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Looking for fun and engaging ways to get kids excited about exploring the great outdoors? Check out our Creative Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt Ideas! From searching for hidden treasures to identifying unique plant and animal species, our scavenger hunts will have kids of all ages using their senses, learning about nature, and having a blast in the process. So lace up your hiking boots, grab your binoculars, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure through the great outdoors!

Nature walks are a great way to get out into nature and explore. In addition to being fun, nature walks can also be educational and give kids the opportunity to learn more about the environment. A creative scavenger hunt can add an extra element of excitement to a nature walk, and there are lots of ideas for activities that will engage children and help them have a great time while learning about the outdoors. In this post, we’ll explore outdoor scavenger hunt ideas that you can use on your next nature walk.

Creating a Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt

Creating a Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt is an excellent way to engage individuals of all ages with the natural world and encourage them to explore their surroundings. This interactive and educational activity fosters a deeper appreciation for nature while promoting observation skills and curiosity. To design a successful scavenger hunt, several key elements need to be considered.

First, it is important to choose an appropriate location for the nature walk. Whether it’s a local park, a fun hiking trail, a nature reserve, or even a backyard, the area should offer a variety of natural features and wildlife to discover. Consider the season and time of day to ensure the availability of specific flora and fauna.

Next, compile a list of items or characteristics that participants can search for during the walk. These could include specific types of trees, plants, birds, insects, animal tracks, or natural landmarks.

Nature Scavenger Hunt List

A nature walk scavenger hunt list should be diverse and cater to different difficulty levels based on the participants’ ages and knowledge. Consider whether your objects if things to observe (like a waterfall or spider web) or things to collect (like an interesting leaf or a nut.)

Here’s a list of items you can search for during your nature walk scavenger hunt:

• Smooth pebble
• Feather
• Pinecone
• Wildflower
• Fallen leaf
• Animal footprint
• Moss-covered rock
• Spider web
• Bird’s nest
• Butterfly or moth
• Acorn
• Squirrel or chipmunk
• Different types of tree bark
• Caterpillar
• Anthill
• Mushrooms or fungi
• Four-leaf clover
• Insect (beetle, grasshopper, dragonfly, etc.)
• Spider
• Animal tracks (deer, rabbit, raccoon, etc.)
• Worm or snail
• Wild berries or fruits
• A stone with an interesting shape
• A tree with a hollow trunk
• Something that makes a pleasant sound (waterfall, bird song, rustling leaves)

Feel free to modify the list based on your location, the time of year, the difficulty, and age group.

Nature Scavenger Hunt Ideas

A nature walk scavenger hunt can be a fun and educational outdoor activity. There are many ideas for outdoor scavenger hunts ideas based on seasons, locations, and age groups. Enjoy creative checklists, nature-inspired riddles, fun ideas for collecting small treasures, and more. All ages can embark on an adventure that nurtures their curiosity, observational skills, and appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the great outdoors.  These immersive experience outdoor activities will transform a simple stroll into a captivating exploration of the world that surrounds us.

We’ve made dozens of year-round nature walk scavenger hunt printables so you can run! Run with the instant downloads already created for you. Simply purchase, download, and print in a matter of minutes. Take a look at all these Nature Scavenger Hunt Ideas and download the fun printables for any outdoor trail location, season, audience, and purpose.

Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt Brown Bag

Get ready for an exciting adventure with this Nature Scavenger Hunt List Printable: Brown Bag Edition! Featuring a unique and cute design, this printable will have everyone eager to explore and discover the great outdoors. Simply grab a brown bag, download the printable, and attach it to the bag with glue or tape. Head out into nature to uncover the treasures on the list.

This brown bag scavenger hunt can also be printed on. Simply add the brown bags to a printer and feed the item through. For an additional idea, you can also turn it into a friendly competition by giving everyone a small bag to collect their items. The person who finds all the items first or finds the most unique items wins. For older children , add a stopwatch and turn the activity into an outdoor math lesson game.

Egg Carton Scavenger Hunt in Nature

Embark on a fun-filled journey with our Egg Carton Nature Scavenger Hunt – the perfect activity to engage kids of all ages in the great outdoors! This nature treasure hunt is an easy-to-print, entertaining, and educational activity designed to spark curiosity and exploration. It turns the everyday environment into a thrilling adventure, encouraging kids to discover the hidden wonders that surround them, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

This egg carton scavenger hunt is super cute for preschoolers or children learning to read. If doing in the preschool classroom, just ask parents to send in egg cartons. Once you have enough, you can add it to your hands-on science lesson and go on an outdoor adventure. Feel free to stage any times you do not have around your school playground. Follow the scavenger hunt checklist and add things to an empty carton of eggs. If the weather is bad, add these items to a sensory pin for a classroom scavenger hunt station. At the end of the outdoor activity, the kids are left with a treasure box of items found in nature. Turn your collected item into fun art projects.

Camping Scavenger Hunt

Looking for a fun way to get the whole family outside and explore the great outdoors at a campsite? Pack up your gear, grab your sense of adventure, and get ready to embark on a scavenger hunt like no other! The Camping Treasure Hunt has 20 clue cards! This is the perfect adventure for nature-loving kids and adults alike.

Simply visit a campsite the scavenger hunt for camping is sure to have you searching high and low for all sorts of clues at the campgrounds. This is a super adorable camping game to add to your family vacation. At the end of the treasure hunt, your child can find a small prize or trinket for their camping adventure.

