Let Them Roam: Why Kids Need Nature

… and Why Tofino Is the Best Place to Be Wild. In a world where screens often compete for a child’s attention, the simple act of stepping outside has never been more vital.

Childhood is meant to be wild, curious, messy, and magical—and there’s no better place to embrace that than the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. Here in Tofino, nature isn’t just a backdrop—it’s the playground, the teacher, the healer, and the heart of the community.

Nature Is Necessary

Spending time in nature has been proven to improve mental health, boost creativity, reduce stress, and increase focus in kids. It helps children build resilience, practice problem-solving, and gain confidence through real-world experiences—not just imagined ones on a screen. Climbing driftwood, poking around tide pools, watching bald eagles soar overhead—these are not luxuries. They’re necessities for a well-rounded childhood.

Learning Outside the Box (and the Classroom)

Nature offers something that textbooks and classrooms can’t replicate: direct, sensory-rich experiences. Whether it’s identifying mushrooms in the forest, listening to the rhythm of the tide, or tracking tiny crab prints in the sand, these moments cultivate wonder and an instinctive understanding of the world. Kids in nature don’t just learn about ecosystems—they live inside them.

Why Tofino?

Tofino is a place where nature isn’t sanitized or scaled down. It’s raw, untamed, and alive. The beaches stretch endlessly, the forests are lush and ancient, and the wildlife is present at every turn. It’s a place where kids can be salty-haired and barefoot, where puddles are meant to be jumped in, and where curiosity leads the way.

Here, a child might spend the morning beach combing for sea glass, the afternoon exploring rainforest trails, and the evening watching the sun dip below the horizon—all in one day. The ocean teaches them humility and power. The forest teaches them patience and presence. The community teaches them respect for the land and those who have stewarded it for generations.

Raising Wild and Free Kids

In Tofino, kids are given permission to roam, to fall down and get back up, to get muddy, sandy, and soaked. And in doing so, they grow strong—not just in body, but in spirit. They learn that adventure isn’t always far away; sometimes it starts at the end of the driveway, where the salal meets the sand.

So let them climb that cedar. Let them howl with the wolves in their imagination. Let them run with no shoes and no plan. Childhood doesn’t last forever—but the lessons nature teaches will stay with them for life.

Tofino is more than a destination. It’s a call to the wild inside every child (big and small). Here are 10 things for kids to do in Tofino this summer:

• Tide Pool Treasure Hunts
  Explore the intertidal zones at Tinwis Beach. Look for sea stars, hermit crabs, and anemones—it’s like a real-life marine safari!

• Beach Clean Adventures
  Turn eco-education into a fun mission. Give kids gloves, buckets, and the challenge to collect the most (or weirdest) bits of litter.

• Learn to Surf (or Boogie Board!)
  Several local surf schools offer kid-friendly lessons. The gentle summer waves at Cox Bay or Chesterman are ideal for little groms getting their first taste of stoke.

• Rainforest Walks and Scavenger Hunts
  Walk the Rainforest Trail in Pacific Rim National Park and spot mushrooms, nurse logs, banana slugs, and giant ferns.

• Sandcastle Building at Tinwis Beach
  This sheltered beach is perfect for long days of building moats, forts, and fantasy worlds in the sand.

• Campfire + S’mores Night
  Gather around a beach fire (check the regulations!) and let the kids roast marshmallows under the stars—with waves as your soundtrack.

• Destination: Ice Cream 
  Grab a bike and tour the multi-use path (MUP) that leads from the resort to the ice cream parlour (Chocolate Tofino)

• Go Whale or Bear Watching
  Local tour companies offer safe, family-friendly wildlife excursions that bring kids up close (but not too close) to Tofino’s fuzzy residents.

• Paddleboarding in the Inlet
  For older kids, the protected waters of Tinwis beach are perfect for trying stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). Rentals and kid-sized boards available!

• Join a Kids’ Art or Nature Workshop
  Check out the Tofino Community Hall, Clayoquot Biosphere Centre, or local galleries for summer programming tailored to young creatives and curious minds.

Elevate Playtime

There’s something magical about exploring the shoreline with a bucket in hand and purpose in your step. A beach clean turns every walk into an adventure—one where kids (and grown-ups) can become ocean guardians and treasure hunters all at once. As they scan the sand for bits of plastic, forgotten fishing line, or rogue bottle caps, they’re also discovering driftwood forts, curious sea creatures, and the rhythm of the tides. It’s hands-on stewardship disguised as play—a chance to learn about the impact of waste, the value of community care, and the incredible beauty worth protecting. Every piece picked up is a small act of love for the coast, and every clean-up is a reminder that even tiny hands can make big waves.

Join Washed Up Wednesdays: https://tourismtofino.com/events-festivals/washed-up-wednesdays-beach-clean/

More things to do with the family: Tourism Tofino Event Listing