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Scavenger hunts are an exciting way to get children exploring the natural world. They are also a great way to add fun to family walks.
Get some ideas from the themes below and use them to make your own scavenger hunt lists.
In spring, nature starts to wake up from its long winter sleep. Trees burst into leaf, flowers cover the ground and animals emerge from hibernation. There’s so much to see, can you find…
Head to the woods on a summer's day and look out for...
Autumn is the season of wonderful natural treasure, from crisp fallen leaves to shiny conkers. It’s the ideal time for a scavenger hunt, so visit your local wood and see if you can track down…
Trees may be bare and animals tucked up in hibernation, but there’s still plenty to spot on a trip to the woods in winter.
Credit: Michael Heffernan / WTML
Scavenger hunts encourage children to use and develop their observation skills. When they are hunting for treasures they pay more attention to their surroundings and notice things they may have missed otherwise. So they are a wonderful way to help youngsters increase their awareness of the environment.
You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled for this activity. Hunt for really small things you can fit into a matchbox. Collect little leaves, blades of grass, small snail shells, tiny twigs, feathers and pebbles. Turn it into a competition with your family – who can fit the most items inside their box?
You can take a magnifying glass on your scavenger hunt to help children to investigate their finds. Can they see intricate patterns, subtle colour changes and interesting textures?
This is ideal for little ones – simply encourage them to find different colours in nature. A red ladybird, blue sky, green grass, a yellow flower petal…
For older children, collect some paint chips from a DIY store and challenge them to match items to different shades of each colour.
A scavenger hunt doesn’t have to be sight-based. Have a go at exploring with your other senses, such as touch. Can you find…
Encourage children to let their imaginations run wild while hunting for make-believe items. If they love playing pirates, look out for shipwrecks (fallen trees), cannon balls (conkers), parrot feathers, and an X marking the spot of buried treasure (crossed fallen twigs).
If fairies are in favour, look for evidence of elves and fairies in the woods. Can you find secret doorways in trees, toadstool seats, flower petal hats or acorn cup goblets?
You can even get inspired by your children’s favourite books and hunt for the Gruffalo’s footprints, the Magic Faraway Tree, or the Whomping Willow.
We hope these ideas inspire your family to head off on a woodland adventure. For more activities you can do together, take a look at family membership.
Our family membership helps you and your kids enjoy special moments together, learning about amazing trees and wildlife.
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