30 Days Outside Challenge
Be active, have fun, and connect with nature for June.
It’s well understood that people need social interaction and connection to thrive.
I think connection to nature is just as important. Spending time around trees and rivers recharges us. Looking out across a landscape expands our vision. Seeing the sky change colors, and stars come out at night highlights our small place on this world. Caring for animals and our gardens engages our empathy for other beings. Breathing fresh air outside and moving our bodies energizes our minds and helps us make creative connections. Caring about nature means we want to preserve it, and that includes taking actions to fight climate change.
Because of the importance in connecting to the outdoors, I invite you to do a challenge with me for the month of June! Spend at least 30 minutes outside every day.
The goals are to:
1. Spend time outside.
2. Connect with the natural world.
3. Learn about your surroundings.
4. Move your body.
5. Recharge your creative spirit.
You can do whatever you’d like outside, but below are ideas if you are running low. If you’d like to officially join me in this challenge, write down the activity or activities that you do each day for at least 30 minutes for the month of June, 2025. You can write them in a list, or print out and fill in this fun calendar. Send me your record of activities at the end of the month (and your mailing address) and I will send you some nature-inspired art! There are some to choose from at the bottom of this post.
Ideas for 30 Days Outside:
Walk your dog, your friend’s dog, your cat, or whatever pet is handy.
Walk with a human friend.
Hike a trail.
Walk a park or through a stretch of town collecting trash- remember to bring a bag.
Take a historical walking tour.
Go for a run.
Ride your bike for fun.
Ride your bike on an errand- a small grocery trip, to work, a meeting, the library, whatever is in good biking distance.
Go horseback riding.
Volunteer for land restoration work.
Volunteer for river restoration work, river clean up, water monitoring, or other healthy water initiatives.
Spend a day at the lake.
Go rafting, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, or tubing.
Go fishing.
Go camping.
Go geocaching.
Make art outside- sketch, paint, photograph, nature journal, or use your favorite medium.
Create land art using what you find while you wander- sticks, rocks, feathers, bones, leaves, berries, etc.
Write a poem outside.
Go for a trail walk while the wildflowers are blooming, bring an ID guide or app and try to ID every flower.
Use a bird call identifying app and learn the birds around you by their song.
Join a steps challenge or bike to work challenge, or organize one for your co-workers.
Weed your garden.
Plant a pollinator garden.
Plant a tree in your yard.
Volunteer for a highway cleanup.
Explore a State Park.
Explore a National Park or National Monument.
Read a book outside.
Play soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, kickball, or another team sport outside- casually or officially.
Golf- can you walk the course instead of driving?
Attend an outdoor music performance.
Go to an outdoor art fair.
Go with young kids to the playground and play!
Make a picnic to share with friends in one of your favorite outdoor spots.
Do an outdoor yoga or exercise class.
Go swimming.
Go to the beach.
Visit a Botanic Park.
Go on a hike led by a botanist to learn about wild edible food in your area.
Visit a small farm or ranch to learn about their operation.
Go to a zoo or animal sanctuary.
Learn about different types of clouds, their names and what they can tell you about the weather. ID all of the clouds you see for a day.
Go to an outdoor talk by an astronomer and look through a telescope.
Stay up to see the full moon or interesting celestial event at night.
Sleep outside under the stars.
If you’ve made it to the end of June with an outdoor activity every day, Congratulations! I hope you had a great time!! I’d love to hear about your favorite days and biggest challenges. Did you do some things that may be helping the environment or learning about wild places and species?
Please DM me or email your list or calendar to jill@jillbergman.com. If you include your mailing address and which of these pieces of art is your fave, I’d love to send you one as a reward. I can only mail within the U.S. for these art rewards.
Thanks for trying this outdoor challenge and I’d love to hear feedback!