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Printable Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
This Printable Outdoor Scavenger Hunt is a blast! Kids get to locate elements of nature and race to check off every item on their list. An outdoor scavenger hunt is the perfect way to get the little ones outside in the backyard and active this summer! This scavenger hunt is so fun to play at a birthday party, on a playdate, with siblings, or solo!
Free Printable Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Now that the weather has warmed up, our kids have been loving spending plenty of time outdoors. Whether they are at the pool or playing with their friends, summer days are made for exploring outside and enjoying the sun. When summer rolls around, I am always on the lookout for creative ways to occupy the kids’ time. If you also have young kids, you know that “relaxation” isn’t really in their vocabulary! Plus, finding new ways to play is a great way to exercise their creativity and get them to think in new ways. This is why we created this fun and simple nature scavenger hunt. You can collect your treasures in your own backyard or even a local park!
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This printable outdoor scavenger hunt is a great activity to give kids a fun challenge and get them outside when the weather is nice! Kids get to locate certain elements of nature, like insects, pinecone, puddles, and a piece of tree bark. When I was creating this outdoor scavenger hunt, I wanted to include a mix of items. Some are relatively easy to find, while others are a little more unique. For example, a rock should be simple to locate, while “something fuzzy” is a bit more challenging to find. The great part about the hunt is that it suits a wide variety of ages, so younger and older kids can enjoy the activity equally. Kids can also practice teamwork by working together to find the items as opposed to splitting up into teams!
What is a scavenger hunt?
A scavenger hunt is a game with the purpose of finding certain items. There are several ways to play scavenger hunts. Scavenger hunts can be done in teams, pairs, or with individuals searching by themselves. The winner is usually the first team or person to locate every item on their list! I like to have small prizes waiting at the end for the winner. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but it makes the hunt a bit more fun and competitive. Of course, no reward is necessary to have a blast on a scavenger hunt — it’s totally optional!
What are some tips for outdoor scavenger hunts?
When my kids are outside, I like to keep an eye on them to make sure they stay out of trouble. I recommend setting boundaries of where they can search and how far they can go. This keeps everyone safe and prevents anyone from getting lost. For young kids, you can walk around with them as they go about the scavenger hunt. I also recommend doing this outdoor scavenger hunt while it is light outside. Playing in the dark would make it difficult to see items and for you to keep an eye on everyone!
Tips for Printing and Using your Outdoor Scavenger Hunt:
- Print your Outdoor Scavenger Hunt list on a piece of cardstock – this will hold up better in the outdoor elements! Better yet, laminate it for future adventures! Just grab some dry-erase markers for an easy way to mark things off your list.
- Grab a clipboard and a pencil for easy marking before heading outdoors.
- If available add elements like a magnifying glass or binoculars to explore the world even more. Kids love seeing things up close and personal!
- Offer clues and riddles to kids while they are on their nature hunt to help them find things.
Photo Scavenger Hunt:
Put those smartphones to good use! Let kids run around with a camera or cellphone to grab pictures of their list of items. This eliminates the need for a basket to hold specific items or for kids to have to collect creatures they may not want to touch. 🙂 While we prefer to have our hunt be free from screen time this is a fun option for older kids.
More free printable kids’ activities:
Looking for more creative ways to keep the little ones busy this summer or any day of the year? I’ve got plenty of amazing kids’ activities and printables for all ages on the blog! Here are a few of my favorite free printable activities and crafts for kids:
- Free Printable Dinosaur Coloring Pages
- Family Game Night Printable Score Card
- Paper Roll Dragon Craft
- Handprint Lion Craft
- Printable Dinosaur Coloring Activity
