If you’ve visited Family Can Travel before, then you’ll know that we spend as much time as we can out in nature, being active and seeking out new hiking trails when we travel. Given how much time we spend outdoors with kids, we knew we had to put together this list of gifts for outdoorsy kids.
Outdoorsy kids like to play in mud, they like to pick up caterpillars and they like to explore in nature. Truth be told, our kids didn’t really have a choice but to become outdoorsy kids. We love everything about being outside with our kids; snowshoeing, skiing, biking or hiking with kids.
If your kids are anything like ours and could explore outside all day long, then we are certain you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect gift for your outdoorsy child within this list. We cover everything from outdoorsy gift ideas for kids who love animals to camping gift ideas for kids.
Best Gifts for Outdoorsy Kids
1. Walkie Talkies for Kids
The uses for walkie talkies are endless, especially for kids. From camping gift ideas for kids to just fun gift ideas for kids, walkie talkies will make any kids happy.
Kids who spend most of their time outside will love them on hikes or even for a fun game of hide and seek!
Here's another highly rated option for walkie talkies for kids on Amazon.
2. Slackline Hanging and Obstacle Course Set
Maybe we should have started with this one! If you are looking for one of the best gifts for outdoorsy kids, then here you go! This slackline and obstacle course will keep your kids playing outside for hours!
3. Books for Nature Loving Kids
Books are excellent outdoor gift ideas for kids. Not only do they love to play outside but they love to explore, learn and experiment. One to try is Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail: What Will You Find?.
Other fantastic books for outdoorsy kids are:
1. The Young Adventurer's Guide to (Almost) Everything
2. Exploring Nature Activity Book for Kids: 50 Creative Projects
3. Kids' Outdoor Adventure Book: 448 Great Things to Do in Nature Before You Grow Up
4. Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival
4. Binoculars for Kids
From looking at animals at a distance to seeing a close up of a trail of ants, binoculars are ideal gifts for outdoorsy kids.
Our kids love binoculars so much that we included them in our hiking gear for kids. We always forget to take them out of our bag, so we got each of our kids their own set of binoculars.
5. Bug Catcher Kit for Kids
We have one child that is obsessed with animals and bugs. This bug catcher kit comes with a butterfly net, an observation capsule and a magnifying glass. It's one of the best gift ideas for kids who love animals and bugs.
Don't forget The Backyard Bug Book so they can learn all the important bug facts!
6. Butterfly Growing Kit
Who doesn't love butterflies? This butterfly growing kit will excite any nature loving child!
7. Kids Waterproof Camera
Looking for cool outdoorsy gifts for kids? What about a waterproof camera with HD video... Kids will love capturing their adventures.
The VTech KidiZoom Camera is also a great starter camera for young kids.
8. Kids Explorer Vest and Hat
We purchased our kids Junior Ranger vests when we were visiting Shenandoah National Park with Kids. To this day our kids will wear those vests on hikes, filling the pockets with rocks and who knows what else!
9. Kids Nature Journal
Some kids like to sit back and be the observer. A kids nature journal with places to draw and journal is the perfect gift for that outdoorsy child.
10. Rock Painting Kit
Bring your adventures back home! While this rock painting kit comes with its own rocks and waterproof paint, head to the closest river as an adventure to find the perfect river rocks for painting.
11. Geocaching Handbook
If your outdoorsy child is into high tech, introduce them to the wonders of geocaching with this handbook. REI has a great post on starting geocaching with kids.
12. Orienteering Compass
Whether your kid is into hiking, camping or learning survival skills, a compass is one of our favorite gift ideas for outdoorsy kids.
13. US National Parks Scratch Off Map
Looking for cool outdoorsy gifts for kids? We love this US National Parks scratch off map. We have a large map hanging in our house with pins in all the places we've been with the kids. They love talking about it and hearing about where they've been.
Outdoorsy kids will love tracking which US National Parks they've visited.
14. Razor Scooter
Our kids each got a Razor scooter a couple of years ago. It was one of the best non-toy gift ideas for kids. They love riding their scooters and will even run out of the house to go to school if they can ride their Razor scooters there!
15. Strider Balance Bike
Our favorite outdoorsy gift for toddlers is definitely a Strider balance bike. Each of our kids had a Strider balance bike at around 18 months old. With some encouragement on how to ride a balance bike, they took off!
Another benefit was moving them to a pedal bike. Both of our kids were on pedal bikes around 4 years old without ever needing training wheels.
16. Mongoose Kong Fat Tire Mountain Bike for Kids
Once your kids are proficient on their bikes, you don't have to stop biking in the winter! With northern winters being so long a fat tire bike is the ideal gift for outdoorsy kids to keep them biking all year long!
