Fall Family Adventure: Finding God in the Colors of Creation

There is something about fall that makes it almost impossible not to stop and look around.

The trees start showing off. The air gets crisp. Leaves crunch under your shoes. Pumpkins appear on approximately every available porch in America. 😂🍂

And right in the middle of all that beauty is an incredible opportunity to remind our kids—and ourselves—of something important:

God made this.

The brilliant red leaves. The golden trees. The tiny acorn your child insists is valuable enough to bring home. The cool breeze. The enormous pile of leaves somebody is absolutely going to jump into five seconds after you rake it.

Creation is filled with reminders of our Creator.

If you’re looking for a simple Christian fall family activity, grab your people, head outside, and turn an ordinary autumn walk into a fall family faith adventure.

No elaborate supplies required.

Just open eyes, curious hearts, and maybe a jacket because somebody will inevitably say, “I’m not cold,” and then ask for yours. 😂

Seeing God in the Beauty of Fall

Psalm 19:1 says:

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” —Psalm 19:1 ESV

Creation doesn’t replace Scripture, and nature itself isn’t what we worship.

Creation points us toward the One who created it.

That distinction gives us such a beautiful lesson to share with our children.

When we see an incredible sunset, we can thank the Artist.

When we watch the leaves change, we can talk about the creativity of God.

When we discover a tiny acorn underneath a gigantic oak tree, we can marvel at the way God designed creation to grow.

And sometimes our kids notice things we would have walked right past.

That’s part of the fun.

Slow down.

Look around.

Let them ask questions.

You don’t need to turn your nature walk into a 47-minute theology lecture. 😂

Sometimes something as simple as:

“Wow. Look what God made!”

is enough to begin a beautiful conversation.

Turn Your Fall Walk Into a God’s Creation Scavenger Hunt

Let’s make this adventure a little more exciting.

Tell everyone you’re going on a God’s Creation Scavenger Hunt.

See if your family can find:

• A red leaf
• A yellow leaf
• An orange leaf
• An acorn
• A pinecone
• A uniquely shaped rock
• Something soft
• Something rough
• A bird
• A squirrel
• A cloud with an interesting shape
• Something incredibly tiny
• Something much bigger than you
• A seed
• A flower still hanging on
• A tree with more than one color
• Something that makes you laugh
• Something that makes you say, “WOW, God!”

Little kids can simply race around looking for the items.

Older kids can take pictures of what they discover.

Teens can join in too—even if their participation initially looks suspiciously like walking ten feet behind everyone while holding a phone. 😜

The goal isn’t perfection.

It’s noticing.

Want an Actual Nature Scavenger Hunt?

If your kids LOVE scavenger hunts, I have another one waiting over on Get Your Holiday On.

Try my Bigfoot Scavenger Hunt for Kids. It sends kids looking for things like pinecones, acorns, rocks, flowers, pine needles, green leaves, red leaves, yellow leaves, birds and even Bigfoot footprints.

It’s silly, outdoorsy fun and an easy way to get everybody exploring.

You can also try the Garden Scavenger Hunt for another family-friendly outdoor activity.

7 Ways to Make Your Fall Family Adventure Faith-Filled

You don’t need worksheets or an elaborate lesson plan to bring Jesus into your family adventure.

Try one—or all—of these ideas.

1. Start With a Simple Prayer

Before you start walking, pray together.

It doesn’t need to be complicated.

“Jesus, thank You for this beautiful day. Help us notice the things You created and remember how good You are. Amen.”

That’s it.

Shoes on.

Adventure time. 🍂

2. Play “Who Can Find It First?”

Call out something God created and see who spots it first.

“Find something RED!”

“Find something TINY!”

“Find something that FLIES!”

“Find something God made that you think is beautiful!”

Younger kids especially love this because suddenly a normal walk becomes a mission.

And if your family is competitive, establish beforehand that tackling your sibling over an acorn probably isn’t displaying the fruit of the Spirit. 😂

3. Ask a God Question

Every so often, ask one simple question.

Try:

What’s your favorite thing God created?

What did you see today that surprised you?

What is something in nature that makes you think God is creative?

If you could ask God one question about something He created, what would you ask?

What is something you want to thank God for today?

Don’t worry about getting a “perfect” spiritual answer.

Listen.

Sometimes the sweetest faith conversations happen when we’re not forcing them.

What Fall Can Teach Us About Change

Fall gives families a natural opportunity to talk about change.

Trees that were completely green begin turning yellow, orange and red. Eventually those beautiful leaves fall away.

Seasons change.

Life does too.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” —Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV

Some seasons feel exciting.

