DISCOVER THE FORESTACTIVITIESGET INVOLVEDSHARE THE FORESTFISHINGCAMPINGPLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Bird-watching is a fun and easy activity you and your family can do anywhere: in your backyard, on your way to the bus stop, or at a large national or state forest.
ACTIVITIES PAGE
We’ve put together a list of activities that have all the information you need to get started — including what to do, what to bring, and what activities are near you. RESOURCES - DISCOVER THE FOREST The USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network and partners bring nature learning to you through our series of webcasts, webinars, and online education resources. No matter where you are in the world, visit the LIVE programs for exciting, on-site learning about bats, butterflies, climate change, HIKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Play the rainbow hunt game. As you’re hiking, ask your children to find things in “rainbow order” (so, starting with red, then orange, yellow, etc). Feel free to include non-natural items (especially if you’re in a more urban area). You can either tell each other as you find CAMPING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Go backyard camping. If you and your kids aren’t quite ready to head off into the woods, try starting off with a night of camping in the backyard. Pitch a tent, and if you have a grill or fire pit, roast some marshmallows and hot dogs. Just like camping in the woods, be sure that you have plenty of bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, and water. WALKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Going for a walk can be an easy, fun way to get outdoors, get to know a local forest or trail, or just get to know the green spaces in your neighborhood.
IDENTIFYING TREES
Step 4. An easy way to distinguish between trees is by looking at the branching. If the leaves on each side of the branch grow directly opposite each other, it’s probably a maple, dogwood, ash, or chestnut tree. This is called “opposite branching” as opposed to “alternate branching” that occurs in PLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Agents of Discovery is free, and provides a great way for kids to get out and explore where they live. Download the free Agents of Discovery mobile app to turn screen time into green time. FISHING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Get your kids interested in fishing by creating a game of magnet fishing. You’ll need sticks for poles, magnets, paper clips, glue or tape, colorful construction paper, and string. Cut out your fish from the construction paper. Next, tie the magnet to the pole using the string. You should have at LEAVE NO TRACE
The best way to enjoy nature is to allow it to take its own course, without disturbing any part of the ecosystem. A good way to remember your role in the forest is to “take only photos, leave only footprints.”
DISCOVER THE FORESTACTIVITIESGET INVOLVEDSHARE THE FORESTFISHINGCAMPINGPLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Bird-watching is a fun and easy activity you and your family can do anywhere: in your backyard, on your way to the bus stop, or at a large national or state forest. ACTIVITIES PAGE
We’ve put together a list of activities that have all the information you need to get started — including what to do, what to bring, and what activities are near you. RESOURCES - DISCOVER THE FOREST The USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network and partners bring nature learning to you through our series of webcasts, webinars, and online education resources. No matter where you are in the world, visit the LIVE programs for exciting, on-site learning about bats, butterflies, climate change, HIKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Play the rainbow hunt game. As you’re hiking, ask your children to find things in “rainbow order” (so, starting with red, then orange, yellow, etc). Feel free to include non-natural items (especially if you’re in a more urban area). You can either tell each other as you find CAMPING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Go backyard camping. If you and your kids aren’t quite ready to head off into the woods, try starting off with a night of camping in the backyard. Pitch a tent, and if you have a grill or fire pit, roast some marshmallows and hot dogs. Just like camping in the woods, be sure that you have plenty of bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, and water. WALKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Going for a walk can be an easy, fun way to get outdoors, get to know a local forest or trail, or just get to know the green spaces in your neighborhood.
IDENTIFYING TREES
Step 4. An easy way to distinguish between trees is by looking at the branching. If the leaves on each side of the branch grow directly opposite each other, it’s probably a maple, dogwood, ash, or chestnut tree. This is called “opposite branching” as opposed to “alternate branching” that occurs in PLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Agents of Discovery is free, and provides a great way for kids to get out and explore where they live. Download the free Agents of Discovery mobile app to turn screen time into green time. FISHING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Get your kids interested in fishing by creating a game of magnet fishing. You’ll need sticks for poles, magnets, paper clips, glue or tape, colorful construction paper, and string. Cut out your fish from the construction paper. Next, tie the magnet to the pole using the string. You should have at LEAVE NO TRACE
The best way to enjoy nature is to allow it to take its own course, without disturbing any part of the ecosystem. A good way to remember your role in the forest is to “take only photos, leave only footprints.”