Mongoose makes a fat bike with 20-inch wheels and for bigger kids try the Mongoose Argus fat bike with 24-inch wheels.
17. LED Bicycle Wheel Lights
If your kids love riding bikes, keep that excitement going into the evening with these LED wheel lights. These would be a perfect stocking stuffer for kids who love being outside.
18. Intex Challenger 1-Person Inflatable Kayak
For older kids who are ready to start paddling themselves, surprise them with their very own inflatable kayak! Outdoorsy kids who love to be on the water will love it!
The Intex Challenger comes with aluminum oars and high output air pump.
19. Kids Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
For those of you lucky enough to live near water or someplace warm enough to swim all year round, one of the best outdoor gift ideas for kids is a stand up paddle board.
We own two paddle boards for paddling on lakes around Banff and can't wait for our kids to get big enough to use their own.
An 8' paddle board is perfect in size for anyone under 5'3".
20. GoFloats Winter Snow Tube
Inflatable tubes are the best! Your kids will love showing off these cool outdoorsy gifts! Who are we kidding, adults will love these as well! We've owned both a unicorn and peppermint snow tube. The GoFloats have some other really fun options: Unicorn, Ice Dragon, Polar Bear, Penguin and Flamingo.
While we love the fun choices the GoFloats offers, for something more durable we recommend this snow tube.
21. Yukon Penguin Youth Snowshoe
One of our favorite adventure gifts for kids is a pair of snowshoes. These Yukon snowshoes come with poles and are good up to 100lbs.
REI also has some great options like the MSR Tyker Snowshoes or the Tubbs Glacier Snowshoes (we own two sets of the Tubbs).
22. Goplus Steering Ski Snow Racer Sled with Twin Brakes
Anyone looking for gift ideas for families with kids should consider a snow racer. Growing up I was always jealous of kids with one of these. Whether you are looking for outdoor gift ideas for boys or gift ideas for outdoorsy girls, this will be met with pure excitement!
23. Lake Placid Summit Adjustable Ice Skates
I'm not sure if it's just our Canadian blood, but our kids love ice skating! They might not always jump at the chance to go on one of our favorite winter hikes in Banff, but ice skating they are ALWAYS up for!
If you have an outdoorsy girl who loves pink, these ones will hit the mark!
For those just learning, these Skateez Skate Trainers can help with balance. They are a small investment, which we were glad we had for our son when he was learning to skate.
24. Takeya Kids Insulated Water Bottle
Keeping kids hydrated and full of snacks is the best way to keep them happy while out exploring. Let them carry their own water bottle which will keep their water nice and cool!
We like a water bottle with a straw lid, so they aren't spilling it, and that isn't too big. This 14 ounce insulated water bottle is ideal, since our kids can carry it themselves and we refill as needed.
25. ThermosÂ
For kids that are older and enjoy heading out on their own wintery adventures, send them with some warm hot chocolate in this fun Star Wars thermos.
26. Insulated Bento Lunch Box with Leak Proof Thermos Food Jar
Again, kids need high-energy snacks, especially when exploring outside. Kids also like to be independent and carry their own snacks. This OmieBox insulated bento box is perfect for packing both snacks and a warm lunch for kids!
27. CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. Kids Hydration Backpack
Get your outdoorsy kid their own CamelBak and hydration bladder! We had to include this Mini M.U.L.E. by CamelBak in our gift ideas for outdoorsy kids, because we are certain any kid will love having their own hydration backpack for hikes!
28. Rocky Thermal Underwear
Ok, this one is less exciting, but for kids who love to ski or snowshoe this is the perfect gift to place under the tree. These fleece lined thermals will help keep your kids warm while they are out building snowmen or shredding on the ski hill!
They have a similar set for boys.
29. Kids Snow Ski Socks
Yes, we know socks are a lame gift for outdoorsy kids... Unless they have a super fun pattern! Our kids were excited to get their own set of ski socks and they make an ideal stocking stuffer for outdoorsy kids! We also love this gender neutral pair.
30. Ice Cleats for Kids
Our kids are always begging us to get ice cleats like our Kahtoola Microspikes. Now we can get something similar just for them!
Shop this entire list of Gift Ideas for Outdoorsy Kids on Amazon!
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Celine Brewer is a dedicated family travel blogger with a profound passion for helping families create unforgettable adventures together. Her blog blends captivating travel narratives with practical tips for family-friendly destinations and enjoying active travel with kids. As a mother of two, she understands the unique challenges of traveling with children and offers valuable insights to empower parents.
When Celine isn't traveling with her husband and two kids, she's either working on one of her three travel sites (Family Can Travel, Baby Can Travel and Travel Banff Canada) or out enjoying the majestic Canadian Rockies her family calls home.