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Looking for a way to keep your kids entertained this summer? There are so many options. From water games to selfie challenges to fun treasure hunts and more. Find out the best summer scavenger hunt ideas for your family below.

Summer creates lots of free time. With free time comes new and unusual activities. Families are out of routines and are looking for fun activities for kids and adults. If you want a few family-friendly summer activities, take a look at some of these great ideas. They can be used at home, on vacation, with families, or even as summer camp activities for sleepaway or day programs.

What are some good summer activities for kids?

While consistency and routine are both necessary parts of having structure and order, it’s okay to incorporate a few unusual activities for summer with your kids.  In fact, once activities like summer reading, cleaning the room, and a chore are two are done, add some fun things to a summer bucket list for excitement and anticipation of fun summer events.

A list of summer activities for adults and kids is very easy to put together. You can simply print a free summer calendar or add a few ideas to a summer bucket list template.

• Tie-dye fabrics
• Play in a sprinkler
• Have a picnic
• Bake sweets for a firehouse of firefighters
• Go camping and sleep outdoors
• Go on a nature hike
• Play outdoor games
• Volunteer in the community
• Go bowling
• Visit a water park
• Build a fort
• Go to the beach
• Go on a scavenger hunt

See more in our fun summer activities for kids list.

In addition to this bucket list of summer activities, let’s focus on fun ideas for a scavenger hunt during summer!

Why have a scavenger hunt?

Scavenger hunts are the perfect play activity for kids. In addition to providing discovery and exploration, they are great for evoking problem-solving skills. Scavenger hunts have many benefits. They can be used as ice breakers for groups, are good for teamwork, or create a fun self-regulated activity.

Treasure hunts provide exercise for the body and mind where players can go at their own rate. Either in a leisurely fashion or a race against the clock. The best thing about scavenger hunts is the rules can be different based on the number of players, the environment, or the pace one might desire. Lastly, scavenger hunts provide excitement and unusual activities. Something that is not a part of the norm release endorphins and excitement that together create lasting memories. Scavenger hunts are fun ways to create quality time. Scavenger hunts are great for summer.

In summary, the reasons for a fun scavenger hunt include…

• Opportunity for teamwork
• Creating problem-solving skills
• Icebreakers for Groups
• Fun activities
• Discovery & exploration
• Exercise for the body and mind
• Release endorphins and excitement
• Create quality time

Now that we know the many benefits of a scavenger hunt, let’s look at some fun summer scavenger hunt examples.

Fun Summer Scavenger Hunt Ideas

While virtually any scavenger hunt can be used for summer (I mean why not?), we have a few summer-themed scavenger hunts that are ideal for the months of June, July, and August. The summer treasure hunt ideas have a bit of a theme. They include sunshine, the colors yellow and orange, pool toys, fun drinks, sprinklers, sunglasses, and pool floats. All things that you can think of when it comes to the season of summer.

Use these summer scavenger hunts for adults, teens, youth, and kids. Since they include everything from scavenger hunt riddles to scavenger hunt pictures, they are perfect for a wide range of ages. They are great youth scavenger hunts but can be adapted fo those young and older. You just need a youthful spirit and a willingness to be silly and have a bit of fun.

Take a look at these three amazingly cool summer scavenger hunt ideas.

Summer Scavenger Hunt with Clue Ideas

Summer scavenger hunt clues are great for older kids to teens. This can be adapted for children of all ages.  If you want to do these scavenger hunt riddles with younger kids, just pair them up with older children to help them seek clues. For a challenge for older kids, have a clock and turn the hunt into a timed race.

One fun thing about these clue cards is there is a fun treasure at the end. A summer scavenger hunt would be a great activity for the last day of school. Simply take the kids on a summer treasure hunt indoors and outdoors. The final prize will be an activity that starts off the summer break on the right footing. This can be something to do – like ingredients for baking cookies or can be fun prizes, like new pool or beach toys.

You can grab these 20 printable scavenger hunt riddles for summer. Download, print, and then cut out the clue cards. Use only the clues that fit your home/scavenger hunt setting.

