Published: July 16, 2025
We’ve found 10 kid-friendly apps (all are free or low-cost) to add wonder, learning, and calm to your outdoor adventures. Whether you’re visiting a national park for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, strolling through your neighborhood, or stopping at a local park to catch your breath, these apps will make your experience even richer.
1. iNaturalist
Snap a photo of any plant, animal, or insect and the iNaturalist app will help you identify it. When you use it you are also contributing to global biodiversity science. It is great for curious kids and grownups alike!
Want an even more kid-friendly version of iNaturalist? Seek is perfect. It offers real-time identification and awards digital “badges” for discoveries. No account or login required.
Family Tip: Turn a quick park stop into a mini scavenger hunt!
Merlin allows you to identify the birdsong you just heard during your hike or morning coffee outdoors. This app will identify birds by sound(!) Think of it as Shazam for nature! You can also use photos or answer quick questions to identify birds.
Mindful Moment: Try sitting quietly for 2 minutes and seeing how many bird sounds you can notice.
4. SkyView Lite (iOS) | SkyView (Android)
Point your phone at the night sky and SkyView will tell you what stars, planets, and constellations you’re seeing. It is easy to use and is especially magical at campsites or rural rest stops where you have extra dark skies.
5. Star Walk 2
Star Walk 2 is another stellar app for stargazing. It features beautiful animations and detailed facts and even shows you upcoming meteor showers. Perfect for kids who ask, “What’s that star?”
6. AllTrails
Use AllTrails to find hiking, walking, and biking trails near your location. You can compare a hike’s difficulty ratings and user reviews as well as applying family-friendly filters.
Tip: You can download offline maps before hitting the road.
7. Headspace
While not strictly outdoor-focused, apps like Headspace and Calm allow you to help pause and reset. A quick meditation during road trip stress or PCS travel can reduce overwhelm. Check out Blue Star Perks to see how you can get Headspace for free.
Mindful Minute: Don’t have a meditation app? Set a 1-minute timer, listen to your breath, and watch clouds pass.
8. Spiritune
Spiritune helps you manage stress and uplift your mood by blending neuroscience and music therapy. You can create playlists tailored to how you want to feel, whether that is calmer, more focused, or simply less tense during a long PCS drive. Military Families can visit the Blue Star Perks page to see how to get Spiritune at no cost.
Plan your stops, download park maps for offline use, and find family-friendly hikes or picnic spots right from your phone. The NPS app is free, easy to use, and covers hundreds of parks and is perfect for adding a little adventure (and calm) to your road trip.
Pro Tip: Active duty military, Veteran, and Gold Star families enjoy special benefits, including a free America The Beautiful Pass, which can be obtained at most national parks that collect fees using a military ID.
10. Nature Cat’s Great Outdoors
Turn any rest stop or hotel stay into a backyard adventure with this playful app from PBS Kids. It prompts kids to complete simple outdoor challenges like finding three types of leaves or spotting animal tracks and then helps them record their discoveries in a digital nature journal. Perfect for keeping little explorers engaged (and off screens).
**BONUS** Blue Star Families Neighborhood Outdoors Group
This online community is perfect for connecting with individuals who share your passion for nature, adventure, and getting outside! From picking camping spots along your PCS route to sharing your fishing gear knowledge, we want you to join us in celebrating the wonder of the great outdoors.
ABOUT MILITARY FAMILIES OUTDOORS
Did you know that the Military Families Outdoors (MFO) program helps active-duty military families connect with nature, from scenic parks to public lands and waterways, fostering healthy habits and environmental stewardship? Administered by the Defense Health Agency and the National Park Service, MFO brings together the expertise of Blue Star Families, Wilderness Inquiry, Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), and The Center for Health & Nature. Through a variety of in-person and online activities, the program offers engaging outdoor wellness experiences that enhance the physical, mental, and social well-being of Service Members and their families across the country.