RESOURCES - DISCOVER THE FOREST The USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network and partners bring nature learning to you through our series of webcasts, webinars, and online education resources. No matter where you are in the world, visit the LIVE programs for exciting, on-site learning about bats, butterflies, climate change, CAMPING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Go backyard camping. If you and your kids aren’t quite ready to head off into the woods, try starting off with a night of camping in the backyard. Pitch a tent, and if you have a grill or fire pit, roast some marshmallows and hot dogs. Just like camping in the woods, be sure that you have plenty of bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, and water. DIGITAL STORYBOOK
Take your family on a visit for a day of adventure! To prepare to use the digital storybook, make sure you capture some photos of the landscape and your family enjoying the experience. ECOSYSTEM - DISCOVER THE FOREST An ecosystem is a natural system formed by a collection of live organisms, such as plants and animals, and the physical environment in which they live (such as rocks, soil, water, etc.). GAMES AND ACTIVITIES Agents of Discovery. Read more. Agents of Discovery is a gamified way to get kids active and engaged in the world around them. The app uses geo-triggered, augmented reality to encourage real-world exploration of the forest and its natural features. VOLUNTEERING
Step 5. Make a volunteering poster at home to keep track of the work you do. Let the kids add a sticker for each bag of trash they collect. While you’re out volunteering, you can keep track of your progress using a notepad or on your phone. CONTACT INFORMATION
General Questions If you have questions or comments regarding this website, contact us at webmaster@adcouncil.org and please specify that you are inquiring about www.discovertheforest.org.. Map Questions For questions or comments specific to information found on the “Locate A Park Near You” map, please contact feedback@naturefind.com.. Ad Council Information
STARGAZING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Make a stargazing flashlight. Looking at a white light after your eyes have adjusted to the dark will ruin your “night vision”, but looking at a red light will not. To make a “stargazing” flashlight, take a piece of red paper or cellophane and use it to cover the end of a white LEARNING ABOUT FOSSILS Follow these instructions to create your own fossil rocks, using small plastic dinosaur toys, flour, salt, coffee, and water. When you’re done, your kids will be able to “excavate” their dinosaur toys. Make it more challenging by taking the rocks to a local forest and hiding a
IDENTIFYING PLANTS
Make sure the leaves or flowers are free from insects or fungi. Place in the middle of a heavy book (you may want to pile a few books on top) and leave in a dry place for a week to two weeks. DISCOVER THE FORESTACTIVITIESGET INVOLVEDSHARE THE FORESTFISHINGCAMPINGPLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Bird-watching is a fun and easy activity you and your family can do anywhere: in your backyard, on your way to the bus stop, or at a large national or state forest. ACTIVITIES PAGE
We’ve put together a list of activities that have all the information you need to get started — including what to do, what to bring, and what activities are near you. RESOURCES - DISCOVER THE FOREST The USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network and partners bring nature learning to you through our series of webcasts, webinars, and online education resources. No matter where you are in the world, visit the LIVE programs for exciting, on-site learning about bats, butterflies, climate change, HIKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Play the rainbow hunt game. As you’re hiking, ask your children to find things in “rainbow order” (so, starting with red, then orange, yellow, etc). Feel free to include non-natural items (especially if you’re in a more urban area). You can either tell each other as you find CAMPING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Go backyard camping. If you and your kids aren’t quite ready to head off into the woods, try starting off with a night of camping in the backyard. Pitch a tent, and if you have a grill or fire pit, roast some marshmallows and hot dogs. Just like camping in the woods, be sure that you have plenty of bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, and water. WALKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Going for a walk can be an easy, fun way to get outdoors, get to know a local forest or trail, or just get to know the green spaces in your neighborhood.
IDENTIFYING TREES
Step 4. An easy way to distinguish between trees is by looking at the branching. If the leaves on each side of the branch grow directly opposite each other, it’s probably a maple, dogwood, ash, or chestnut tree. This is called “opposite branching” as opposed to “alternate branching” that occurs in PLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Agents of Discovery is free, and provides a great way for kids to get out and explore where they live. Download the free Agents of Discovery mobile app to turn screen time into green time. LEAVE NO TRACE
The best way to enjoy nature is to allow it to take its own course, without disturbing any part of the ecosystem. A good way to remember your role in the forest is to “take only photos, leave only footprints.”
