Nature is full of tiny mysteries — and animal tracks are one of the coolest! Following footprints turns your backyard, park, or snowy path into a magical detective adventure. Kids get to notice details, ask questions, and feel like real explorers.
This is friluftsliv in action: slowing down, enjoying the outdoors, and letting curiosity lead the way.
You only need a few things!
Paper
Crayons or pencils
Sticks
Ruler (optional)
Magnifying glass (optional)
Mud, sand, or snow
Optional Level-Up: Homemade playdough
Look for Footprints
Head outside and let your eyes wander. Mud, sand, or snow is perfect for spotting tracks. Ask your child: “Who could have left these?”
Observe & Measure
Use a ruler, stick, or your hands to see how big the prints are and how far apart they are spaced. Notice details and think about how the animal moves.
Compare & Predict
Look at different tracks and guess which animal might have made them:
Bird: Tiny toes pointing forward, one back
Dog: Oval pads with claw marks
Cat: Oval pads, no claws showing
Deer: Two heart-shaped hooves
Rabbit: Two big back feet, two small front feet close together
Raccoon: Hand-shaped prints with five “fingers”
Can’t find tracks outside? No problem!
Bring the fun indoors with homemade playdough. Press toy animals, sticks, leaves, or even your hands into the dough to create your own track impressions.
A simple, natural recipe that uses things you already have at home — no need for store-bought materials.
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
½ cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar (optional)
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup water
Optional: food coloring or cocoa powder
Instructions:
Mix flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a saucepan.
Add water, oil, and coloring.
Heat gently until it thickens, then knead until smooth.
Store in an airtight container.
This playdough is non-toxic, reusable (if kept in an airtight container), and easy for small hands to mold.
Keep it simple. No pressure, no prep. Just you, your child, and nature.
The goal isn’t a perfect craft—it’s the experience of being outdoors, paying attention, and discovering the quiet traces of life around you.
A puddle becomes a classroom, a footprint becomes a story.
These activities are designed for family fun and learning. Parents, guardians, and other caretakers are responsible for supervising children at all times to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Bring your bird adventures to life with our My Bird Watch Journal! A printable one-page sheet for kids and families to record sightings, draw favorite birds, and note their songs — perfect for any season, backyard, or park.
Close your eyes and listen — nature is full of music if you know how to hear it! Birds calling, leaves rustling, bees buzzing, maybe even a frog croaking nearby. In this activity, kids become sound detectives, exploring how animals communicate and what those sounds can tell us.