Connecting Young Children to Nature: Exploring the Growing Up WILD Curriculum
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
Early childhood is a time of wonder, curiosity, and deep connection to the world around us. For educators, caregivers, and program administrators seeking to nurture that natural sense of discovery, the Growing Up WILD curriculum offers a powerful resource.
Developed by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies as part of their larger Project WILD initiative, Growing Up WILD is designed specifically for children ages 3 to 7. It provides developmentally appropriate activities that engage young learners with nature through science, art, music, movement, literacy, and math—all while fostering respect and care for wildlife and the environment.
At a time when connecting children to nature is more important than ever, Growing Up WILD serves as a bridge between traditional early learning goals and outdoor, hands-on education.
What Is Growing Up WILD?
Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children is a comprehensive early childhood curriculum and activity guide. It builds on young children’s innate sense of wonder about the natural world and introduces them to wildlife and outdoor exploration in a way that is fun, engaging, and educational.
The curriculum was developed by early childhood educators and wildlife professionals, ensuring that the content is both pedagogically sound and scientifically accurate. It aligns with national early learning standards, including:
NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) Standards
Head Start Child Outcomes Framework
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
This makes Growing Up WILD an excellent fit for a variety of early learning environments, including Tribal child care centers, Head Start programs, CCDF-funded programs, family child care homes, and community-based early learning initiatives.
What’s Included in Growing Up WILD?
The Growing Up WILD guide offers 27 thematic units, each featuring a variety of activities that integrate nature exploration with key learning areas. Some examples include:
Wildlife is Everywhere: Discovering the animals that live all around us, even in cities and towns.
Oh Deer!: Learning about animal needs and habitats through role-playing games.
Who Lives in Trees?: Exploring the ecosystem of a single tree and the creatures that depend on it.
Fishing Fun: Understanding aquatic life and simple fishing skills.
Ants on a Log: Observing insect behavior and how different animals interact with their environments.
Each unit includes:
Clear learning objectives
Background information for educators
Materials lists
Step-by-step activity instructions
Ideas for extensions and take-home activities
Connections to literacy, math, health, and creative arts
Family engagement ideas to bring learning home
Importantly, the curriculum is designed to be flexible. Educators can adapt activities based on their environment, the cultural context of their program, and the interests of their children.
Why Growing Up WILD Matters
Research shows that early childhood experiences in nature have lasting benefits for cognitive development, physical health, emotional well-being, and environmental stewardship. Some key reasons why Growing Up WILD is so valuable include:
Promoting holistic development: Activities support physical, emotional, cognitive, and social growth.
Encouraging environmental literacy: Children build early awareness of ecosystems, conservation, and human-environment relationships.
Strengthening cultural connections: Nature-based learning easily integrates with Indigenous knowledge systems, storytelling, and traditional ecological practices.
Building family and community ties: Activities extend learning beyond the classroom and foster community involvement.
For Tribal programs especially, Growing Up WILD provides a platform to blend cultural teachings with nature exploration, reinforcing the deep and sacred connections Native communities have with the land, water, and animals.
How to Access Growing Up WILD
Programs interested in implementing Growing Up WILD can access the curriculum through a network of trained facilitators who offer workshops and professional development. These workshops help early childhood educators learn how to effectively use the guide and integrate nature-based learning into their daily routines.
Ready to get started?
Whether you are just beginning your journey of integrating nature into your early learning program or looking for new resources to deepen children's connection to the outdoors, Growing Up WILD offers a rich, inspiring pathway.
