Into the Forest: How Great Outdoors University Connects Kids with the Wide World of Trees and the Wildlife They Host

At North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Great Outdoors University (GoU), education doesn’t happen behind a desk. It happens under the canopy of towering oaks, beside fallen logs teeming with decomposer species, and along forest trails alive with the chatter of birds and the rustle of squirrels. For many kids, GoU is their first hands-on introduction to wildlife, the broader natural world – and the forest is their classroom.
Learning to Love Trees – From the Ground Up
“Forest education” at GoU is more than just pointing out leaves and labeling bark. It’s immersive, interactive, and designed to make an impact, regardless of age. According to NCWF VP of Outdoor Engagement Mary Bures, who helps lead the programming, the team tailors tree-focused activities to different age groups so every participant walks away with knowledge – and a newfound sense of wonder.
For the younger kids – think preschool through early elementary – GoU’s felt tree activity sets the stage. Children gather around an outline of a tree made of felt, and add pieces to it as they answer nature-based questions. These additions include everything from red and gold autumn leaves to felt squirrels, raccoons, birds, pollinators, and caterpillars. As they go, kids learn what trees offer the world: food, shelter, oxygen, and a home for countless species.
By the end of the session, the once-bare felt tree is bursting with life – just like the real forests they’ll explore next.
“We go on a hike after,” Bures explains. “They look for roots, touch bark, identify homes in trees, and spot nests. They’re making real-world connections to what they just learned.”
The youngest participants also play color and counting games using bird nests and baby chicks—sneaking in some STEM learning while keeping the experience playful.
Older Kids, Deeper Roots
For older youth, the activities dig deeper – literally and figuratively.
Through a series of rotating stations, kids learn to match descriptions of the trees with their leaves, flowers and fruits, and identify some of the animals that depend on them. They use pocket field guides to identify trees along the trail, journaling as they go in what Bures calls a “hands-on evaluation disguised as nature journaling.”
“They learn how trees communicate underground through the mycorrhizal network,” Bures says. “They also find out that the root system can spread as wide as the canopy above. It’s all science-based, and they love it.”
These experiences offer more than just facts – they build appreciation. Whether it’s marveling at the hard shell of a walnut and how squirrels can get to the center, or the way the overstory cools the plant and animal life under its canopy, GoU helps kids connect dots they may never have had the chance to connect before.
Forest Wisdom That Lasts
So what do participants take away from these tree-focused programs? Quite a bit.
“Awareness,” says Bures, “and appreciation.” Kids begin to understand that trees are not just background scenery – they’re vital to clean air, climate health, and the lives of many species, including us. They also learn about decomposition and the life cycle of trees, from towering giants to rotting logs that nourish the next generation.
“We teach them about the FBI of decomposition—Fungi, Bacteria, and Insects,” Bures laughs. “They start to see that even a fallen tree is doing something important.”
And while the programs are designed for kids, adults who tag along as chaperones often walk away with new knowledge and a changed perspective, too. “We’ve had parents and volunteers tell us they see the outdoors completely differently after participating,” Bures says. “That’s pretty powerful.”
Get Involved: Upcoming Events
Want to experience a bit of this forest magic yourself? This fall, GOU and its partners are hosting several Kids in Nature Day events across North Carolina:
- September 13 – Terrific Tree Adventure with NCWF Habitat Builders Chapter at Marvin Efird Park in Waxhaw, 10:00–11:30 a.m. (Registration required)
- September 20 – Kids in Nature Day with Concord Wildlife Alliance
- October 4 – Kids in Nature Day at Squirrel Lake Park in Matthews with HAWK (Habitat and Wildlife Keepers) 10:00-1:00 pm
- October 5 – Kids in Nature Day at Reedy Creek Park in Charlotte with Charlotte Wildlife Stewards
Each event offers a chance for families to engage with nature in meaningful, memory-making ways.
At GoU, kids learn that in the forest, every leaf, log, and squirrel has a story to tell, and this turns curiosity into conservation.
Whether it’s a preschooler sticking felt caterpillars to a pretend tree, or a middle-schooler solving a scavenger hunt using a field guide, one thing’s clear: these kids aren’t just learning about trees – they’re learning to care for them.
And that’s a lesson that lasts.