Essential Nature Study Tools for Kids
The Best Nature Study Tools for Kids (Our Tried & True Favorites)
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If you’ve ever tried to take your kids outside for nature study and realized you had no idea what tools you actually needed—you’re not alone.
I get asked all the time what nature learning tools we use in our nature school.
The truth? I’ve spent years testing tools—with my own kids and with large groups of kids in nature school.
These aren’t just cute ideas… these are the tools that actually hold up, get used, and make outdoor learning easier.Here are our absolute favorite nature study tools for kids 👇
Quick Shop: Our Favorite Nature StudyTools
Grab your essentials quickly
🔍 Magnifying Glass (our go-to for every hike)
🐟 Creek Nets (perfect for creek + pond exploring)
👜 Collection Bags (for all the treasures kids find)
🐞 Bug Collectors (easy, portable observation)
📓 Nature Journal (lightweight + kid-friendly)
🎨 Watercolor Set (compact + beautiful colors)
🔬 Digital Microscope (SO cool for close-up detail)
I will link all of our favorite nature study tools throughout the post!
What to look for in Nature Study Tools
Our tools go through a LOT—creek days, hikes, getting dropped, forgotten, dragged through mud… you name it 😅
So when I’m choosing tools, here’s what matters most:
✔ Easy to carry
If it’s bulky or heavy, it won’t get used. Period.
✔ Durable + good quality
I want tools that last—but I also know some things (like nets and magnifiers) will get lost, so I buy those in bulk.
✔ Easy for kids to use
If kids can’t use it independently, it’s not worth bringing. I do have just a few things that I use for more advanced studies or demonstrations.
Our Favorite Exploration Tools
🔍 Magnifying Glasses
We’ve gone through a LOT of these over the years, and these are my favorite.
Why we love them:
Two lenses for different magnification levels.
Durable. (huge win) These are made from a single piece of material so the handles aren't breaking and the glass doesn't fall out. I don't think I have had one break since we have been using them!
Lanyard makes them easier to keep track of and the magnifying glass easily snaps off if needed.
Downside: They’re clear… which means they disappear constantly 😂
🐟 Creek & Bug Nets
We use nets for EVERYTHING—creeking, pond dipping, catching insects, you name it.
For home use I really like these sturdier ones but they are harder to carry around and the holes are bigger so small invertebrates can slip through.
For nature school I buy this set in bulk that has telescopic handles so they are easy to carry around and they are annoyingly bright so they are hard to lose.
👉 Sturdy ones
👉 Bulk Class Set
👜 Collection Bags
My kids are constantly collecting treasures on hikes—rocks, leaves, feathers…
These mesh-style bags are PERFECT:
hold items securely
let dirt/sand fall through
lightweight
🐞 Bug Collectors
These are awesome for nature walks! I also use these in nature school since they are easy to use and very portable.
Why they’re great:
small + portable
built-in magnifying lid
perfect for quick observation
At home, we also use larger habitats when the kids want to observe insects longer. My daughter loves finding "hurt bugs" and keeping them in these habitats like her very own bug hospital. We have SOOOO many different styles of habitats. A lot of times we can find cool ones at Target in the Spring Dollar Spot.
🧭 Compass
We don’t use these every time, but it’s been SO fun lately.
We use it for:
learning directions
journaling
observations
even tracking wind direction
🎁 Want to Try Nature Study With Your Kids?
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👉 Grab my FREE Nature Adventures Made Simple Guide (Observation sheets + simple activities you can use right away)
Click the image to grab yours!
📓 Nature Journaling Supplies
We use nature journals ALL the time—both at home and in my Advanced Nature Journaling class. Now that my daughter is older our nature journals are part of our school. They can be used for science, writing, math, and art.
After a lot of trial and error, these items are our favorites:
📘 Nature Journals
We use:
small journals for hikes because they are much easier to carry.
large journals for detailed observations, data, and learning watercolor techniques.
🎨 Watercolor Set
I LOVE this set because:
beautiful, vibrant colors
Its small enough to carry around in our bag
includes tools like paintbrushes mixing palettes, and a sponge (less to carry!)
✏️ Watercolor Pencils
These are a GAME CHANGER.
easy to sketch + color match quickly
no waiting for paint to dry
you can add water later
💧 Water Brush Pens
Fill with water and go—no extra containers needed. These are awesome to have on hand and we have a couple always with us to use.
