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Are you looking for a fun way to entertain a group of adults or kids? Why not plan a scavenger hunt at your local zoo? Here’s how to make your zoo adventure a hit for your kids, adult friends, or even students.

Do you love zoology? If you love studying and learning about animals, why not visit a zoo? There are great zoos to visit in the united state. Each location has different animals but many of these animal museums have common zoo animals that overlap. When prepping for a zoo visit, there is a lot you can do ahead and fun zoo activities you can do when there… like a zoo animal scavenger hunt.

Learna bout some of the best zoos to visit, what animals you might find, fun activities you can do ahead and about a printable zoo treasure hunt (for all ages) you can download today.

What are some good zoos to visit?

Are you looking to visit a zoo in the United States.  Chances are you can find a zoo in your region though it might take a day or even weekend trip. Most major cities have some sort of animal museum, but some location have rather large and amazing zoos.

These locations have some of the most amazing zoos to visit in the United States of America.

• San Diego Zoo

• Bronx Zoo

• Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

• St. Louis STL Zoo

• Washington, D.C. Smithsonian National Zoological Park

• Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

• Houston Zoo

• Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo

• Dallas Zoo

• Fort Worth Zoo

• Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

• Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

• Zoo Miami

• Los Angeles Zoo

• Zoo Atlanta

• Disney Animal Kingdom Theme Park

• Alaska Zoo

• Oklahoma City Zoo

• Kansas City Zoo

Popular Zoo Animals

Animals that are found at the Zoo can vary greatly. This can be due to the zoo’s budget, a zoo’s theme, or the climate of the park’s location.  While the zoo you visit might have different animals, these are common animals found at most major zoos.

• Tiger

• Lion

• Monkey

• Bear

• Elephant

• Giraffe

• Gorilla

• Rhino

• Hippo

• Flamingo

• Penguin

• Alligator

• Zebra

• Snake

• Penguin

Preparing for a Zoo Visit

Ready to see some of these popular animals in person? Before you go, try some of these ideas before your trip!

Books about Zoo Animals

There are plenty of fun books that give facts about animals founds at the zoo. It’s a great way to share animal facts before your visit. You can also check out the zoo gift shop and look for these books as a souvenir to continue your child’s love of zoology and animal classification after your big zoo trip.

• Weird But True Animals

• Zoology for Kids

• The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids

• The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth

• Animal!

• 5,000 Awesome Facts About Animals

• My First Zoo: Let’s Meet the Animals

Zoo Websites with Virtual Tours

While you might have your eye on a particular zoo, there is no reason you can’t visit other zoos. Take a virtual zoo of some of the more popular zoos by visiting their zoo virtual tour website.

Some of the more well-known zoos that have virtual tours are…

• Australia Zoo

• San Diego Zoo

• Houston Zoo

• San Antonio Zoo

• Smithsonian National Zoo

• Oregon Zoo

• Bronx Zoo

• Chester Zoo

Zoo Arts & Crafts

Before your zoo travel, try some zoo-themed arts and crafts. Have fun with animal activities at home with fingerprints, construction paper and other craft supplies.

• Zoo Animal Fingerprint Art
• Zoo Animal Crafts
• Zoo Animal Paper Plate Art
• Zoo Animal Alphabet Letters

Zoo Scavenger Hunt Printable

When you visit the zoo, make sure you pack this incredibly fun printable scavenger hunt for the zoo.  Incorporating one of your favorite activities into the trip turns your zoo adventure into a fun game.

This fun outdoor scavenger hunt can be done on a zoo field trip with classroom students. Separate kids into groups for an engaged and educational team scavenger hunt at the zoo.

This can also be used on a family vacation or a staycation at the local zoo! It’s a great way for parents to guide their kids on the grounds as they learn about the different wildlife.

This zoo animal scavenger hunt set is perfect for kids of all ages. In fact, the set comes in two different style of scavenger hunts – a checklist and rhyming riddle clue cards.

Zoo Scavenger Hunt Checklist

The first zoo-themed scavenger hunt is a popular zoo animal checklist. Circle the animals as you find them at the zoo. Go in any order. With zoo animal photos, this activity is very easy for preschoolers and younger kids. However, if your focus is older kids, don’t toss this zoo animal checklist. Use it for your scavenger hunt at the zoo for adults and older kids.

Zoo Scavenger Hunt Clue Cards

Is your crowd older? Then use our extra fun zoo scavenger hunt riddles. In this clue based scavenger hunt, read each of the clue cards with zoo animal facts. As you read the clue, uncover the answer. Each zoo animal answer is also found on the zoo scavenger hunt checklist – so with the name of the animal, it keeps things simple and from anyone getting stumped.

How to organize a scavenger hunt at the zoo

Having a public scavenger hunt can always be a little bit of a challenge. This is because zoos are open to the general public and hiding clue cards might be challenging when you don’t’ want anyone to mess up your scavenger hunt. In addition, getting from one size of the zoo to the other size is a hike. Most people find they have covered miles walking at the end of the day.

Because of both the size and people at a zoo, it’s best to keep this scavenger hunt on you all day long. The checklist will be easy. As you pass the animals, circle the animal you have found. See if you can get a fun pattern of circles are even turn it into a BINGO board. How fast can you get five across or five down or five diagonal.

If using the clue cards, give your child all the clues up front. They can read the clues and solve which animal is what. You can also hold on to the zoo map and before you hit a section (say the safari section of the zoo), hand them all the clues that fit the safari animals.

Alternatively, save the entire set of cards for before or even after the zoo visit. They can review animals and fun facts about zoo animals found at their zoo.

While these zoo scavenger hunt riddles cover 20 common zoo animals, all of these animals might not be at the zoo you visit. You can take out those clue cards or keep them in for fun.

Can this zoo scavenger hunt be done at home?

Why not? Turn your home into a zoo (if it isn’t already.)Grab a pen and clipboards and use each of the printables and turn your own house into a zoo. There are a few fun ways to have a zoo scavenger hunt at home. Go on a virtual online zoo tour using some of the popular zoos we listed or turn your house into a pretend zoo. Use dramatic play and place stuffed animals around your home (or print out popular zoo animal pictures) and turn each room into a zoo animal habitat. Older kids can even help set up the at-home zoo for younger kids. name different rooms as habitats like Grassland, Rainforest, Tundra, etc.

Download the Zoo Animal Scavenger Hunts Today

Free Printables

Not ready to buy printable Scavenger Hunts? That’s okay. Take a look at some of our free printables include a few free printable scavenger hunt ideas. Download these in the free printable library. Subscribe and look for a link and password in your inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

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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 Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas

The great outdoors is great place for treasure hunts. It gives freedom to run, yell and find clue after clue. Take a look at these great scavenger hunt ideas for outside.

Go on a treasure hunt in your own backyard. This outdoor scavenger hunt has clues for many things found around the parameter of your home. Pin to Pinterest.

Explore your community with a Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt. This is a great way to get kids moving and interacting with their community and landmarks while getting to know the people and places around them. Pin to Pinterest.

This is an amazing team scavenger hunt. It can be done in an indoor or outdoor mall setting. Go on a photo scavenger hunt as a team. great for teens who can explore the area around them. Pin to Pinterest.

Looking for an activity for your next adventure camping trip? Print out this Camping Scavenger Hunt printable set for a fun activity for families with kids of all ages! Pin to Pinterest.

There is no outdoor spot more magical than the magic kingdom. Go on a Disney World Scavenger Hunt with your family and friends. Pin to Pinterest.

See all of our scavenger hunt printables in the Frugal Coupon Living Shop.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your printable zoo visit 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.

Last Updated on April 21, 2023 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living