Monday, July 8, 2013

Kids Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas

Kids Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas

Scavenger hunts get kids moving and engage their thought processes as they search. The basic idea behind a scavenger hunt is to give the kids a list of items to find. You can work together as one group or divide kids into smaller groups for a competition. Each group should have an adult supervisor if you plan to go out into the community. After a predetermined amount of time, the kids return to see how many items they found. There are many different outdoor scavenger hunt themes to try.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

    The outdoors lends itself well to a nature scavenger hunt. The specific items on the list will depend on your environment and the exact location of the scavenger hunt. The items found on a beach will vary greatly from the natural items in a forest. Once you decide on the specific location of the nature scavenger hunt, you can create a list of items. Most scavenger hunt lists include items that are easy to find and some that are more difficult. This provides a challenge, while ensuring that no child or group returns empty-handed.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

    Sending a digital camera with each group is an alternative to having them physically collect the items on the list. This is a good idea if you want them to find large items. It also avoids disrupting natural items that are better left undisturbed. Most photo scavenger hunts require that at least part of the group appears next to the object. If the kids' scavenger hunt will occur all over town, major landmarks are a good option to include on the list. If you are holding the scavenger hunt in a more natural area, include types of trees, plants or animals on the list.

Outdoor ABCs

    Kids are never too old to practice their ABCs. This scavenger hunt is simple to prepare since you won't have a specific list of items. The goal for the kids is to find objects that start with each letter of the alphabet. For example, they might choose a rock for the letter "R" or a leaf for the letter "L." This scavenger hunt theme works well with the photography idea since the kids are likely to find large items that fit certain letters.

Acts of Kindness

    Instead of asking the kids to gather items, this scavenger hunt encourages them to perform acts of kindness around the neighborhood. The list should include several community service or kind acts the kids can quickly perform. Examples include help someone carry groceries, clean off a sidewalk, pick up litter or sing a song to someone. The age of the kids will influence the type of activities they can complete. This scavenger hunt works best in a busy neighborhood with lots of people.