For parents & guardians
Kids don't remember the screen.
They remember the day.
Spot it. Snap it. Collect it.
If you're the parent who'd rather they come home muddy than glazed over a feed — this is built for you. Most "educational" apps never leave the couch. HabitatLab only rewards a real, verified outdoor photo. Along the way your child learns the wildlife in your own backyard — and you get a clear picture of what stuck.
From walks to real science
What changes for your child
Before: outdoor time that vanishes into "we went for a walk." After: named science strands, nature words, and a collection built from places you actually live. Same topics kids meet in school — learned outside.
They can sort living things into families — and say what makes a bird a bird.
They can explain where an animal lives, and why it lives there.
They can trace who eats who, from the sun to the top of the chain.
They follow metamorphosis, migration, and nature's calendar.
They spot how a body fits its job — camouflage, beaks, defenses.
Native vs. invasive, endangered, pollinators — and how to help.
Every month, see exactly what your child learned — species discovered, science strands growing, new nature words, and questions worth asking at dinner. It's the receipt for real learning. Included with Pro.
No camera-roll uploads. No screenshots. Every reward is a real, in-the-moment outdoor snap.
No public messaging, no stranger DMs, no ads. Leaf Coins buy cosmetics only. The free plan is free forever with 3 new catches a month; Pro and Family are optional paid plans — a grown-up math gate sits in front of those purchases and account changes.
Six Field Science strands, hands-on units, a deep guide on every species, and a monthly report — not a vague 'educational' badge.
Works for a solo kid or a whole family. Nothing punishes a slow day or a short walk.
Session shape is intentional: pick a target, close the phone, move. Log it when you're done.
The free plan is free forever with 3 new catches a month — no card. Pro (one explorer) or Family (up to five) adds 30 shots of film a day, the games and the learning. Your cards stay yours either way. Cancel anytime.
Who this is not for
HabitatLab is not a passive tablet game. If you only want indoor screen time with a nature skin, this will frustrate you — by design.
- • No manipulative streak notifications designed to guilt kids into the app.
- • No engagement metrics that reward staying on the phone.
- • No sale of personal data. Ever.
- • Location on public cards defaults to state-level or hidden.
- • Leaf Coin shop items are cosmetic — they never buy an unfair edge. Pro and Family are real-money plans; the free plan stays free.
Start with a 20-minute backyard hunt
Not sure what to look for? Our free guides list the wild things kids can find near home, with a printable checklist for each.
Questions parents ask
HabitatLab is a real-world nature collecting game. You photograph animals, plants, and bugs you notice outside. Vision AI checks the shot is a real outdoor catch, then the card lands in your Living Dex.
No. It is a collecting game first. The layout and games are built so kids want to open it, and plenty of adults play it solo. Families do use their Dex as a nature record, but nothing here is a curriculum.
Your full Living Dex is not a public feed of strangers. Close family seats can view and cheer your cards. Pro adds friends and friend profiles. Public boards are different: if your explorer account is public, other people can see your handle, state, and rank on the leaderboards (and a limited public profile) without signing in. Grown-up or solo accounts start public and can switch off anytime. Kid accounts on family seats stay private unless a parent turns public ranking on. Boards show handle and state, not your real name, face, address, or map pin.
HabitatLab is free forever — your Living Dex, your gallery, sharing and the leaderboards, plus 3 new catches every month. Pro and Family are optional paid plans that open 30 shots of film a day (plus film you earn in play), the games and the learning. Your cards stay yours either way.
Leaf Coins are earned in play and spend only on cosmetics such as frames, effects, skies, and titles. They are not real money. The only real-money purchases are the optional Pro and Family plans.
Purchases, account changes, and account deletion are gated behind a multi-digit math challenge so a child cannot complete them alone. The gate is not used for every outbound link. It is not verified parental consent (VPC).
No. HabitatLab is built for families and does not claim COPPA-complete status. The math gate is not verified parental consent (VPC).
Leaf Coins buy cosmetics only. Pro is a paid plan for one explorer that adds 30 shots of film a day, friends, profiles, and state rank. Family is a paid plan with a small number of close seats. Cosmetics never buy an unfair play advantage.
No card. No ads. Cancel any time.