how do you make a nature scavenger hunt

How to Make Your Own Nature Scavenger Hunt

• Choose a theme. Themed nature scavenger hunts are often determined by location or season. ...
• Create a list. Once you have a theme for your nature scavenger hunt, think of items you might be able to discover. ...
• Go hunting! Don’t forget to bring along your scavenger hunt list and something to write with. ...
• Enjoy a prize, together. ...
• Nature scavenger hunt lists ...

Full Answer

How to create your own hunt in 8 steps?

Step 1: Define the hunt

• Location of the scavenger hunt Is the location safe? Make sure there is no potential danger to your guests Do you have permission to go there? ...
• Time What time of the day will you have the scavenger hunt? Will you need torches?
• Weather Is it outdoors? Have you looked at the weather forecast for the day? ...
• Group What is the age of the participants? ...

How to organize a Halloween scavenger hunt?

• Find a free printable Halloween scavenger hunt game sheet to use. ...
• Make sure everyone has a cell phone or camera if you are going to play it as a photo scavenger hunt.
• Give everyone pens or pencils if you are going to have them check the items off the scavenger hunt game sheets.

More items...

How to set up a nature scavenger hunt?

• A magnifying glass to see up close
• A couple of field guides (birds, trees, weed, reptiles, wild flowers, etc)
• A notebook a colored pencils to sketch what you see
• A camera to take pictures of what you can’t bring home
• Binoculars to see things far away
• A butterfly net (catch and release!)
• A bug box (catch and release!)

How to make a great treasure hunt?

Tips for Indoor Hunts

• Try an Ultra Small-Scale Hunt. You can hold a treasure hunt on a single bookshelf or in a single cupboard! ...
• Make Sure Participants Don't Find Clues Out of Order. If you're centering your hunt on a single room, it's more likely that your clue-solvers might accidentally find the clues out ...
• Pet-Proof Your Hunt. ...

Why do kids go on scavenger hunts?

Can you make a scavenger hunt yourself?

What can you find in a nature scavenger hunt?

Send your little ones outside with a super fun nature scavenger hunt idea that's easy to put together and that will keep them busy for a least an hour....Items to Find in NatureRock.Feather.Pinecone.Shell.Piece of bark.Dried-up flower.Acorn.Three-leaf clover.More items...•

What are some good outdoor scavenger hunt clues?

Readymade Treasure Hunt CluesI'm a friend to parents who like things neat. ... I give privacy from the folks next door. ... Everyone loves me. ... I swing out and in to let you through. ... On me, you can speed like a bird in the sky. ... I sit very still when I don't have a rider. ... I have a ring, but you can't wear it.More items...•

How do you plan an outdoor scavenger hunt?

How to Plan a Scavenger HuntChoose your location(s) and time of day. ... Decide what type of scavenger hunt you want to do. ... Create your lists. ... Hide the clues and/or objects. ... Give each team the list of objects and/or clues. ... First one to complete all the clues and grab the final object wins!

How do you make an easy scavenger hunt?

Follow these basic steps for a successful scavenger hunt:Hide objects (optional). ... Make and distribute a list of items for participants to find; determine whether they need to bring the items back or just photograph them or check them off of their list.Define the search perimeter.More items...•

How do you make clues for a scavenger hunt?

Using numbers in place of letters is an easy way to create the code (eg. 1=a, 2=b, 3=c, etc.), but using pictures or symbols can add a little something special. Using the number code 2-1-20-8-18-15-15-13 = BATHROOM, so once deciphered, hunters would know to look for their next clue in the bathroom.

What do you put at the end of a scavenger hunt?

And so on and so forth. In the final destination, include a “CONGRATULATIONS” note or prize to signal the end of the scavenger hunt.

How long should a scavenger hunt be?

Create a time limit for the scavenger hunt. We recommend between 10 to 15 minutes. But if you have a long list and a larger group, make sure they have ample time to search their homes. Once the time is up, have everyone re-gather, and the person or team with the most points wins!

What are the rules for a scavenger hunt?

