Inspire your kids with these awesome outdoor scavenger hunts (many with free printables!)
Scavenger hunts with kids are some of our favorite outdoor activities (as you may have guessed 🙂 They can be done together, as an independent activity, with a group of friends and are just so darn easy! Just grab a list & go!
40 Outdoor Scavenger Hunts for Kids
It’s those long school days that always get me thinking about how much time our kids are stuck indoors. Even with recess (which has so many caveats these days – too hot, too rainy, etc), the majority of their seven hour school day is in the classroom. So once they get home from school, I love to have some outdoor activities ready to go!
Here are a few tips for scavenger hunts along with affiliate links for items we love to use:
- We always bring along a 9 x 12 clipboard where you can attach your scavenger hunt and pen so it won’t get lost or blow away – plus it makes it easy to check off items as you find them.
- Some kids will be very focused on finding ALL the items (in which case, you may be hunting for a long time 😉 so be sure to introduce the activity with “finding as many items as we can” or tell your kids it’s a hunt you can do over more than one day.
- Other must-have items to have on a hunt include a kid-friendly magnifying glass, a flashlight (if the hunt will be done at night) and a hat!
- And for most hunts, you’ll want to add in the reminder that you’re just looking for the items – they don’t actually have to be collected and brought home with you 🙂 Many of the hunts can be turned into photo scavenger hunts too – all you need is your cell phone!
One of the things I love about this group of hunts is that there’s such a great variety. Outdoor scavenger hunt seems to be synonmous with a nature hunt — but really, it’s not. There are so many different types of outdoor experiences for kids and their families — a zoo visit, camping, scouting out holiday decorations, exploring after dark.
Print a few to keep on hand and time outside will soon be something that happens on a regular basis!
Scavenger Hunts for Outdoor Places
Playground Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Camping Scavenger Hunt (easy) || Easy Coast Mommy
Beach Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Zoo Scavenger Hunts (6 different types!) || Every Star is Different
And another Zoo Scavenger Hunt (find animal traits!) || Edventures with Kids
Boat Ride Scavenger Hunt (& boat safety list) || The Resourceful Mama
I Spy Road Trip Hunt || The Typical Mom
I Spy Camping Hunt (harder) || Growing Up Abel
Apple Orchard & Pumpkin Patch Hunts || The Resourceful Mama
Pond Scavenger Hunt || Natural Beach Living
Outdoor Family Adventure Challenge (a bit of a twist — instead of hunting, the challenge is to ‘go do’ outdoor activities)
Outdoor Scavenger Hunts for Every Season
No matter what the season, you can also find a treasure hunt that fits the weather!
Fall Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Autumn Scavenger Hunt || Twitchetts
Fall Leaf Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Halloween Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt || Peace but not Quiet
PLUS these 18 Autumn Scavenger Hunts too!
Christmas Decoration Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Winter Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Spring Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
PLUS 20 Scavenger Hunts for Summer
Nature Scavenger Hunts for Kids
Outdoor Texture Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Garden Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Nature Walk & Rock Hunt (2 great printables!) || The Wise Old Owl Factory
Forest Scavenger Hunt (great for a hike!) || Edventures with Kids
Underground Scavenger Hunt – what a cool idea! || Preschool Powol Packets
Go on a Bug Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Simple Outdoor Hunt for Toddlers || Uno Zwe Tutu
Insect Scavenger Hunt || Preschool Powol Packets
Easy Nature Hunt – perfect for younger kids! || Easy Coast Mommy
How Many Birds Can You Find? || Fantastic Fun & Learning
Go on a Sound Walk || Buggy & Buddy
I-Spy Nature & Animal Hunt || The Joy of Boys
Play, Explore & Learn: Outside Treasure Hunts
Backyard Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Nocturnal (after dark) Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
Rainbow Photo Scavenger Hunt || Totschooling
Outdoor Photo Scavenger Hunt (great for kids & teens!) || Edventures with Kids
Hunting for Animal Tracks (best done where there’s mud, sand or snow) || Edventures with Kids
Flashlight Scavenger Hunt || Life is Sweeter by Design
Outdoor Texture Scavenger Hunt || Edventures with Kids
More Easy Outdoor Activities
DIY Nature Notebook with 50+ free printables
The Art & Science of Leaf Rubbings