IDENTIFYING PLANTS
Make sure the leaves or flowers are free from insects or fungi. Place in the middle of a heavy book (you may want to pile a few books on top) and leave in a dry place for a week to two weeks. DISCOVER THE FORESTACTIVITIESGET INVOLVEDSHARE THE FORESTFISHINGCAMPINGPLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Bird-watching is a fun and easy activity you and your family can do anywhere: in your backyard, on your way to the bus stop, or at a large national or state forest. ACTIVITIES PAGE
We’ve put together a list of activities that have all the information you need to get started — including what to do, what to bring, and what activities are near you. RESOURCES - DISCOVER THE FOREST The USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network and partners bring nature learning to you through our series of webcasts, webinars, and online education resources. No matter where you are in the world, visit the LIVE programs for exciting, on-site learning about bats, butterflies, climate change, HIKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Play the rainbow hunt game. As you’re hiking, ask your children to find things in “rainbow order” (so, starting with red, then orange, yellow, etc). Feel free to include non-natural items (especially if you’re in a more urban area). You can either tell each other as you find CAMPING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Go backyard camping. If you and your kids aren’t quite ready to head off into the woods, try starting off with a night of camping in the backyard. Pitch a tent, and if you have a grill or fire pit, roast some marshmallows and hot dogs. Just like camping in the woods, be sure that you have plenty of bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, and water. WALKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Going for a walk can be an easy, fun way to get outdoors, get to know a local forest or trail, or just get to know the green spaces in your neighborhood.
IDENTIFYING TREES
Step 4. An easy way to distinguish between trees is by looking at the branching. If the leaves on each side of the branch grow directly opposite each other, it’s probably a maple, dogwood, ash, or chestnut tree. This is called “opposite branching” as opposed to “alternate branching” that occurs in PLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Agents of Discovery is free, and provides a great way for kids to get out and explore where they live. Download the free Agents of Discovery mobile app to turn screen time into green time. LEAVE NO TRACE
The best way to enjoy nature is to allow it to take its own course, without disturbing any part of the ecosystem. A good way to remember your role in the forest is to “take only photos, leave only footprints.”
IDENTIFYING PLANTS
Make sure the leaves or flowers are free from insects or fungi. Place in the middle of a heavy book (you may want to pile a few books on top) and leave in a dry place for a week to two weeks. RESOURCES - DISCOVER THE FOREST The USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network and partners bring nature learning to you through our series of webcasts, webinars, and online education resources. No matter where you are in the world, visit the LIVE programs for exciting, on-site learning about bats, butterflies, climate change, DIGITAL STORYBOOK
Take your family on a visit for a day of adventure! To prepare to use the digital storybook, make sure you capture some photos of the landscape and your family enjoying the experience. ECOSYSTEM - DISCOVER THE FOREST An ecosystem is a natural system formed by a collection of live organisms, such as plants and animals, and the physical environment in which they live (such as rocks, soil, water, etc.). GEOCACHING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices and an app. Go on a scavenger hunt any time or anywhere. There are millions of geocaches hidden around the world. Download free Official Geocaching app and start finding them. IDENTIFYING PLANTS
Make sure the leaves or flowers are free from insects or fungi. Place in the middle of a heavy book (you may want to pile a few books on top) and leave in a dry place for a week to two weeks. VOLUNTEERING
Step 5. Make a volunteering poster at home to keep track of the work you do. Let the kids add a sticker for each bag of trash they collect. While you’re out volunteering, you can keep track of your progress using a notepad or on your phone. LEARNING ABOUT FOSSILS Follow these instructions to create your own fossil rocks, using small plastic dinosaur toys, flour, salt, coffee, and water. When you’re done, your kids will be able to “excavate” their dinosaur toys. Make it more challenging by taking the rocks to a local forest and hiding a
TRACKING WILDLIFE
