The Wonder of Nature

Name and Purpose

• The Wonder of Nature invites players to slow down and notice the living world around them.
• Players practise observation, curiosity, and environmental literacy through hands-on discovery.

a.k.a.

• Nature Hunt, Sense Safari, Field Discovery

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 8-30 players | 20-40 minutes | Outdoor area with open fields and natural or wooded edges

Materials

• Nature prompt cards or a printed list (one per player or pair)
• Pencils
• Field journals or notepads (optional)
• Clearly marked boundaries (cones, rope, or natural landmarks)

Quick-Run Card

1. Set clear boundaries and show players the gathering spot at the centre.
2. Read out one prompt. Give players 2 minutes to explore and respond.
3. Call everyone back to the centre to share what they found.
4. Discuss together, then read the next prompt.
5. Close with the debrief questions.

Setup and Boundaries

• Walk the area beforehand and mark boundaries with cones or natural landmarks.
• Signal: 1 long whistle = gather at the centre now.
• Identify any hazards: uneven ground, water edges, wildlife, poison ivy.
• Staff should know the area before leading the activity.

How to Play

1. Gather the group at the centre of the play area. Explain the boundaries and the gather signal.
2. Read the first prompt aloud. Players have 2 minutes to explore solo, in pairs, or in small groups.
3. On the signal, everyone returns to the centre.
4. Each player or pair shares what they found. Celebrate every answer. There is no wrong discovery.
5. Discuss briefly, then read the next prompt.
6. Repeat for as many prompts as time allows. You do not need to use all 15.

Prompt List

1. Count something so that you know more about it after counting than you did before.
2. Find something that is: hard and something that is soft. Big and small. High and low. Living and not living.
3. Find a place where water has washed away the soil.
4. Find an object with a geometric shape. How does that shape connect to what it does?
5. Find a sound that makes you feel calm. Find a sound that surprises you.
6. Find an unpleasant smell and a pleasant one. What might cause the difference?
7. Find something that is changing. What is it changing into?
8. Find something that feels powerful. What makes it powerful?
9. Find the oldest thing you can. How might you guess its age?
10. Find something with the texture of: smooth, rough, slippery, or shiny.
11. Find a change that seems predictable. What pattern do you notice?
12. Find the highest thing and the lowest thing within boundaries.
13. Find a natural object with five parts.
14. Find an object with at least four colours.
15. Find an object from outside this natural space. Imagine a new use for it here.

I-OPt Options

• Start: A (explore independently), S (pair up with someone who wants company), Q (walk slowly and observe), O (watch the first round, then join)
• Mid: A (find as many examples as possible), S (help a partner find something), Q (sit and observe from one spot), O (sketch or note what others find)
• Late: A (tackle the trickier prompts), S (share your finds with the group), Q (reflect quietly before the gather), O (help call time for each round)
• End: A (choose a favourite prompt for the debrief), S (help gather the group), Q (share one quiet observation), O (listen and add one thing)

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players with mobility differences can stay at the centre gathering spot and share observations with returning explorers.
• Pair-up option available for every prompt so no one explores alone unless they want to.

Stewardship Moment

• Prompt 15 (bringing an outside object into the natural space) should end with returning that object to where it came from.
• Reflection: “What did you notice about this space that you hadn’t noticed before arriving?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “We’re heading into a natural space. For those not comfortable exploring solo, partnering up is always an option. Stay within the boundaries and listen for the gather signal.”
• Mid-game check: After 2-3 rounds, pause. “Is everyone finding the pace okay? Thumbs up, sideways, or down.”
• Opt-out/re-entry: Any player can wait at the centre gathering spot and share observations when others return. Raise a hand to signal you’d like to stay put.

Risks and Mitigation

• Players drifting out of bounds: walk the boundary at the start and reinforce with the signal.
• Wildlife encounter: staff brief players before the activity on local hazards (bees, poison ivy, uneven ground).
• Prompt 7 (“something that makes you sad”): staff should be ready for emotional responses. Validate all feelings and steer to the group share with warmth.

Warm-Up Suggestions

• Sit Spot: players find a spot within 5 metres and sit silently for 60 seconds, then share one thing they noticed.
• Sense Count: standing together, players call out one thing they can see, hear, smell, and feel right now.

Debrief Questions

• What? “What was the most surprising thing you found or noticed?”
• So What? “What does this tell you about how carefully we usually pay attention to nature?”
• Now What? “What is one thing you will notice differently the next time you are outside?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Return any collected objects to where they were found.
• Collect pencils and prompt cards.
• 60-second sweep: each person picks up one piece of litter if any is found.