Nature Explorer Pack

Lightweight and rubber-coated, 10 x 32 (magnification) National Geographic binoculars are a perfect observation tool for young nature explorers.

• Lightweight and compact
• 10x magnification
• 32mm lens diameter
• 315ft field of view at 1000 yards

Ethical Elements: Offered in partnership with National Geographic, with all proceeds going back into conservation efforts. Read more about our ethical policies & practices.

The Inside Scoop: We tested out numerous models over the years, and for the price, this is the best quality binoculars that we've found.

Get up close with nature with our 2-Way Nature Viewer! Place an object into the viewer and see the magnified image top & bottom (bottom view from the side). Learning about nature, including aquatic invertebrates, is fun, easy, and clear.

“The two-way nature viewer is the ideal tool for making close observations of living and non-living things both in the classroom and out in nature! My students come alive with wonder and curiosity when they use these magnifiers to observe rocks, sticks, flowers, insects and even aquatic invertebrates using this magnifier (it has a shallow lip that can contain water). It is durable, easy to pack up and bring along on our learning adventures!” – Teacher, Rocky Mountain School District

Take a Walk on The Wild Side!

A Walk in Nature Journal: Recordings of a Wild Child is a brand-new resource for children aged 6-12. But! A wild child exists in us all, regardless of age. So consider this a loose recommendation. 

Explore, learn, and grow in the great outdoors. Full of quotes, facts, writing prompts, and plenty of room to record sketches, field notes, and species observations, this nature journal, containing over 100 pages, is designed to get the imagination flowing. This journal is so much more than a workbook. It's a tool to establish strong connections to nature and each other. It's an investment into what matters most—the health of your wild child!

And, because nature nurtures children from all backgrounds, your wild child can record observations from 20 different walks on pages that are engaging and full of graphics that highlight the inclusivity of the outdoors.

With this journal, the structure of each walk remains the same, repeating over 4-pages. There is a page to record the date, location, weather, and general observations (I see, I smell, I hear, I feel). As well as pages to sketch, make field notes, and record a story about the walk. Each walk also features quotes, a multiple-choice question, and a writing prompt to encourage extended learning. 

Additional pages include:

• A letter to children, parents, and educators
• A place to record the name of the journal's owner
• A supply list
• Tips on wildlife safety
• And species observation logs for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants

Paying it forward! With this purchase, stewardship principles that protect the long-term health of the environment are passed along to a new generation. And 100% of proceeds from The Outdoor Learning Store go back to supporting outdoor learning non-profit initiatives.

So, what are you waiting for? Go wild, get outside, and record your nature observations!

Take your class on a tracks-and-traces wildlife scavenger hunt! This Animal Tracks & Traces Guide provides a beautiful simplified field reference to the tracks, signs, and scat of over 65 familiar North American species. It also features a ruler and is laminated to provide weather resistance.

This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species of beetles, bugs, spiders, flies, aquatic insects and everything in-between. It also identifies the differences between different types of invertebrates, the eight major groups of insects and tips on identifying species in the field. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information.

Ethical Elements: Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Read more about our ethical policies & practices.

The Inside Scoop: We have used these guides for decades with students of all ages. And a few years ago we worked with our partners in British Columbia to get these out to test them with 200 classes, and had great reviews!

This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects and other invertebrates, trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by naturalists of all ages.

Ethical Elements: Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Read more about our ethical policies & practices.

The Inside Scoop: We have used these guides for decades with students of all ages. And a few years ago we worked with our partners in British Columbia to get these out to test them with 200 classes, and had great reviews!

Standard mesh dip nets are perfect for collecting small fish, tadpoles, and aquatic invertebrates. This net features a rigid vinyl-coated twisted wire handle that can be bent if required. If blue nets aren't available due to high demand, we will send red nets instead unless you indicate otherwise in your order notes.

The Inside Scoop: We looked high and low for months for a basic aquatic dip net that was affordable and available in the quantities that we'd require. In the end, our friends at WildBC were able to direct us to a company that's in our area, and is great to work with!

Help your students focus in on the incredible world of the small! This 3x magnifier is large, durable and user-friendly for all ages. The magnifiers are sourced from a local supplier (see below). Read more about our ethical policies & practices.  Keep track of your magnifiers by adding a lanyard to make this a hands-free carry-and-go item for your students.

The Inside Scoop: It kills us to see those cheap plastic magnifiers that schools tend to use that get so scratched up. As a result, after months of looking for a magnifier that was durable, strong, scratch resistant and super user-friendly for all ages, we found one right under our noses! Our friends Jaye & Shelli carry this one at their local office supplies shop. And Jaye knows something about strength... he is a Canadian Paralympian for track cycling! Check him out here...

Lanyards are sold separately: 

1. We offer an Every Child Matters lanyard with a breakaway function. These are designed by Strong Nations in collaboration with Algonquin artist Don Bonner. It features the message "Every Child Matters" and a feather design.
2. We also offer an Explore Your World lanyard with a ‘breakaway’ function is made from organic cotton, so have been grown without pesticides from plants that have not been genetically modified. They are exceptionally soft and 100 percent biodegradable.

This lanyard with a 'breakaway' function is made from organic cotton, so have been grown without pesticides from plants that have not been genetically modified. They are exceptionally soft and 100 percent biodegradable.

They feature outdoor learning images and sayings such as 'Explore Your World' and can be paired with our handheld field magnifier.

These lightweight & affordable backpacks allow each student to store & transport their outdoor learning equipment & resources. The size of main pouch is 45cm high x 32.5cm wide x 25cm deep. Straps can be manually adjusted for length. They are suitable for grades 3+ (including teachers!) but can be adjusted to make shorter for younger/smaller students.

Care Instructions: Hand wash in cold water with like colors. Hang or lay flat to dry only. Do not machine wash, do not machine / tumble dry. Do not bleach.

Ethical Elements: Made from recycled pop bottles, and sourced for a socially ethical supplier. Read more about our ethical policies & practices.

The Inside Scoop: After looking at dozens of options, this one rose to the surface as one that was affordable, modelled sustainable practices, fit a variety of ages, and have an adequate volume. And we were very pleased to work with a company that has very high ethical standards to source this!

Are your Basic Backpack straps a little long for the little ones? Never fear! The straps are incredibly easy to adjust! Watch how below!