Outdoor Recreation

What is it All About?

Let’s get active outdoors! This project is for anyone who likes outdoor adventures, from hiking to biking, camping to skiing, and more. The sky is the limit, and adventures are waiting for you!

Grow in Your Project

Beginner

Plan and pack for an adventure
Learn to select appropriate outdoor clothing and shoes for the type of adventure you plan to try
Understand how to use layering to regulate temperature
Prepare a basic first aid kit
Learn about “leave no trace” practices

Intermediate

Make a plan for an overnight adventure
Select the equipment you need
Practice outdoor skills needed for your chosen adventure
Demonstrate safe use of tools you plan to use
Select appropriate sites based on the adventure, skill level, and weather

Advanced

Plan an adventure for a small group
Share and teach others about responsibilities for safe and fun adventures
Learn about and challenge yourself to try adventuring in different environments

Member Resources

Fishing Curriculum
3 levels (grades 3-12)

Hiking & Backpacking Curriculum
3 levels (grades 3-12)

Bicycling Curriculum
2 levels (grades 3-12)

Free Downloads

Project Leader Resources

Sportfishing Helper’s Guide
3 levels (grades 3-12)

Outdoor Curriculum Helper’s Guide
3 levels (grades 3-12)

Bicycling Helper’s Guide
2 levels (grades 3-12)

Free Downloads

4-H Camp Comes to After School Activity Series (4 activities, grades 2-5)
Hiking Activity Series (4 activities, grades 4-7)
Ice Fishing and Winter Safety Guide
Pop Can Casting (Practice fishing)

Take Your Project Further!

Attend 4-H camp or 4-H adventure camp
Plan and conduct an outdoor adventure skill-a-thon for your club or the general public
Learn about camouflage and why it is used
Take a first aid or CPR class
Take a Wilderness or First Responder class or course
Have a medical professional come and speak to your project or club
Visit a camping store to explore your equipment options
Sleep under the stars and compare it to sleeping with a shelter
Go on a hike in your community
Visit a wildlife refuge or bird sanctuary
Start a nature sketchbook

Applying Project Skills to Life

Enhance Your Communication Skills

Show you friends or family members how to pack light for a trip
Give a demonstration on how to use a compass
Lead a tent pitching working demonstration

Get Involved in Citizenship and Service

Organize a clean-up of a park or hiking trail
Host an outdoor cooking contest for your community, offer free food for anyone that attends
Create a flyer about working with allergies when planning food for a larger group
Create and design camping equipment for people with different abilities

Learn about Leadership

Lead a game at your club meeting about Leave No Trace Behind principles
Organize an outdoor adventure club in your community, see if you can recruit members to join 4-H

Showing What You’ve Learned

Do a poster on water filtration
Prepare GORP
Display on Leave No Trace principles
Design an outdoor shelter (real or mini version)
Make a display of knots
Make a map of your local area
Make an outdoor cooking recipe
Create a recipe book of outdoor cooking recipes
Poster on how to use a compass
Journal of your camping or hiking adventures
A book of camping songs
A display on selecting a camping site
Poster on how to seal a tent
A tent repair kit
A display about weather safety

Adapted with permission from Wyoming State 4-H, Project Information Sheet, Outdoor Recreation. Retrieved from: https://www.uwyo.edu/4-h/projects/natural-resource-education/outdoor-education.html.

*Resources available at your local Extension office or shop4-H.org.

Header image courtesy of Wisconsin 4-H.

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