Nature Scavenger Hunt

Inspire outdoor play, creativity, critical thinking and exploration with this backyard nature scavenger hunt.

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Are you looking for free outdoor activities to get your children outside and creative? What’s better than an outdoor scavenger hunt to spark creativity, critical thinking and exploration for your children. Scavenger hunts can be educational, and a learning experience while keeping your children engaged and entertained.

Being outside and exploring nature has proven studies showing reduced stress, relaxing, and creating happier kids with healthier habits. Sometimes, especially with our younger kids, it’s important to provide structured play ideas to inspire their creativity. Over time, children will develop the skills needed to be self-sustained in creativity and imagination. It’s our job as parents to teach them how to use those skills and get to the point of self-sustained play.

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Outdoor Play: Nature Scavenger Hunt

The great thing about a nature scavenger hunt is that the supplies you need are readily available in your back yard! You can walk out your door and be prepared for this activity. You can also choose to take this to a hiking trail, park, or other outdoor area you prefer.

This nature scavenger hunt can be great for kids of many different ages. If you are trying to keep an older child engaged, you could even turn this into a picture collection scavenger hunt. Have your child use your phone, a camera (it’s really cool to use one of the Polaroid Cameras ‘paid link’), or anything that takes pictures. If using a polaroid camera, your child will have instant prints they can keep or create a collage with later.

Supplies Needed

• A bucket (optional for touch and feel scavenger hunt)
• A scavenger hunt printout (free downloads available below, or in my resources page)
• A willingness to explore nature!!!

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Touch and Feel Backyard Scavenger Hunt

The touch and feel backyard scavenger hunt is for items that you can pick up, hold and collect. This is what the bucket is for, which is totally optional. The touch and feel scavenger hunt provides some fun items to find, but keeps it vague enough to let your child be creative.

Free downloadable PDF below image.

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Look and Find Scavenger Hunt

The look and find scavenger hunt can spark creativity and exploration for your child. They will need to observe and explore their surroundings in order to find these items. Walk with them, and find out their ideas, what they are thinking about, and spend some time together appreciating your surroundings.

Free downloadable PDF below image.

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