I don’t know about you, but I always appreciate it when others scope out good gift ideas, because – less work for me! This year I’ve been gathering ideas based on things our family has used and loved over the past few years. We consider ourselves an outdoorsy, nature-loving family, and here are the things that we’ve either loved having, or that are on our wish list!
If you’re looking for a few nature-themed gifts for family members this year, save these ideas for the whole family!
Small Gifts + Stocking Stuffers
1. Constellation Playing Cards
Have fun playing cards and learn your night sky constellations at the same time.
2. Handheld Microscope for Kids
For younger children, this is a good little portable microscope to take in a hiking backpack or in the backyard. How fun to see the world up close!
This lovely little mini flower press is perfect to pack and take on the go.
Simple design and easy to use – just twist the top to attract birds wherever you are. We love bringing this on hikes and nature walks with us!
Take this mini water color palette on your next nature walk or adventure – it’s perfectly pocket sized!
6. Magnifying Bug Viewer for Kids
The perfect stocking stuffer idea for nature lovers. We like the the dual magnifier on this one.
A mini sun print kit for making beautiful nature prints using only sun and water.
8. Cavallini Papers and Co Vintage Zippered Pouch
The cutest little nature-inspired pouches for storing just about anything.
This little magnifying glass from Kikkerland is just the right size for taking on the go! We love the dual magnification.
10. Mini Nature Cross Stitch Kit
Great little cross stitch set for beginners; includes everything you need to get started.
11. Mini Notebooks
Cute little nature-inspired notebooks with a vintage flair.
12. Natural Bamboo Grass Whistle
Just insert a piece of grass, blow into the gap and you’ve got a musical instrument.
Nature Study Tools and Crafts
This is my #1 recommendation for family members looking for a “wow” gift for nature- or science-loving kids or grandkids. And it’s on sale right now!
We got this microscope at the beginning of this year and it’s gotten TONS of use. The best part is that you can remove the scope and use it directly on surfaces, or even outside. We love the screen and recording capabilities, too!
This is a great starter kit for your little rock hounds!
15. Origami Bugs Kit
A great starter kit for origami beginners!
16. Stargazing Kit
This small, portable device helps to quickly identify more than 1,500 stars visible to the naked eye.
17. Flower Press
We have this French Flower Press and love it. We use it all the time to press flowers and leaves – it works much better than a stack of books. It’s easy to use and I love the adjustable screws.
18. Butterfly Garden
If your kids love bugs, this kit is amazing! We’ve completed this butterfly life cycle several times, using this same kit from Insect Lore. Give the kit for the holidays, then use the vouchers that come with the kit to get your live caterpillars in the Spring. It’s amazing to watch your caterpillars form chrysalises, then transform into butterflies that you can release in your yard.
19. Beginning Wood Whittling/Carving Kit
We purchased this great little beginner’s carving kit for my 11-year-old last year and we love it! If you want to be super cautious, you can grab this protective finger tape as well.
20. Earth Paint Kit
Natural watercolor paints made with natural earth pigments – just add water!
21. My Little Museum Kit for Kids
A sweet little specimen box to inspire hands-on observation and exploration.
22. American Bird Calls Deluxe Set
Six handmade wooden instruments specially designed to mimic North American birds.
Your kids will have tons of fun building this bug hotel!
Hiking and Camping Gifts
24. Stanley Pour Over Camping Set
Make perfect coffee around the campfire and keep it hot while you drink it!
25. Kid’s Hiking Hydration Pack
My boys have used these for years. Great for kids who don’t want to carry large backpacks while hiking, and for when YOU don’t want to carry everyone’s water bottles. Smallish and lightweight. Pouches are big enough for snacks or a small lunch. We take these snowboarding, too!
These are the perfect size for kids to fill with little treasures from their adventures (think rocks, shells, etc.), or for packing small travel essentials like snacks, chapstick, a magnifier or a compass.
A great all-around multi-tool for those who love the outdoors. Includes a built-in 30x microscope, 8x telescope, fold-out magnifier, directional compass, flashlight, digital clock and emergency whistle. My oldest received this as a gift last year and loves it.
28. Camping Loveseat
How much more comfortable would camping be with this cozy loveseat?!
A compact compass that’s easy to use. Attach the lanyard to wear it around your neck.
30. Rumpl Puffy Portable Camping Blanket
This portable blanket rolls up small, so it’s great to bring camping or on winter outdoor adventures… we also keep ours in the car when the kids need some extra winter warmth!
The only water bottle you need for all your travels, hikes and adventures! Holds water AND filters it!
This little nature journal is perfect for bringing on the go. The paper is the perfect weight for colored pencils or light watercolors.
We like to take this little pencil roll with us for on-the-go nature journaling (it’s great for road trips and vacations, too!).
34. Bog Boots
The best boots for cold, wet days, or for nature walks near water. Insulated and waterproof!
High-resolution and shock proof, these hold up better than other mini binoculars.
Does someone in your family get a lot of furry visitors to their yard? This wildlife cam is a great gift idea!
37. Headlamp Beanie
Perfect for short winter days, and summer nights camping!
A great piece of gear to have if your kids like to get up close and personal with winter streams, puddles and mud. Waterproof waders let them frolic in the water, while keeping them totally dry and warm!
39. Ice Spikes
Year-round hiking becomes much more doable with these crampons.
40. Merino Wool Base Layers for the Family
Beat the cold with cozy merino base layers. Merino wool insulates and breathes.
These lightweight hiking shoes are perfect for day hikes. I wasn’t sold on barefoot shoes, but my husband got these boots for me (because he loves his) and now I don’t want to hike without them! They provide ankle support, traction and protection from gravel, while allowing your feet flexibility, proper toe splay and improved posture. (Size up 1-2 sizes)
Nature Games, Books + Puzzles and More
Beautiful and durable topography coasters crafted from sustainable poplar wood, with lots of states, parks and popular landmarks to choose from.
43. Butterfly Wings Matching Card Game
Match the upper sides and undersides of the wings of 25 butterflies around the world with this beautiful matching card game.
44. Vintage, Nature-Inspired Puzzles
These vintage puzzles from Cavallini Papers & Co are sturdy and beautiful. You can even frame them once you finish for a beautiful, vintage-inspired art piece.
45. Bird Call Field Guide Book
We’ve had this book for years and use it ALL the time. Keep it by an open window, and use it to help identify the birds visiting your backyard. (We have the Western one, make sure you get the correct guide for your region!)
46. National Parks Mystery Series
Page-turning adventure series for kids, featuring America’s most well-loved National Parks.
47. National Parks Scratch-Off Poster
We love scratching off each park as we visit them!
48. National Parks Coffee Table Book
The perfect coffee table book for those who love to adventure. We love the colorful photos in this book!
A cooperative board game for the whole family, where players work together to forage for plants and herbal remedies. We love playing this game together, and we’ve all learned so much about medicinal and edible plants through this game!
My favorite mug, makes sipping coffee or tea more cheerful!
51. CAMP Board Game
A great family trivia game for lovers of the outdoors. We love that the trivia questions are scaled based on age.
52. Bug Bingo
Or Bird Bingo Ocean Bingo, etc. A fun way to play your way to learning more about nature.
Match 25 tracks to their animal owners with this fun family game.
Packed with illustrations, quotes, photos and diagrams, this book is a plant-lover’s dream.
55. Art Forms in Nature Coffee Table Book
Beautiful nature prints for your coffee table or library.
**I am an affiliate of Amazon, which means I receive a small commission from purchases through product links (you don’t pay a penny more!), which helps keep this website going. I only write about things I’m truly passionate about, and products I actually recommend and use for our family.
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