Perfect for:
hikes
creek days
spontaneous painting
🔬 Advanced Nature Tools (Optional but AMAZING)
These are not necessary—but SO fun if you have kids who love science and nature. I personally enjoy breaking these out. I do use them in my Advanced Nature School Class and the kids love it.
🔬 Digital Microscope
This thing is incredible. The above image is of a bees eye!
It is:
portable - it is lightweight and has a lanyard.
easy for kids to use- it just has a few buttons and a twist focus.
amazing detail - I was surprised with the amount of detail I could see with this.
We use it for:
leaves - you can see the plant cells
bark and wood
journaling close-up when we do our zoom in activities this is very helpful.
I also have this one that is just as good quality wise and has a stand so its easier for littles to focus. I like to use this one at nature school because it has a bigger screen so I can find something and the kids can all view it without disrupting the image.
I also have this one that is super lightweight and fits right in your pocket but it is a little more tricky to use.
🪵 Borescope
We just got this and have had a ton of fun using it to check on the vernal pools you. It has a light on the end so you can see really well underwater, check in tree holes for nests and look down burrow holes. Although I just know at some point something is gonna pop out 😀
🧫 High-Powered Microscope
If you are a science nerd like me this might be up your alley. I purchased this specifically for my advanced kids to look at pond water microorganisms and it was awesome! We were able to see and identify lots of creepy crawlies.
I have also used this to look at pollen and blood samples.
It's is not easy to carry at all but it can be used outside with batteries if you set up an area. We use a picnic table area.
I highly recommend this for more advanced students. The learning is endless.
You might also want some of the accessories to go along with it:
We purchased these as well:
- Accessory kit
- Slide kit
- A drop of water book
- Microscope lab book
🌧️ What We Wear for Nature Study
Because let’s be honest… kids will NOT enjoy nature if they’re uncomfortable and you won't enjoy it if they don't!
☔ Rain Suit
Lightweight + keeps kids dry!
We use this at home, on rainy soccer days etc. They are great.
I love ones that go over the boots because then you don't have to worry about water getting in boots when they are jumping around in that giant puddle. TRUST ME!!!
👢 Rain Boots
Everyone just needs a good pair of rain boots.
I like ones that are taller because then I can wade out into ponds or creeks without getting wet, but they are impossible to drive in so plan on changing into them later.
I also like to buy bright colored ones or light up ones for my kids. They stand out in the green and brown woods so I can find them quickly.
🩴 Waterproof Sandals
These are perfect for hot summer days or wading in a creek.
Boots tend to get really hot and uncomfortable if its super hot out.
I love these women's sandals because they are SOOOO comfortable I wear them every time I can because they keep my hips and back from hurting after a long day of hiking.
These are what I prefer for my kids.
🐜 Tick Gaiters / Tape
We tend to get a LOT of ticks on our farm so these tick gaiters are great. They have mesh holes which confuse the ticks and keep them from crawling on up your body.
🎒 Hiking Fanny Pack
My personal FAVORITE. I do not like to carry back packs myself but this one is perfect.
It holds:
a water bottle
my phone
a few snacks
a mini first aid kit
a small bug collector
and there are some mesh pockets where my kids like to put rocks they find! Of course.
Also, when my toddler inevitably decides he doesn't want to walk anymore it does provide a little bit of support for him while I carry him.
📚 Our Favorite Nature Study Books for Kids
We have several awesome books that we use for reference. We don't always carry them with us but they are awesome tools to have on hand.
Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman
Insect Anatomy by Julia Rothman
Wildlife Anatomy by Julia Rothman
We actually have everyone in this series and LOVE them but these are the ones we use most for nature based learning.
Exploring Nature
This one has a lot of cool activities!
Watercolor in Nature
This is a great book on watercolor technique!
On the Nature Trail
Bug Hunt
Bird Watch
Discovering Plants and Flowers
Another awesome series that is fun to take along as there is information and stickers when you find something. These are great beginner books.
I have a TON of other books we use and love over on my Nature School Essentials Storefront.
🌿 Simple Nature Study Tools Starter Kit
If you are just getting started on your nature learning journey don't feel overwhelmed you only need a handful of things to quickly make learning feel magical!
You can always add on later as you feel is needed!
These are the first things I would buy:
Magnifying glass
Small Nature Journal
Watercolor Pencils
and a collection bag
That's it! You can have so much fun with just those 4 things!
🎥 See These Nature Study Tools in Action
Follow along with our nature adventures on Tik Tok!
Ready to get started?
Check out my done for you nature curriculum.
