Preschoolers, toddlers, and toddlers are always learning. When they look, touch, see and smell, they are learning. It is an endless part of their young lives. This fact of ‘learning’ is a big reason why it is important for children to experience new things and new environments.

As parents and teachers, there are a variety of places or activities that we can offer our children to learn.

Hiking or nature walks create wonderful outdoor activities for toddlers and preschoolers to learn new things. Excursions and nature walks, etc. They don’t have to be a nuisance, but they can be simple places where children can observe and learn new things.

Possible places of the Excursion where you can take your children or students:

*Police station: Children can learn about the police, what their role is in the community, as well as details about the work they do to enforce the law, etc.

*Fire station: Preschoolers and toddlers can learn about firefighters and the details of their jobs. They can learn about fire trucks, how they help pump water and how firefighters keep us all safe, plus learn about fire safety, etc.

*SPCA or Society for the Protection of Animals: Children learn about animals at animal shelters. They learn how important it is to respect and properly care for animals. They can also learn about duties at the animal shelter, etc. As a group, you may be able to walk a few dogs or play with a few small animals.

*Nursing Home or Retirement House: Preschoolers and young children learn to respect the elderly and infirm. They are able to talk and socialize with the residents and put a smile on many of the faces of those confined to these homes for the elderly. This is a positive rewarding experience for everyone.

* Library: Children can learn about all books. They learn why libraries are important, what librarians do, and maybe even read to them a few stories from the children’s book section.

* Greenhouse: Preschoolers can learn about what grows and can be grown in greenhouses. How greenhouses work throughout the year. How to take care of plants, flowers, trees, etc. They can also learn about the different colors found and the different smells.

* Zoo: Preschoolers and kids learn what zoos do, what keepers are and their job duties, and how they care for animals. Children can also learn about different animals native to their country and other countries. They can also learn about different kinds of animals like birds, reptiles, mammals, etc.

* Garden Park: Children can learn about landscaping, gardening, different types of plants, flowers, and shrubs. They can also learn about different colors and caring for the environment, etc.

* Splash Park (Water Park for children): Great for a hot day where the kids can play and have fun cooling off. Remember to ALWAYS use appropriate sunscreen and SUPERVISE children when they are out in the sun and near water.

* Paseo por el Bosque (nature walk): Children learn to observe nature. What they hear, what they see, smell, etc. They can collect leaves, pine cones, acorns, chestnuts, pine needles and other things that can be examined with magnifying glasses in classrooms as a science activity for children or use these things to create some type of art project with the children. (*Always stay on the trail unless you are familiar with different poisonous plants like poison ivy and other things that could make things unpleasant or unsafe for you and the children.)

* Conservation Area: Children can learn to care for lakes, rivers, swamps, marshes, etc. They also learn different species of trees, different types of animals that live in forests. They can learn about the animals that come in during the day and the ones that come out at night. There may be opportunities to learn about sap and maple syrup producing trees etc.

* Go to a place for children (work or author): Children can catch a children’s play or see a popular children’s author when they come to town to read a story or sing music.

* Safety Village: Children learn about safety. They learn why it is important to be safe and various things related to laws and following the rules and how they will benefit from following these things.

* Train station: Preschoolers love trains! They can learn about the trains, they can watch them arrive at the station. They may even be lucky enough to hear a whistle blow, speak to a train operator, or take a short ride on a train.

* Airport: Kids and preschoolers can see all the small planes (maybe the biggest ones) based on the size of the airport. They can learn about air traffic, how planes fly and how they communicate, etc. They may get to talk to a pilot or other workers and learn about their job duties.

* Grocery: Children can learn about different foods. They can learn about food groups, how food is shipped to stores, and learn about healthy food choices, etc.

* Pet Shop: Children and preschoolers love pets. A local pet store may welcome a little tour and show off some of their birds, cats, and puppies for the kids. They can learn about caring for animals and feeding them etc.

**The list of places for field trips and preschool learning is endless. Use your imagination to think outside the ‘box’.

These places usually have some sort of tour, can set up a tour, or would just welcome a visit from some toddlers or preschoolers who are eager to learn new things!

Outdoor activities and seasonal activities for children:

Different seasons and weather present different opportunities for excursions and outdoor activities for children.

For example:

Winter can allow for a different kind of nature hike or a trip to a conservation area to learn about maple syrup. Spring and fall can also create a different focus on outdoor activities.

Daylight saving time may allow more opportunities for recreational activities such as water parks, water parks; trips to the beaches or picnics, etc.

Preschoolers love these outdoor activities and excursions. They are always eager to learn about the things around them, learn more about the people that make up the community they live in, and learn about animals and nature.