How can you tell if deer live in a nearby park or forest? Where do the foxes and squirrels go to eat or drink? Tracking wildlife can help you get to know the animals near you. STARGAZING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Make a stargazing flashlight. Looking at a white light after your eyes have adjusted to the dark will ruin your “night vision”, but looking at a red light will not. To make a “stargazing” flashlight, take a piece of red paper or cellophane and use it to cover the end of a white BIRD-WATCHING
Bird-watching is a fun and easy activity you and your family can do anywhere: in your backyard, on your way to the bus stop, or at a large national or state forest. DISCOVER THE FORESTACTIVITIESGET INVOLVEDSHARE THE FORESTFISHINGCAMPINGPLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Bird-watching is a fun and easy activity you and your family can do anywhere: in your backyard, on your way to the bus stop, or at a large national or state forest. ACTIVITIES PAGE
We’ve put together a list of activities that have all the information you need to get started — including what to do, what to bring, and what activities are near you. RESOURCES - DISCOVER THE FOREST The USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network and partners bring nature learning to you through our series of webcasts, webinars, and online education resources. No matter where you are in the world, visit the LIVE programs for exciting, on-site learning about bats, butterflies, climate change, HIKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Play the rainbow hunt game. As you’re hiking, ask your children to find things in “rainbow order” (so, starting with red, then orange, yellow, etc). Feel free to include non-natural items (especially if you’re in a more urban area). You can either tell each other as you find CAMPING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Go backyard camping. If you and your kids aren’t quite ready to head off into the woods, try starting off with a night of camping in the backyard. Pitch a tent, and if you have a grill or fire pit, roast some marshmallows and hot dogs. Just like camping in the woods, be sure that you have plenty of bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, and water. WALKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Going for a walk can be an easy, fun way to get outdoors, get to know a local forest or trail, or just get to know the green spaces in your neighborhood.
PLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Agents of Discovery is free, and provides a great way for kids to get out and explore where they live. Download the free Agents of Discovery mobile app to turn screen time into green time. IDENTIFYING TREES
Step 4. An easy way to distinguish between trees is by looking at the branching. If the leaves on each side of the branch grow directly opposite each other, it’s probably a maple, dogwood, ash, or chestnut tree. This is called “opposite branching” as opposed to “alternate branching” that occurs in IDENTIFYING PLANTS
Make sure the leaves or flowers are free from insects or fungi. Place in the middle of a heavy book (you may want to pile a few books on top) and leave in a dry place for a week to two weeks. LEAVE NO TRACE
The best way to enjoy nature is to allow it to take its own course, without disturbing any part of the ecosystem. A good way to remember your role in the forest is to “take only photos, leave only footprints.”
DISCOVER THE FORESTACTIVITIESGET INVOLVEDSHARE THE FORESTFISHINGCAMPINGPLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Bird-watching is a fun and easy activity you and your family can do anywhere: in your backyard, on your way to the bus stop, or at a large national or state forest. ACTIVITIES PAGE
We’ve put together a list of activities that have all the information you need to get started — including what to do, what to bring, and what activities are near you. RESOURCES - DISCOVER THE FOREST The USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network and partners bring nature learning to you through our series of webcasts, webinars, and online education resources. No matter where you are in the world, visit the LIVE programs for exciting, on-site learning about bats, butterflies, climate change, HIKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Play the rainbow hunt game. As you’re hiking, ask your children to find things in “rainbow order” (so, starting with red, then orange, yellow, etc). Feel free to include non-natural items (especially if you’re in a more urban area). You can either tell each other as you find CAMPING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Go backyard camping. If you and your kids aren’t quite ready to head off into the woods, try starting off with a night of camping in the backyard. Pitch a tent, and if you have a grill or fire pit, roast some marshmallows and hot dogs. Just like camping in the woods, be sure that you have plenty of bug spray, sunscreen, snacks, and water. WALKING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Going for a walk can be an easy, fun way to get outdoors, get to know a local forest or trail, or just get to know the green spaces in your neighborhood.
