NATURE KIDS ACTIVITY BOOK – LAKE TAHOE EDITION

From Eco-Anxiety to Joyful Action
(For Your Kids and You)


Cover, interior pages, and coloring page for Nature Kids Activity Book - Lake Tahoe Edition by Kristen Schwartz

Change Worry to Wonder

Maybe your child loves nature but feels small and powerless to protect it.

Maybe you're the one lying awake at night worrying.

Or maybe you just want a meaningful way to get your kids thinking about the world around them.

Inspire curiosity, connection, and kid-sized action using creativity they already love.



Available
June 2, 2026! $10



Wherever you're starting, eco-anxiety doesn't have to be part of the story.

This activity book was inspired by With Love, From Tahoe, my all-ages environmental stewardship book. Together, they give families tools to notice, care for, and protect the places they love.


watercolor Illustration of a mother bear and two cubs exploring a river bank by Kristen Schwartz

Big Feelings, Big Problems… Where Do You Start?

Many families today are juggling some version of this:

  • Kids who love nature but wonder, "What can I do to protect it?"
  • Parents who care deeply but feel overwhelmed
  • Conversations that stay shallow because it's easier to say "we recycle!" than to dig deeper

Underneath it all is shared uncertainty:

"The environment is important… am I doing enough? How do I talk about it in a way that feels hopeful."





Kids are naturally curious, creative, and full of problem-solving ideas.

They don't need us to have all the answers. They need invitations to explore, observe, wonder, and act in ways that feel possible and joyful.


That's what this book provides.


Watercolor illustration of a field trip in Tahoe by Kristen Schwartz

These Activities Help Kids:

  • Slow down and really see the nature around them
  • Notice local environmental issues (gently and age-appropriately)
  • Use creativity to imagine solutions
  • Take small, meaningful actions that add up


Activity Book Details:

  • 90+ pages of hands-on creativity and learning
  • 8.5" x 11" for easy printing and handling
  • Downloadable PDF for instant access
  • Story coloring pages that explore issues like littering and giving wildlife space
  • Outdoor exploration prompts that work for backyards, parks, or walks
  • Ideas that turn observations into creative projects like poems, drawings, or posters
  • Problem-solving activities that connect small joyful actions to real impact
  • Conversation starters for talking about hard topics with hope

Everything comes together in a printable PDF you can use again and again.


Available
June 2, 2026! $10




Activity Page Examples:


Example pages from the Nature Kids Activity Book - Lake Tahoe Edition by Kristen Schwartz

Each activity builds critical thinking, empathy, environmental awareness, and a sense of agency.




Why This Book Is Different


A lot of environmental content is doom-heavy, guilt-based, or so simplified it becomes empty busywork.

This book takes a different path:

  • Joy-first, not fear. It starts from love of nature, not scary headlines.
  • Real impact, not slogans. Kids learn why actions matter and how local choices connect to bigger issues.
  • Open-ended and creative. Kids imagine, draw, design, and invent—not just fill in the blanks.
  • Long-term thinking. It's about raising thoughtful environmental stewards, not just providing "eco-themed" entertainment.



After working through it, kids feel like nature explorers, parents feel more hopeful, and environmental care becomes a joyful habit—not a guilt-driven chore.



About the Author/Illustrator

Watercolor illustration of a child hugging a tree by Kristen Schwartz

I'm Kristen Schwartz, an illustrator, environmental storyteller, and lifelong treehugger. I've spent over 35 years at Lake Tahoe using art to help protect the natural world.

I grew up in San Diego, California, playing at the beach, in canyons, and on local trails; embracing the 1970s calls to end littering and pollution; and drawing animals, plants, and “cool science stuff” from the zoo and from my biology and oceanography classes. That early love of nature and science led me to study illustration and design in college.

I made this activity book because I wish I had one like it when I was a kid.


Highlights of My Journey

  • Medicine From the Mountains: Medicinal Plants of the Sierra Nevada – Botanical book illustrations
  • Faery Medicine – A decade-long exhibit using illustrated faery stories to educate about medicinal plants and conservation
  • The Art of Nature Sketching – Workshops for kids and adults who think they can't draw
  • With Love, From Tahoe – My all-ages environmental stewardship book which inspired this activity book.

Everything I create is driven by one hope: that my work makes nature feel approachable, lovable, and worth protecting—especially for kids.



Who This Book Is For

It's ideal for those visiting or living in Tahoe (but not required).

Especially helpful if:

  • Your child is 7–10 and loves animals, plants, or being outside
  • Your kid says, "I want to save the planet," and you're not sure what to say next
  • You worry about the environment and don't want to pass hopelessness to your child
  • You want meaningful, screen-light activities you can do as a family
  • You're a teacher, homeschooler, or community leader looking for gentle environmental materials (See "Can I use this in a class or group?" in the Common Questions section)

But you don't need to be in Tahoe. The ideas can be adapted to most places (even without bears!).

 

Common Questions:

I'm starting with downloadable for some really good reasons—and honestly, it might be your preferred version in the long run. Here's why:

You're in control: print only what you need, skip pages, or print multiple copies of favorite activities. If you have more than one child, print extra pages. Choose your paper—recycled, art paper, cardstock—and bind it your way.

It's more sustainable: No waste from mass printing or fuel to ship across the country or globe, and you decide how much paper to use, even eco-friendly inks.

It's more affordable: $10 makes it accessible to more families without added markup.

It's flexible: start anytime, add pages as your child grows or interests change, print one activity or the whole book.

If you still prefer a bound copy, a print-on-demand version is coming in the near future.

Yes. Many kids just love nature and want ways to help. The activities spark curiosity and deepen connection to the natural world. If eco-anxiety comes up later, they'll already have practice turning concern into action.

The opposite. The tone is gentle, hopeful, and practical. It acknowledges real issues without dropping kids into despair. Many parents find that doing activities with their kids actually softens their own eco-anxiety.

Yes. Kids explore their local environment and care for the places they call home while learning about another place they may want to go someday.

No. Activities are flexible in length and designed to fold into walks, errands, or quick outdoor breaks. Think of it as a menu of invitations, not homework.

No. The book focuses on love of place, noticing what's beautiful, and kid-sized actions that feel doable and empowering.

A downloadable activity book you print when you want. More than a fleeting activity, it's an experience that can shape how your child sees and cares for the world for years to come. For less than the price of an afternoon outing, you get a resource you can return to for years.

Available
June 2, 2026! $10


Yes! The activities work beautifully in classrooms, homeschool co-ops, and community programs. If you’d like to use the book with a group, I offer reduced rates for bulk licenses so it stays affordable for educators. Email me and we’ll find an option that fits your group.




If your child is feeling eco-anxious—or simply eager to help—you don't need a perfect plan.

You just need a place to start.

This activity book is that starting place: a friendly guide for curious kids, a conversation companion for caring adults, and a bridge between big feelings and small, meaningful actions.

From eco-anxiety to joyful action.

Written and illustrated with love by Kristen Schwartz


Available
June 2, 2026! $10