Scavenger Hunts for the Whole Family

Take your quest for some great family fun Outside! Scavenger hunts are an easy way for families with kids of all ages to spend time together. So put on your scavenger hats, and then read on to decide the next hunt you are going to tackle.

Seek and Find (Young Children)

On a piece of paper, sketch five to ten things you see outdoors around your house, such as a sandbox toy, shed, mailbox, or flowerpot. Make a small box below each item, and explain to your kids that each time they find an item in your yard, they can color in the box. Head outdoors and help as needed.

For an added challenge, expand your search to the whole neighborhood, adding things like street signs, a neighbor’s porch swing, or the basketball court one street over. Then reverse roles by letting your kids select and sketch items, while you take the hunt.

Name that Tree (Older Children)

How many trees can your family name? Make a list of native trees in your area, and browse images of what they look like in a book or online. Then take a walk around your neighborhood, a local park, or some stretch of nature to see how many you can find. Each time you spot one, take a few minutes to look closely at the roots, bark, leaves, and any flowers or fruit. What do you notice?

Geocaching (Adolescents and Teens)

For the ultimate treasure hunt, try geocaching, an updated version of the century-old game letterboxing. How does it work? Your family gets a list of coordinates from a geocaching website, and sets off to find a small treasure (a waterproof container) known as a “cache.” Each cache holds a logbook for recording when and where you find it, plus other “treasures” (small toys, coins) you can keep.