Outdoor Adventure Passes

One of the best gifts you can give to someone who loves the outdoors is a national park annual pass. These passes cover day-use fees and can be used at thousands of beautiful national parks and federal recreational lands. Just imagine all of the amazing adventures it could inspire! For those that prefer to explore closer to home, you can purchase a similar pass for your local state parks or county parks.

Indoor Houseplants

Once the holidays are over, winter can start feeling a little bleak. Give friends and family a touch of nature that’s easy to care for and will stick around long after the holiday tree is taken down. Some easy-to-care-for yet beautiful plants include Cyclamen, Kalanchoe, Bromeliads and Christmas Cactus. Pair the plant with a lovely pot and some handwritten care instructions to complete the gift.

Be sure to note whether or not the plant is toxic to pets!

A Bee Hotel

Oh, pollinators—how we love them so. Caring for and observing insects is a great way to get in touch with nature (at any age!). Bee hotels are a unique gift you can purchase or build yourself with recycled materials and a little elbow grease. These cozy insect houses can be placed in a secure spot in the garden (make sure it gets direct morning light!) and provide a refuge for solitary bees. It gives them a place to rest, hibernate or nest. In late summer and fall, bees will also lay eggs there so they can safely hatch in spring.

Field Guides

Help friends and family get to know the plants and animals in their area. Illustrated field guides are often beautifully made and make wonderful coffee table books. They’re practical, too! It’s so fun reading through them and then heading out to local trails and parks to see what plants, birds, mushrooms or even animal tracks you can correctly identify.

Friendly reminder: be sure to positively identify anything you might be harvesting and follow the rules of the place you’re visiting.