K – 3rd grade
The following websites offer additional resources for parents interested in engaging their children in various in-home projects. While most of these resources are free, some may require a membership or a fee for certain activities. We strongly recommend that you review these websites independently to ensure they meet your needs. If you have any feedback about the sites we have listed, please reach out to us at info@safeworldwide.org.
Citizen science for kids is about engaging with nature while helping to save it. It’s a great opportunity for kids to participate in hands-on activities that help the world, all while spending time outdoors.
Environmental education programs for youth provide structured learning experiences that develop ecological awareness, conservation skills, and sustainable practices in young people. These programs empower the next generation to address environmental challenges through hands-on experiences and real-world problem solving.
Habitat loss is a major threat to bird populations, with woodlands, grasslands, and coastal areas being replaced by housing, agriculture, and asphalt. This destroys nesting sites and reduces insect populations essential for birds’ survival.
The National Wildlife Federation and Wild Birds Unlimited Nature are inspiring communities to restore habitats by creating bird-friendly gardens. Join their Garden for Wildlife program to make a difference right in your own yard!
This collection of free toolkits, reports, infographics and advocacy tools is designed to help you or your organization connect children, families and communities to nature.
It can be scary and overwhelming to think about how the world will change due to the environmental crisis. Taking action can really help kids feel more in control and like a part of the environment around them.
From recycled crafts to eco-friendly swaps and more, we’ve gathered fun, educational, and impactful environmental activities that you can do at home.
This site provides a list of activities designed to spark your imagination and inspire a wide range of interests. Whether your family loves the great outdoors, embraces artistic pursuits, or delves into the world of science, this list has something for everyone. Each activity is carefully curated to offer not only fun but also educational value, encouraging learning through play.
My First is a less-known site that explores the importance of teaching kids about the environment, share sustainable practices for kids, provide exciting eco-friendly activities, and offer practical tips for raising environmentally conscious kids
A community garden is a wonderful way to bring people together while growing fresh, healthy food. Kids can ask their school, local library, or community center if there’s space to start a garden, then invite neighbors and classmates to help plant, water, and harvest vegetables or flowers. Some gardens even donate their extra produce to food banks or share it with neighbors who need it. It’s a hands-on way to learn about nature, teamwork, and taking care of your community’s shared spaces.
Wildlife centers take care of injured or orphaned animals, and they always need extra support to keep helping. Kids can host a bake sale, lemonade stand, or online fundraiser, or organize a “walk-a-thon” with friends and family to raise money for a wildlife rescue near them. You could also collect donated supplies the center needs, like towels, blankets, or pet food. Even a small donation can help feed, shelter, or heal an animal in need.
Recycling projects let kids turn everyday trash into something useful — or at least keep it out of landfills! You could start a recycling bin program at your school, organize a can and bottle drive to raise money for charity, or get creative and turn old materials into art, planters, or bird feeders. You might even research your town’s recycling rules and make a poster or flyer to help neighbors recycle correctly. Small habits, like rinsing containers or separating paper from plastic, add up to a big impact when a whole community joins in.
Setting up a booth at your local farmers market is a great way to get your whole neighborhood excited about helping the planet. You could raise money for a cause you care about — like a wildlife shelter, a tree-planting group, or a beach cleanup fund — by selling homemade crafts, lemonade, or baked goods. You could also use your booth to teach people about recycling, showing them fun facts or simple tips for sorting their trash the right way. It’s a great way to practice public speaking, teamwork, and making a real difference in your community.
Every year on the third Saturday of September, people around the world celebrate International Coastal Cleanup Day, and you can sign up with local groups in your community to join thousands of other volunteers picking up trash along the shore. But you don’t have to wait for that one day — cleanups can happen any time! Grab some gloves, trash bags, and a few friends, and organize your own cleanup day at a nearby river, stream, lake, or beach. It’s a fun way to hang out with friends while protecting fish, turtles, and birds from plastic and litter. Nationalcleanupday.
Planting trees is one of the easiest ways kids can help fight climate change and give animals a home. You can join organizations like SAFE Worldwide, One Tree Planted, or the Arbor Day Foundation, which often have kid-friendly volunteer days and even let you sponsor a tree from home. Or, team up with your family, neighbors, or scout troop to start your own mini tree-planting project in a local park, schoolyard, or empty lot (just ask permission first!). Every tree you plant helps clean the air, cool the planet, and grow into a home for birds and squirrels for years to come.