Others don’t.

Sometimes God leads us into something new before we fully understand what He’s doing.

That’s a lesson adults need just as much as kids do.

The changing leaves can remind us that change isn’t automatically something to fear. We can trust the God who remains faithful through every season.

4. Collect One Special Leaf

Let everyone choose ONE leaf they love.

And yes, I said one.

If you’ve ever walked through the woods with a toddler, you already know why this rule may be necessary. Otherwise you’re coming home with seventeen pounds of God’s creation in your pockets. 😂

Look at the colors and tiny details.

No two leaves have to look exactly alike to be beautiful.

Use that moment to remind your kids that God didn’t create us to all look, sound, think or act exactly alike either.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” —Ephesians 2:10 ESV

You are God’s handiwork.

Your children are God’s handiwork.

And that is worth reminding them of again and again.

5. Take a Family Gratitude Picture

Everybody gets to photograph ONE thing that makes them thankful.

Maybe it’s a tree.

Maybe it’s the sky.

Maybe it’s their sibling.

Maybe it’s the snack Mom packed.

No judgment. Snacks are blessings too. 😂

Later, look through the pictures together and let everyone explain why they chose theirs.

This turns your fall adventure into a simple family gratitude activity without making it feel like homework.

6. Have a 60-Second Quiet Challenge

This one may be especially entertaining if your family is anything like mine.

Everybody stops talking for 60 seconds.

Yes.

SIXTY. WHOLE. SECONDS. 😂

Listen carefully.

Can you hear birds?

Leaves moving?

Wind?

Water?

Insects?

Footsteps?

Afterward, have everyone name something they heard.

Sometimes slowing down enough to notice creation helps us remember how often we rush right through the beautiful things God has placed around us.

7. End With a Thank-You Prayer

Before heading home, let everyone say one thing they’re thankful for.

Then pray together.

“God, thank You for creating such a beautiful world. Thank You for the colors, trees, animals, changing seasons and the people we get to enjoy them with. Help us never become too busy to notice Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Simple.

Meaningful.

And nobody needed a Pinterest-perfect family moment for it to matter.

Make It Even More Fun With a Fall Family Challenge

Want to keep the adventure going?

Give your family this challenge:

Find five things that remind you of God’s goodness before you get home.

They don’t all have to be dramatic.

Maybe it’s:

A beautiful tree.

A child’s laugh.

A warm cup of apple cider.

A stranger holding a door.

The sun breaking through the clouds.

A tiny hand slipping into yours.

God’s goodness isn’t only found in gigantic moments.

Sometimes it’s sitting quietly inside an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.

We just have to notice it.

More Fall Family Fun

If your crew isn’t ready for the fun to end, hop over to Get Your Holiday On and try the Pumpkin Game for Toddlers and Preschoolers. It’s an easy pumpkin hunt that can be played indoors or outside, making it especially fun for younger kids.

And for another outdoor fall activity, the Turkey Feather Party Game gets kids outside hunting for colorful feathers around trees, bushes, pumpkins and piles of leaves.

Because apparently my answer to children having excessive energy is:

SEND THEM OUTSIDE AND HIDE SOMETHING. 😂

Works surprisingly well.

God Is Still Creating Beauty Around You

Fall doesn’t last forever.

Those brilliant leaves eventually fall.

The temperatures drop.

The season moves forward.

But the God who created all of it doesn’t change.

So this fall, don’t rush through every beautiful thing trying to get to the next thing.

Take the walk.

Pick up the acorn.

Photograph the ridiculously gorgeous tree.

Listen to your child’s 11-minute explanation of why this particular stick is clearly superior to every other stick in the forest.

Laugh.

Explore.

Pray.

Look up.

And when creation stops you in your tracks for a second, let it turn your heart toward the Creator.

Because this whole beautiful world?

It’s God’s playground.

And we get the incredible privilege of exploring it.

All glory to Him.❤️

Keep Exploring God’s Goodness

The adventure doesn’t have to end when the leaves are put down and the muddy shoes come off. ❤️ Keep finding little ways to point your family back to Jesus! Head over to Blessed Bites for fun Bible snack ideas like our Noah’s Ark Rainbow Snack Board, Two by Two Bible Snack, and David and Goliath Sling Snack.

Or keep exploring God’s Playground for more family adventures that help you slow down, look around, and notice God’s goodness in the world He created.

However you spend the day… exploring, laughing, snacking, making memories, or probably carrying home somebody’s “very important” stick. 😂 I hope it gives your family another reason to talk about Jesus and give God the glory for the beautiful things He has made. 🍂❤️✝️