Nature journaling at St. Mary Falls, Glacier National Park

This past summer my husband and daughter took a trip to the "Crown of the Continent." For the trip I put together some preschool worksheets that work great with any outdoor adventure. With this FREE printable you can do activities for map skills, senses, weather, and sequence. The best part is that I sized the sheets to fit in a small, 5x8 journal. They are ready to print, cut, and paste into a brand new outdoor journal - just for your kiddo!

Download the Nature Packet Here

The Packet

Nature Journal

These pages were designed to be downloaded, printed, and pasted in a notebook right away. That way your little one can take the worksheets on the trail with them. What better way to learn about nature than journaling in the great outdoors? Here's a quick run-down of what's in the packet:

Map Skills

Use the sample map to go over where North, South, East, & West are located. Have even more fun by finding a compass and lining up the worksheet with true North.

My Fives Senses

While you're on the trail, record what you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. Use the space to write or draw each item.

Wild Animals

Go over facts about wild animals. Circle the thumbs up or thumbs down, and start a discussion about how to act when you visit the wilderness.

Weather

Observe the weather during your camping trip or in your backyard. After each observation, draw a picture to record the weather you see, hear, or feel.

Going on a Bug Hunt

Take a hike! Whether you're on the trail or taking a journey through your neighborhood park, make sure to be as observative as possible. Each time you see one of the bugs make a tally mark.

Sequencing

How do you go fishing? Work on sequencing by correctly ordering the four pictures that depict fishing.

Pages 1 & 2 of the Nature Packet: Map and Compass Skills and Senses Worksheet

Our Nature Journal, the pages fit perfectly in this 5x8 notebook

Pages 3 & 4 of the Nature Packet: Animals and Weather Worksheets

National Parks Accordion Book

Eight different activity panels for your accordion book

National Parks hold the greatest natural treasures of the United States. This part of the packet was designed to introduce your little one to national parks. It's a great project for home, whether it's before or after your adventure.

The first page gives detailed instructions about how to construct the accordion book, and the next two pages include eight different panels of activities.

Activity Topics Include:

Theodore Roosevelt
Count the Parks
Protecting Endangered Species
Smokey the Bear
States with the most National Parks
U.S. Coins
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The Trip

Glacier National Park

Itinerary

Day 1

Drive from Bozeman, MT to Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
Lunch at Many Glacier Hotel
Boat Tour on Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine
Hike to Grinnell Lake (2.2 miles round-trip)
Return Boat Tour on Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine
Overnight at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn & Cabins

Day 2

Hike to St Mary Falls (3 miles round-trip)
Drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road
Ranger-led Activity: Butterfly Count & Hike
Dinner in Apgar Village
Swim in Lake McDonald
Overnight in West Glacier, MT

Nat Geo Maps 313, 314 & 315 cover Glacier National Park

Day 3

Hike to Rocky Point (2.5 miles round-trip)
Visit the Apgar Nature Center
Return to Bozeman, MT

Not only is Glacier National Park a natural wonder, it's also a great place for families. It has numerous activities geared for kids, including ranger-led programs and a nature center. You can also rent a kayak to paddle around the lakes, play on snow in the summer, and quickly access a number of short hikes that take you to some magical places. Finally, Glacier National Park and its sister park in Canada are designated an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), which makes it one of the best places in America to encourage your little astronomer.

One of the highlights of their 3-day adventure was the hike to St. Mary Falls. Our little one tucked her nature journal and compass under her arm as she ran down the trail. She was absolutely engrossed by the "bug hunt" worksheet. The simple hike quickly became a mission to make tally marks. Then, when we reached the waterfall, she sat and drew everything she could take-in on the "my five senses" worksheet. It might have been the first hike that she didn't ask to be carried to the finish. Nothing could interfere with her journal.

The nature packet we used on this trip was a tremendous tool for keeping our little one engaged in the outdoor experience and reinforce some basic takeaways about our nation's national park system.

The best part is that these lessons can be used in your backyard, at the park down the street, or on your next big adventure across the country. And if you can’t get outside, the packet works as a standalone or supplement for a trip to the library.

I hope you enjoy the resources. Feel free to print them out and share with friends.