Are you looking for a fun way to get your kids interested in the great outdoors? This unique Nature Scavenger Hunt printable is perfect for a family hike, park walks, or backyard exploration. Different from other outdoor scavenger hunts, it explores the sky, trees, and even the bright colors of nature. Grab your hiking boots, it’s time for an outdoor adventure.
Are you looking to get your kids outdoors to explore nature? A nature scavenger hunt for kids is the perfect activity for discovery, fresh air, and adventure! From exploring insects, learning about trees, or collecting rocks and flowers, this scavenger hunt will give your kids a fun and educational way to explore the great outdoors. Get ready to put on your hiking boots and go on an adventure!
Benefits of a Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt
As animals and plants emerge from a long winter hibernation, so can we! There are many benefits to getting outside. While the kids might not care about the benefits, it’s good for us as parents to see how an outdoor adventure can be good for the soul.
Promotes an appreciation for the natural environment.
Going on a nature treasure hunt allows you to observe and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. You get to explore different areas of nature that you may not have ventured into before. A few big-picture observations are obvious, but how about getting down to the nitty-gritty? Observe insects as they travel in and out of the entrance to their home. Watch how the wind creates a dance in a field of wildflowers.
Encourages physical activity.
A nature scavenger hunt encourages you to get outdoors and stay physically active. It is a great way to get your daily dose of exercise and fresh air! A hike through a field doesn’t have to be vigorous. In fact, you might not even realize the motions are you going through as you are distracted by the outdoor activity. Want to make it more challenging, incorporate a set of 10 exercises between each activity.
Fosters teamwork skills.
Scavenger hunts are great for bonding with family, friends, or colleagues. Working together towards completing goals promotes teamwork and collaboration within groups. They also can act as an ice breaker for getting to know new friends. Perfect for summer camp or a youth group.
Teaches problem-solving skills.
Solving puzzles or puzzles while on the hunt requires critical thinking and encourages creative problem-solving skills. While this particular scavenger hunt isn’t very challenging, there is a nature checklist that might require a few great detectives to fulfill all the checks.
Makes lasting memories.
Going on a nature scavenger hunt creates a unique experience that can be fondly remembered for years to come! It is the perfect way to make family memories that will last a lifetime. In fact, fresh air and exploration release endorphins. Endorphins open the memory bank for new files. This out-of-the-box activity will be one they won’t forget and will talk about for years.
Enhances knowledge of nature.
By going on a nature scavenger hunt, you can learn new things about the environment and its animal inhabitants. You can increase your understanding of how different plants and animals interact with each other in their natural habitat. Instead of looking at the bigger picture, you are led through this printable outdoor activity to focus on the little things that together build the bigger picture. (For example the leaves instead of the trees or instead of the forest.)
So clearly, the benefits of nature are important. Let’s take a look at the spy games & activities we can do outside to create adventure.
What’s included in the printable nature scavenger hunt PDF?
This nature scavenger hunt printable PDF set is different from your traditional scavenger hunts. It includes two windows for exploring nature, a color wheel, and an editable nature scavenger hunt checklist. That means you can person the hunt to your location or season (winter, spring, summer, or fall!)
Let’s take a look at the parts of the nature scavenger hunt.
Leaf Viewer Window
First, take a look at this leaf finder. See if you can discover the types of tees around you from the leaf shape. Types of trees in the leafe viewer include…
- Chesnut
- Elm
- Walnut
- Aspen
- Ash
- Maple
- Oak
- Birch
- Poplar
- Rowan
- Boxelder Maple
Cut out the center of this tree viewer and use it as a window to identify the different kinds of trees in your area.
Cloud Viewer Window
In addition to the ground, search the sky. Take a look at the beautiful shapes and different types of clouds in nature. The ten basic cloud types that can be discovered in the printable sky viewer include…
- Cumulus
- Altocumulus
- Cirrus
- Stratus
- Nimbostratus
- Cirrocumulus
- Stratocumulus
- Altostratus
- Cirrostratus
- Cumulonimbus
Cut out the center of this cloud viewer and use it as a window to identify the different kinds of clouds.
Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt Checklist
This part of the scavenger hunt printable list is pretty quick and easy. You can use it for a nature hunt with the list of items we added. Items included in the printable checklist include…
- Moss
- Beehive
- Rock formation
- Animal droppings
- Lizard
- Cocoon
- Ant hill
- Bird nest
- Acorn
- Caterpillar
- Nuts
- Frog
- Fruits
- Worms
- Feathers
- Snails
- Clover
- Mud puddle
- Pine cones
- Walking stick
These are pretty specific items that might not be available during the season you using the outdoor nature scavenger hunt. If these items are not a fit, this is a part of the nature scavenger hunt that is an editable PDF. Add your own items to create a scavenger hunt checklist of the world around you.
You have the option to laminate this outdoor scavenger hunt checklist. If you do, use dry-erase markers to check off each item you find.
Nature Color Wheel
This color wheel is a perfect companion to discovering nature. The world around us is beautiful and full of vibrant colors. The outdoors is its own natural history museum full of animals, plants, fungi, ecosystems, geology, and more.
Using the colorful scavenger hunt wheel. bring together all of these amazing colors found in nature by attaching them to your color wheel. When you identify one of the colors on your wheel, drop your own discovery in a brown bag.
How to do a Nature Scavenger Hunt
First, download your printable scavenger hunts for the outdoors. Then print off enough copies for each person participating.
Using a Nature Scavenger Hunt PDF set is easy and fun! Before you begin a nature hike scavenger hunt, scout a location. This can be done at a National park, hiking trail, a playground, in the neighborhood, or even in your own backyard.
Next, gather your supplies. Grab pencils, brown bags, a pail, or even jars to collect your own natural world in a jar. Additional items might include a journal, nature notebook, compass, or binoculars.
Explain to toddlers and young kids the importance of being safe in the great outdoors. Stay near an adult or a teen sibling. Watch out for harmful plants and animals. Ask before touching.
Finally, visit your location. As you go through your nature walk, have each participant check off natural items from the scavenger hunt list that they find in their surroundings.
A few nature scavenger hunt ideas can include making this a fun outdoor competition. The first person to complete their scavenger hunt wins! You can have fun prizes for the winners or all the contestants. In addition, you can keep a collection of your different items and come home and make this a nature arts & craft activity. Make a fun collage of all the items you collect.
Want something a bit more challenging? Don’t forget to check out these outdoor scavenger hunt clue riddles to add even more fun to the scavenger hunt. Pair teenagers with younger kids and race from place to play using 20 scavenger hunt riddles.
Get the Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable
The great part about nature scavenger hunt printables is that they are easy to set up! Simply download the printable version of your desired scavenger hunt set and hit print. Or print them all for a fun addition to a nature journal. Once you have your printouts, go out and get ready for an adventure!
It’s so much fun to go out and enjoy nature with friends and family!
Download the nature scavenger hunt for kids
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More Fun Outdoor Activities
Get outside. Fresh air can do the body and mind good. If you are looking for outdoor activities for kids and adults, enjoy some of these fun ideas. These can be done as a family, at a birthday party, for a youth group, at recess, or at a small gathering of friends in the neighborhood. Whatever the reason, these activities are a lot of fun for people of all ages.
First up, go on a treasure hunt at home. This outdoor scavenger hunt can be done in any outside setting. There are a few clues that are fitting for the backyard or around the house, but those clues can be taken out and these clues can be used in a field, on a playground, at a park, and more. Pin to Pinterest.
Since you’re outdoors, how about a few outdoor games? If you love games, then you will love minute to win it outdoor games. They are face-paced, pretty funny, and promote teamwork and plenty of friendly competition. Pin to Pinterest.
Youth groups, parties, PE class – these are classic outdoor games for kids of all ages. Use the backyard or at a park or playground. Pin to Pinterest.
If you are going outdoors, make it a family adventure. This family bucket list features some of the best hiking trails in the US. Pin to Pinterest.
Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your outdoor kids’ activity ideas. Did you use this printable outdoor scavenger hunt set? 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.