How to play:Create a list of things to find, hear or do. ... Create a time limit (optional).Give children the list and let them scavenge around and find, smell or do all of the things on their list.The player or team who ticks everything off on their list first, or ticks off the most items before the time is up, wins.

What is the difference between a scavenger hunt and treasure hunt?

In a treasure hunt there is only one thing to find (a chest with gems, for instance, which is short lived as once the thing is found it's done). A scavenger hunt gives a group of children opportunities to find many things through a quest-based format.

How do you make a scavenger hunt more interesting?

11 tips for creating an awesome treasure huntPlan your route. ... Scout out locations. ... Write and number the clues, and put them in numbered envelopes. ... Give yourself lots of time to plan. ... Get helpers' buy-in. ... Set it up. ... Prepare for contingencies. ... Add in some random rewards to keep things interesting.More items...•

How do you make a good scavenger hunt for adults?

List of scavenger hunt ideas for adultsAsk participants to find old computers running on outdated operating systems. ... Ask participants to find video or tape cassettes.Ask participants to find old cell phones and take a picture. ... Ask participants to find old magazines and share exciting insights that they learn.

How do you plan a scavenger hunt around a town?

5 Steps To Plan A Scavenger Hunt in Your TownHave each family provide clues. You should aim to have at least 20-25 clues. ... Meet at a designated place so everyone is starting from the same location. When the clock strikes your designated time, head out. ... Create a time limit. ... Decide who is the winner. ... Give out the prize.

How do you make a scavenger hunt for kids?

0:251:31How to Plan a Scavenger Hunt For Kids with Chris Pegula - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd what you're going to want to do is get some index cards. And write your clues. On the indexMoreAnd what you're going to want to do is get some index cards. And write your clues. On the index cards. And be sure to make it clear enough so that the kids will understand.

How do you play scavenger hunt with pictures?

Scavenger Hunt Game Rules Each team or individual will be given a sheet with a list of items. You must find all items and snap a photo. Once the timer ends, whoever has the most pictures wins. If participating as a team, you must always stay together.

What is scavenger hunt activity?

A scavenger hunt is a game in which the organizers prepare a list defining specific items, which the participants seek to gather or complete all items on the list, usually without purchasing them. Usually participants work in small teams, although the rules may allow individuals to participate.

How do you do a romantic scavenger hunt?

How to Plan a Romantic Treasure Hunt1 Choose the location of the final treasure first.2 Map out your route.3 Choose small gifts to plant at each stop.4 Design the cards to write your clues on.5 Introduce the idea of the hunt in the first clue.6 Write riddle clues if your partner likes to solve puzzles.More items...

Supplies for a Nature Scavenger Hunt

One of the great things about doing a nature scavenger hunt with the kids is that it needs next to no preparation. Just a few simple supplies and you are ready to go!

How to Do a Nature Scavenger Hunt (for All Ages!)

Not sure exactly HOW to hold a scavenger hunt outside? Here are a few tips to get you started.

Extras to Bring on Your Scavenger Hunt

Don’t just stick with paper and markers- make the scavenger hunt a full body experience!

How do you do a scavenger hunt?

In order to complete your scavenger hunt and find the items listed, you need to utilise your senses. You need to not only look, but actually see… not only listen, but actually hear. You begin to develop nature awareness. To find the hawthorn leaf, you must think about what a hawthorn tree looks like and where you might find one. Likewise, with the speedwell blue.

What is a nature scavenger hunt?

The idea of a nature scavenger hunt is often associated with preschools and forest schools as a fun activity to do with children. And a scavenger hunt is fun! But, it is not just for children. A nature scavenger hunt, done well, can help expand your nature awareness and grow your nature knowledge – all while also remaining enjoyable and fun.

What are the senses needed to complete a scavenger hunt?

Because, in order to successfully complete a scavenger hunt, you need to open and fully utilise all of your senses – your powers of observation, smell, touch and hearing. (As well as being sociable and helping team work, bonding and cooperation when done in a group of children!)

