Recently updated (March 1998), this book gives instructions for playing outdoor education games with children that are designed to increase awareness and understanding of the natural world by engaging children in fun and experiential activities. The activities are designed for a variety of ages (4 through early teens) group sizes and settings. Each activity is summarized by:

• Mood or tone: Calm/Experiential, Attentive/Observational, Reflective/Sharing or Energetic/Playful
• Concepts, attitudes and qualities it teaches: An example from one activity is that it helps teach attracting birds and develop empathy and patience
• When (season or time of day) and where to play
• Number of players needed
• Best age range
• Materials needed, if any

The activities are also indexed by what qualities and concepts they teach, environment that they can be best used in and the mood or tone they express. This makes it easier to find an appropriate activity for a given group or situation. In addition, the author provides on overview of how to successfully introduce children to nature, based on over 20 years of experience as an outdoor educator.

One activity in the book is called "Find Your Age". Children are asked to find a tree that is the same age as they are. This activity presents opportunities to learn about different tree species, their growth patterns and response to varying rainfall from year to year. The activity concludes with each child writing a brief note to "their" tree and sharing with others what they wrote and how they felt, cultivating empathy and appreciation for trees.

Scout groups, Maine Audubon and the AMC use the book. We have found several activities can be adapted to use with just one or two children, though many of the activities require small groups to be most effective.