{"id":1532,"date":"2022-01-04T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-04T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourdaysoutside.com\/staging\/?p=1532"},"modified":"2026-04-14T10:08:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T14:08:07","slug":"20-surprising-outdoor-winter-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourdaysoutside.com\/staging\/20-surprising-outdoor-winter-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Surprising Outdoor Winter Activities – No Snow Required!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As an Amazon associate, I may earn a commission from any qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is anyone else looking forward to experiencing all the fun outdoor winter activities? Or, perhaps, you’ve newly resolved to try and embrace winter despite being less than enthusiastic about it? Whether you’re a fan of the cold or not, outdoor play is super important for kids, even in the winter! And if you need some extra convincing, check out these awesome benefits of nature play for kids!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only problem for us is that we’re not always guaranteed snow. As I was trying to adapt and figure out fun things to do outside without snow, I realized that there are plenty of people out there for whom snow-less winters are the norm!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that’s the case for you, here are some of our favorite fun outdoor winter activities, no snow required!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Fort Building.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Building forts is one of those quintessential activities of childhood. And one of the best things about this activity is that you can do it year-round! Leafless twigs and branches just happen to be in abundance during winter, so gather these up and start building! Try out a tepee, lean-to, or an A-frame shelter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recently made a fort with some bushes in our backyard where we wove in some willow branches and trimmed greenery for the walls! And if you don’t happen to have an abundance of natural materials around, fort building kits<\/a> like this one are also a ton of fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We bought one for our little guy and he’s used it inside and out! You can get creative with multiple designs and then cover the structure with sheets for a classic hideout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Build a fire.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Fires are great any time of year, but I could argue that they’re one of the best outdoor winter activities since this is when we’re the most in need of the warmth and comfort that fire provides. Make sure to include hot drinks and something to roast over the fire! Hot dogs, marshmallows….popcorn anyone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing I love about fires is the opportunity to tell stories! Some of my favorite prompts for storytelling include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n