Although nature is recognized as a setting that stimulates children’s joy and wonder, few studies have examined the negative emotions that children experience in nature. This qualitative study explored 4–5-year-old Alaskan children’s emotional, behavioural, and cognitive expressions of fear and anxiety during an outdoor excursion. Data was collected through sensory tours, in which children were equipped with wearable cameras while they explored. Findings revealed that half of the 20 children expressed fear and anxiety. Four themes (physical discomfort, trouble navigating, imagined danger, feeling scared and lost) characterized children’s fearful encounters. Children created fearful situations by imaging monsters, snakes, and alligators. Encountering dark and fallen limbs, navigating the tall grass and a slippery boardwalk provoked feeling lost and scared. Children self-regulated their fearful experiences through self-talk and staying close to one another. By paying attention to children’s fearful emotions, adults can better support children’s formative experiences in the natural world. (author abstract)