PLAYING AGENTS OF DISCOVERY Agents of Discovery is free, and provides a great way for kids to get out and explore where they live. Download the free Agents of Discovery mobile app to turn screen time into green time. IDENTIFYING TREES
Step 4. An easy way to distinguish between trees is by looking at the branching. If the leaves on each side of the branch grow directly opposite each other, it’s probably a maple, dogwood, ash, or chestnut tree. This is called “opposite branching” as opposed to “alternate branching” that occurs in IDENTIFYING PLANTS
Make sure the leaves or flowers are free from insects or fungi. Place in the middle of a heavy book (you may want to pile a few books on top) and leave in a dry place for a week to two weeks. LEAVE NO TRACE
The best way to enjoy nature is to allow it to take its own course, without disturbing any part of the ecosystem. A good way to remember your role in the forest is to “take only photos, leave only footprints.”
RESOURCES - DISCOVER THE FOREST The USDA Forest Service, Prince William Network and partners bring nature learning to you through our series of webcasts, webinars, and online education resources. No matter where you are in the world, visit the LIVE programs for exciting, on-site learning about bats, butterflies, climate change, DIGITAL STORYBOOK
Take your family on a visit for a day of adventure! To prepare to use the digital storybook, make sure you capture some photos of the landscape and your family enjoying the experience. ECOSYSTEM - DISCOVER THE FOREST An ecosystem is a natural system formed by a collection of live organisms, such as plants and animals, and the physical environment in which they live (such as rocks, soil, water, etc.). GEOCACHING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices and an app. Go on a scavenger hunt any time or anywhere. There are millions of geocaches hidden around the world. Download free Official Geocaching app and start finding them. IDENTIFYING PLANTS
Make sure the leaves or flowers are free from insects or fungi. Place in the middle of a heavy book (you may want to pile a few books on top) and leave in a dry place for a week to two weeks. VOLUNTEERING
Step 5. Make a volunteering poster at home to keep track of the work you do. Let the kids add a sticker for each bag of trash they collect. While you’re out volunteering, you can keep track of your progress using a notepad or on your phone. LEARNING ABOUT FOSSILS Follow these instructions to create your own fossil rocks, using small plastic dinosaur toys, flour, salt, coffee, and water. When you’re done, your kids will be able to “excavate” their dinosaur toys. Make it more challenging by taking the rocks to a local forest and hiding a
TRACKING WILDLIFE
How can you tell if deer live in a nearby park or forest? Where do the foxes and squirrels go to eat or drink? Tracking wildlife can help you get to know the animals near you. STARGAZING - DISCOVER THE FOREST Make a stargazing flashlight. Looking at a white light after your eyes have adjusted to the dark will ruin your “night vision”, but looking at a red light will not. To make a “stargazing” flashlight, take a piece of red paper or cellophane and use it to cover the end of a white BIRD-WATCHING
Bird-watching is a fun and easy activity you and your family can do anywhere: in your backyard, on your way to the bus stop, or at a large national or state forest. Skip to content
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RECONNECT YOUR FAMILY WITH NATURE. DISCOVER A FOREST OR PARK NEAR YOU! Locate a forest or park within 15 Miles 25 Miles 50 Miles 75 Miles 100 Miles of Zip / Post Code Locate a Forest or Park Near You HomeGrady Avant
2019-07-09T19:11:16-05:00 FIND YOUR ADVENTURE
We’ve partnered with “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” to showcase the hidden wonders that await you and your family at a nearby park or forest.
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AGENTS OF DISCOVERY
As a part of the federal government’s Every Kid in a Park initiative, the U.S. Forest Service has partnered with the American Recreation Coalition to bring Agents of Discovery to 60 National Forests across the country. Agents of Discovery is a completely free app that uses the latest in augmented reality gaming to get kids active, engaged and learning in our public lands. Learn More
EVERY KID IN A PARK
Hey 4th graders! Visit www.everykidinapark.gov , do the activity, then download your free pass. This pass is good at 2,000+ federal lands and waters sites. Before you go, know the rules and confirm your preferred site is part of this program. Information Kit (67mb ZIP)
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DISCOVER A TRAIL
Discover the forests that are right in your neighborhood. Engage your senses, spend some quality family time and expand your imagination with activities, including some from PBS KIDS Plum Landing! Learn More
SHARE THE FOREST
The possibilities are endless for what you can do outside with your family. Try the Nature Next Door Challenge today. Start by searching for a forest or park near you .
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Use #DiscoverTheForest or #ForestFriday to share your photos from the Forest! See more experiences from the Forest About the Campaign -Partner Organizations -Contact -Privacy
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