Favorite Nature Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids

February 5, 2022

Updated: March 17, 2024

Nature scavenger hunts are an excellent way for children to learn and explore their natural surroundings. I’m sharing my favorite nature scavenger hunt ideas for kids, along with resources to create your own.

A child's hand touching tree bark to feel the texture during a nature scavenger hunt.

How to Make a Nature Scavenger Hunt

Print Nature Scavenger Hunt PDF
Print Blank Nature Scavenger Hunt PDF
Make you own list on a sheet of paper
Create a digital nature scavenger hunt on a notes app or by taking a screenshot
For paper copies, bring along a clipboard and a writing utensil
Bring a phone or camera to take photos

Creative Nature Scavenger Hunt Ideas

Sounds
- Wind
- Crickets
- Water Splashing
Textures
- Rough Bark
- Smooth Rocks
- Gooey Mud
- Sticky Sap
- Dusty Dirt
Colors
- One Item for Each Color
- 5-10 Items of a Single Color
Shapes & Sizes
- Something Tall
- Something Tiny
- Something Round
- Something Triangle
- Something Flat
- Something Heavy
Dusk/Nighttime
- Shadows
- Moon
- Stars or Constellations
Barefoot Texture
- Cool Grass
- Pointy Rocks
- Soft Mud
- Rough Sidewalks
- Wet Puddles
- Warm Sand
Actions
- Bird flying
- Worm crawling
- Spider spinning a web
- Dog barking
- Leaves falling from trees

More Ideas

Think about what’s in your backyard, neighborhood, or park.
Research local nature preserves, hiking trails, beaches, and parks. Find out what types of plants and animals are there.
Check out your local environmental agency websites. Learn about common plants, animals, or natural features in your area.
Archeologist Krissy Hadick, founder of The Hadicks, suggests:
- “Add animal tracks as a fun way to problem solve with your child by determining which animal the tracks belong to.”

Free, Printable Templates

Download 6 free nature scavenger hunt PDFs, entirely free.

Image showing examples of all six different nature scavenger hunt templates for kids that are offered.

Questions & Discussion Topics

Open-Ended Questions

What do you think happened?
Where should we go next?
How can we do this differently?

Developmentally-Appropriate Discussion Topics

Toddler Topics – What they experienced like weather/sensory experiences, staying safe, not hurting plants, bugs, or animals
Preschooler Topics – Talk about plant cycles, animal behaviors, how to take care of nature
Younger Elementary Topics – Talk about how humans impact the environment, talk about the relationships between different parts of nature, talk about the natural history of the location

Why should you do a nature scavenger hunt with kids?

Kids can explore all the wonderful features of nature while learning about science and developing cognitive skills.

There are many benefits of spending time in nature, and scavenger hunts are a great way to enjoy them. Some of the benefits include:

Connection with nature
Emergent science skills
Physical activity
Mental and emotional well-being

Child looking up through binoculars while doing a nature scavenger hunt. A woman stands behind the child looking up too.

After Your Scavenger Hunt

Fill an empty jar or bottle with your discoveries from the scavenger hunt.
Create a photo album, scrapbook, or display of your photos.
Write or draw the story of your scavenger hunt.
Plan your next scavenger hunt with a blank scavenger hunt template.

Finishing Up on Scavenger Hunts for kids

Outdoor scavenger hunts help children connect with nature. Through nature scavenger hunts, children develop emergent science skills like observation. Nature play benefits children’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.