7 Fun Outdoor Activities To Do In The Rain

7 Fun Outdoor Activities To Do In The Rain

By: Beth Zabiegalski, Youth Education & Training Coordinator

We are all aware… it’s raining. But, if you’re like me, you still want to find a way to get outside! I’ve been thinking about the activities I’d like to do in the rain and compiled a list of seven fun things you can try at home.

1. Go on a rain hike.

Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you can’t go on a hike! Put on your rain boots and your rain jacket and pick a flat, easy trail you won’t be slipping up and down (unless that sounds like fun to you!). In the rain you’ll get to experience sounds and smells of nature that aren’t around on a normal sunny day.

2. Play, with your feet.

Most of us have jumped in some puddles in our lifetime. If not, take this opportunity to do it! If you’re feeling earthy, take off your shoes and walk in the grass to let the mud squish between your toes. That’s such a cool feeling that you don’t get to experience every day!

3. Make art.

Mud is a fantastic media for temporary artwork. Make a mudpie or make it a pet mudpie with sticks and rocks stuck all around your mud clump. You can also paint mud on your face and run around in the rain until it washes off. If that’s too much contact with mud for you, dip a stick in mud and draw on the sidewalk or driveway with mud, then wait for the rain to wash it away.

4. Find a new use for your pots and pans.

Experiment with the sounds rain makes when it hits different objects. Search around your house for things like pots and pans, plastic bowls, wooden objects, and arrange them outside in an open area. When the rain begins to fall, listen to the household orchestra you’ve just created on your own front lawn.

5. Put on your own musical.

Does talking about this make everyone want to “sing in the rain?” If you have the privacy, or if you’re not shy at all, put on some clothes you don’t mind getting all wet and let out your musical side! Twirling and singing in the rain can be so freeing and pleasant, even just for a few minutes.

6. Practice mindfulness.

For this one you’ll need to find a place where you can sit quietly and listen to the rain. It works best when you’re away from major roads and things that can distract you. Have a seat and close your eyes. Focus on what you’re sensing. What do you smell? What does the rain feel like on your face? What different noises does the rain make when it falls on trees, the ground, a roof, your jacket? Take a moment to slow down, take in nature, and appreciate this weather.

7. Help out some wormies.

After the rain has passed, you’ll see many earthworms all around on the pavement. Get some friends together to go on a worm rescue walk, quickly handling the worms and returning them to the soil.

For all of these activities, remember to have extra clothes and a towel ready for you as soon as you get into your house or back to your car so that you can get warm and dry quickly. And always go inside immediately if you hear thunder. These activities are fun in the rain, not in storms. Have fun, and enjoy your time in this rainy summer weather!