation skills from the Backyard Bird lesson.
• Complete the birding self-study for children and youth from the 4-H Choose Your Outdoor Adventure online series!
  Explore additional lessons from the birding day session plan from the Outdoor Skills and Stories Day Camp series.
• Download more birding activities from Project Learning Tree’s website.