Leaf Hunt
When the air is crisp and the leaves are falling, it is time to play the leaf hunt game. Gather the children and go out in the woods, giving each of them a large plastic bag. Encourage each child to collect as many different kinds of leaves as he can in 30 minutes. When time is up, gather at the kitchen table with a journal, a leaf identification book and a felt-tip pen. Let the children take turns tracing or gluing the leaves into the journal and labeling each leaf. The child who finds the largest variety of leaves wins.
Wild Flower Photo Shoot Scavenger Hunt
Spring is the best time for this game. You will need two digital or disposable cameras, and another adult to help. Divide the group into two teams, with an adult in charge of each team. Set a time to search: for example, 20 or 30 minutes. Give each team a list of common wildflowers found in the woods in your area. After the time is up, each team reports its findings. The team that finds the most wildflowers on the list wins. For a nice prize, take one of the photos and make a poster for each child on the winning team.
Woodland Creatures' Quest
The summer, when the woods are rich with thick green foliage and dotted with summer flowers, is the perfect time for the Woodland Creatures' Quest game. Hide plastic jewels in a clearing in the woods. Divide the group into three teams: the trolls, the nymphs and the fairies. Give each team a drawstring bag, and tell them to find the treasure. The team that collects the most treasure wins. Add to the magic of the game by letting the children get their faces painted to look like their creatures before beginning their quest.