Backyard Scavenger Hunt Clues

Get ready to turn your backyard into an epic adventure zone with our super fun Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Clues! With these 20 nature riddle clue cards, you and your crew will set out on a mission to find hidden treasures or prizes or just have the victory of completing the outdoor treasure hunt. Search under rocks, up in trees, or near the water hose, there’s no telling where our cleverly hidden clues might be lurking.

This lawn scavenger hunt is sure to keep everyone on their toes and can be done in your own backyard. You can extend the activity with a few trampoline games, pool games, or backyard games.

Park Scavenger Hunt

Visit a park is a great place to find adventure.  What could be more exciting for kids than a great scavenger hunt at their local playground? Our Playground Scavenger Hunt is the ultimate adventure for young explorers, sending them on a thrilling quest to find all sorts of hidden treasures and secret spots. From crawling over equipment to sliding down slides and scaling climbing walls, this outdoor treasure hunt will have kids testing their agility and imagination in all sorts of fun ways.

This hunt is sure to get kids moving, thinking, and having a blast from start to finish. It comes in two styles for younger kids and older kids. Grab your sneakers, rally your kiddos, and get ready to explore the playground like never before!

Beach Scavenger Hunt

Headed to the shore? This is a great activity to soak up the sun and enjoy the sand, surf, and sea. This Beach Scavenger Hunt can be placed on a bucket. From collecting seashells to building sandcastles, our scavenger hunt free printable checklist is the perfect way to turn a lazy day at the beach into an exciting and engaging adventure.

Whether you’re exploring a bustling beach boardwalk or wandering along a secluded shoreline, this free nature scavenger hunt at the beach will have you searching high and low for all sorts of hidden treasures and secret surprises. Pair them with our Mintue to Win it Water Games or Beach Games. Grab your sunscreen and your sense of adventure for these fun outdoor activities.

Pond Scavenger Hunt

Another creative outdoor activity is a Pond Scavenger Hunt. Ponds are something we drive by often and though we give them a look, we don’t always give them the time to explore. In this fun outdoor printable set, download the nature journal and sets of pond life treasure hunts for older kids and younger children.

From hidden critters to hidden treasures, there’s no telling what you might stumble upon on this exciting outdoor quest. For younger kids, extend the activity to the classroom by creating a sensory bin with wild and wacky treasures. Use the activity with scientific reflections and language arts journal observations for older kids.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Teens will love this activity. This is also a great outdoor scavenger hunt idea for adults. Take a Photo Scavenger Hunt and explore your local area or town. Use it in a field, at an outdoor venue, or exploring nature with a group of friends.

This activity can become a virtual scavenger hunt by adding your ideas to Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or Snap Chat. This photo treasure hunt is editable, which means you can add your own ideas for your audience or location.

Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

Are you new to the hood or looking to stay close to home? This Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt can be done by walking and getting your steps in. Alternatively, create a golf cart scavenger hunt and extend the distance you can go. this set comes with a neighbor scavenger hunt printable list and 20 clue cards making it perfect for any age group.

Nature walk activities can go with you! Are you visiting grandma or grandma? Take this scavenger hunt with you and explore their community. Grandparents would love to take an evening walk with their little bundles of joy!

Garden Scavenger Hunt

Are you ready to plant a garden? Whether you have a green thumb or are just visiting one, add this Garden Scavenger Hunt to your adventure. This set includes two types of scavenger hunts for older kids or emergent readers and younger kids who cannot read yet.

In addition to the outdoor treasure hunt, download the nature notebook and make observations about growing plants and vegetables in a garden.

Summer Scavenger Hunt Checklist

Does the summer heat have you wishing for a little bit of adventure and fun? We have three fun summer scavenger hunts including the Summer Scavenger Hunt List. Enjoy this checklist as you find common outdoor objects found in summer.

You can also take a look at the Summer Scavenger Hunt with Clues too! This is an outdoor and indoor scavenger hunt. Have fun prizes with each flue or one giant prize at the end! It’s a fun way to surprise a summer vacation or trip.

5 Senses Nature Scavenger Hunt for Spring

Spring is a great time for an outdoor activity. Plants are emerging from eh ground, and new babies are being born. Make fun observations in this super cute Spring 5 Senses Scavenger Hunt.

This set comes with five fun treasure hunts including an Easter scavenger hunt, picture scavenger hunt, and neighborhood hunt. You can download the five senses scavenger hunt and focus on things you might see, hear, touch, see, and taste in the spring season. This would be a great earth day activity!

I Spy Nature Scavenger Hunt for Younger Kids

Explore nature up close and personal with this Nature Scavenger Hunt Bundle. This is a unique treasure hunt that explores flowers, the sky, and even the different types of trees found in Norht America.

Use this nature walk scavenger hunt for younger kids in a preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten classroom. Grab a magnifying glass and explore the daily weather and the different leaves found on trees. Talk about colors by finding different plants, flowers, and objects found in nature in the great outdoors. Use what you collected and turn them into nature crafts.

In summary, nature walks are a great way to explore the outdoors and can be made even more fun with a creative scavenger hunt. With the right ideas and activities, your nature walk scavenger hunt can be both fun and educational and get kids excited about getting outside and learning about nature. Remember to make the scavenger hunt age-appropriate and vary the tasks so that everyone in the group can participate.

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

Now that you’ve got some great ideas, it’s time to plan your own nature treasure hunt. Gather your kids and get out there to explore the environment and have a great time outdoors.

Remember to respect the environment and leave everything as you found it. Happy scavenging!

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.