25 Family-Friendly Nature Activities for April

April falls within Djeran, the Noongar season of adulthood in the South West of WA, which often introduces some refreshingly cooler weather. It’s a glorious time to play outside, and to help you take full advantage, our team has developed a fabulous, family-friendly list of 25 nature activity ideas for April.

April is a wonderful month for outdoor adventures, whether you’re exploring parks, going on nature walks, or enjoying the simple pleasure of a picnic beneath the trees. Our list provides 25 activities that we think are just perfect for outdoor exploring at this time of year.

25 Nature Activity Ideas for April

Before you head off on your adventure, remember to check, and be prepared for, the weather – at Nature Play WA we believe there’s no bad weather, only bad clothes! You can also scroll down to the bottom of the article to download a printable version of this list.

1. Collect fallen leaves and make a nature crown.
2. Go on a bug hunt! What creepy crawlies can you find in your very own backyard or local park?
3. Create a cozy cubby in your backyard with bedsheets, thin rope and clothes pegs.
4. Fly a kite. The windier weather brings great gusts for kite-flying.
5. Visit the beach to build a sand castle or to take a brave dip in the ocean!
6. Blow and chase bubbles.
7. Use fallen leaves and sticks to make boats. Find a puddle or stream and test if they float!

8. Enjoy a family breakfast picnic at a local park or nature reserve.
9. Draw with chalk on the pavement or footpath.
10. Get out in the rain! Put on your boots and jacket and play outside. What does the rain look, feel and smell like?
11. Make and decorate mud pies.
12. Visit a stream, lake or river. Skip stones, spot tiny water insects, or race sticks or leaves.
13. Go on a family bushwalk. Check out Trails WA to find family-friendly trails.
14. Lie back on a blanket and watch the clouds. Can you see animals or other shapes? Tell a story about what you see as the clouds float across the sky.
15. Try bark rubbing. Take a sheet of paper and a few crayons on a walk and rub over the bark of all of the different trees you see, comparing the results.
16. Try growing your own vegetables, planting peas, carrots, onion, garlic, silverbeet or spinach.
17. Download our free Play Trails app and have fun with our Play Anywhere Trail. It features six interactive nature play activities that you can do anywhere.
18. Collect small loose parts such as leaves, petals, gum nuts and pebbles and arrange them to form a mandala or make a picture.

19. Explore a local park after it rains. Can you spot mushrooms, fungi or lichen?
20. Leaf hunt – hunt for leaves representing a “rainbow” of nature colours—brown, red, orange, yellow and green.
21. Visit an orchard or market garden to sample new season’s fruit.
22. Host a family puddle jumping competition – how big can you make your splash?
23. Find a tree to climb or a fallen log to balance along.
24. Collect five different sticks. Place them in order from longest to shortest.
25. Find a new park or playground to explore with our Play in WA Interactive Map.