Get the Summer Treasure Hunt Clue Cards

Summer Scavenger Hunt List

Want a scavenger hunt list that could be used for toddlers or younger kids? These scavenger hunt pictures create an easy activity for 3-year-olds and up. Simply look at the pictures and try to find an item.

This summer scavenger hunt checklist comes in two styles. One includes summer pictures or images. The second scavenger hunt template is open-ended like find something blue, or find an oval, or find something cold. Similar to an I Spy summer activity, these broad summer scavenger hunt ideas allow everyone o come up with a dinner answer.

These summer scavenger hunt checklists can be done in one day or used over a period of time. If you want to do this summer list with older kids, add a timer for a challenge. Players can race against the clock or race against each other in teams.

Get the Summer Treasure Hunt List

Summer Scavenger Hunt for Teens

Don’t leave the older kids off the fun ideas for summer activities. We both know nothing is more important to a teen than their cell phone. In this summer photo scavenger hunt, teens can take selfies of different items. Don’t prefer that’s on the list, then download the summer scavenger hunt template and add your own ideas.

If you are looking for summer youth activities for church, summer camp, and various events, then this is a great resource. Pair up players into teams and do it early in the season for summer icebreaker ideas. YOu can also do it at the end of summer as a back-to-school summer scavenger hunt for students before the first bell rings.

Get the Summer Selife Challenge PDF

Summer Scavenger Hunt Printables

Ready for treasure hunts? Use these summer scavenger hunts for adults and kids. Pick the one that is the perfect fit for you or take ea look at our entire list of printable scavenger hunts.

• 20 Summer Scavenger Hunt Riddles Clue Cards
• Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt (with blank Selife scavenger hunt template)
• Summer Scavenger Hunt Checklist for Young Kids (two styles)

These are non-editable Scavenger Hunt hunts. Download, print, cut (if necessary), and play!

View all Scavenger Hunt Printables

Free Printables

Want more than summer treasure hunts? Grab this entire Summer Bucket list and free summer calendar. Download this summer bucket list and summer planner the free printable library.

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How to Print at Staples

Don’t have a printer? You can print at your local print shop or your Staples Printing Center. Watch this video for how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

More Cool Summer Activities for Kids

Summer games are more than the Olympics. Host your own summer activities with youth, teens, and kids. We have plenty of fun ideas for summer including a huge list of ideas for summer games. These summer activities can be played on a trip, in a local park, in the sprinkler, or even in your pool during the day, or in your backyard at night.

Organize a bit of fun with these printable summer activity ideas.

• Backyard Games
• Water Minute to Win It Games
• Minute to Win It Outdoor Games
• Trampoline Games
• Outdoor Night Games
• Pool Party Games
• Camping Games
• Beach games
• Lake Games

These printable summer activities are easy to put together. The hardest part might be putting a new ink cartridge in your color printer. Enjoy the fun!

More Cool Scavenger Hunts that can be used during summer

If you are a huge fan of scavenger hunt riddles and treasure hunt lists, take a look at this huge selection of scavenger hunts you can do during summer.

• Backyard Scavenger Hunt
• Hotel Scavenger Hunt
• Airport Scavenger Hunt
• Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
• Camping Scavenger Hunt
• Playground Scavenger Hunt
• Back to School Scavenger Hunt
• Zoo Animal Scavenger Hunt
• Virtual Scavenger Hunt
• Grocery Store Scavenger Hunt
• Indoor Scavenger Hunt
• Beach Scavenger Hunt
• Museum Scavenger Hunt

There are plenty more cool scavenger hunt ideas. See all of the printable scavenger hunts in the Frugal Coupon Living shop.

Cool Summer Activity Tip: Want to cool off? Turn any of these summer activities or summer scavenger hunts into something cool. All games can be turned into water games for a super cool, cool summer! Cool down when you add a sprinkler, water guns, water balloons, and more. Each of these different items can replace summer game supplies or can even be used in the background. For example, an outdoor scavenger hunt with a sprinkler running. If you are turning summer games into something wet n wild, make sure to laminate your printables to protect them from getting wet and damanges.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your cool scavenger hunt summer ideas.  Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.