What do tree scavengers do?

For example, my tree scavengers help you to shift your perspective and start noticing shapes in that ‘green mass of samey trees’. While, my butterfly scavengers make you pay rapt attention to flickers of dancing movement. And, my bird scavengers require you to listen out for birds to help you locate our feathered creatures – because, as we mentioned earlier, sometimes you hear them before you can see them.

How to make a scavenger hunt?

To create a scavenger hunt, start by deciding when and where you want to have it, then create a list of items for the players to find. Be sure to consider the age of the players when choosing the items and deciding where to hide them! On the day of the hunt, divide the players into teams and give each team a list of items to find. Set a time limit and start the game! To learn about coming up with cool themes and ideas, read on!

What to include in a scavenger hunt?

If Harry Potter is on the list, consider including items such as broomsticks, owls, capes, and feather quills.

How long should a scavenger hunt last?

It is also recommended for door-to-door scavenger hunts. For very young children (preschool age) limit the scavenger hunt to no more than fifteen minutes.

What is the best time to go on a scavenger hunt?

Warm and sunny days are for outdoor scavenger hunts.

What can you base a hunt on?

Invent your own theme. You can base the hunt off of any theme you want. Here are a few just to get you started: animals, books, food, historical time period, ocean, movies, musical theater, rainforest, superhero, video games, and so forth.

Where to go for a scavenger hunt?

For older kids and adults, having the scavenger hunt around a park or city might be more interesting.

How to organize teams?

A great way to organize teams is by having people count off in numbers, such as 1 and 2. All of the 1s will be in one group, and all of the 2s will be in another.

How to start a scavenger hunt?

In traditional scavenger hunt fashion, you can start by putting together a list of items your children should find during the scavenger hunt. These items may vary based on region and what your backyard terrain is like.

How to add competition to a scavenger hunt?

Though a traditional scavenger hunt has two or more people or teams competing to get the most on the list, since your children will be working in the same space, one fun way to add some light-hearted “competition” to the scavenger hunt is by laying out the items you know you can find in your own lawn on randomized Bingo boards — the first one to hit five in a row “wins.”

What are some good scavenger hunts?

Here are a few texture-based nature scavenger hunt prompts to get you started: 1 Something brown 2 Something green 3 Something red 4 A type of seed 5 Something fuzzy 6 Three different kinds of leaves 7 Three different colored leaves 8 Something hard 9 Something soft 10 Something that makes a noise 11 Something that smells 12 Something that can fit in your hand 13 Something bigger than your hand

What are some things that can be trashed?

Add a few of these commonly trashed pieces of litter to your scavenger hunt list: One thing not found in nature. A balloon. A plastic bag. A water bottle. A soda can. A straw. A fast-food bag. An item of clothing.

Can you make a nature scavenger hunt harder?

If you want to make your nature scavenger hunt a little bit more difficult — maybe for older kids or, hey, even adults! — send participants out in nature with loose guidelines rather than specific items to check off their lists.

What to give a tween for a scavenger hunt?

Give each tween a plastic bag to put their items in as well as binoculars, a small journal, and pencil, bug spray, a magnifying glass, and their list of scavenger hunt items. Be flexible. You can add or change the list below depending on where you live, the time of year or even the time of day.

What animals are in the sand?

Five different types of shells (oyster, mussel, crab, etc.) Three different types of shorebirds (ospreys, sandpipers, seagulls, etc.) Seagrass or sea oats. Dog tracks (or other animal tracks) in the sand . A few items of trash (might as well clean the beach while you're hunting) A ghost crab (also known as a sand crab) Different colored beach sand.

Why do kids go on scavenger hunts?

Being on the “hunt” for signs of nature will help develop your child’s nature observation skills and deepen their connection to and comfort level with the outdoors.

Can you make a scavenger hunt yourself?

You can either design the scavenger hunt yourself, print one from the internet, buy one on Etsy, or ask your child to create one for you or others to do. Feel free to download our free printable with common natural critters and objects. It’s super fun to make you own hunt!