Hobbies And Interests
Nature Hunt
Make a hiking trip more exciting by incorporating a scavenger hunt into the mix. Make safety a priority. Provide adult supervision and specific rules and boundaries for the hunt. All participants must work with a partner and hunters cannot wander off the trails. The purpose of the hunt is to observe, not collect. Encourage participants not to disturb nature or touch unidentified plants. Make sure items on the list are age appropriate and available in the search area. Suggested items may include pine cones, shiny rocks, feathers and squirrels. Do not include anything that could be potentially harmful such as poison ivy or snakes. As a bonus to the environment, provide garbage bags for disposing of litter found during the hike.
Highway Hunt
Alleviate the boredom of a long car trip by having a scavenger hunt. Print out a list of items to search for before the trip. Make sure the list is age appropriate. Keep it simple for younger children. Commonly seen items such as barns, cows, and stop signs are some examples. Challenge older children by adding obscure items. Have them search for license plates from certain states, mile markers or specific models of cars. If you didn't prepare a list ahead of time, an impromptu hunt is easy to play. The goal is to work your way through the alphabet. Each participant begins by finding an object or a sign that begins with the letter "A." Example: airplane for "A" and barn for "B." The player who completes the alphabet first is the winner.
Constellation Hunt
Slumber parties and camping trips are perfect opportunities for a constellation hunt. Print out copies of the formation of various constellations. Do your homework. Be prepared to describe and discuss the folklore associated with the constellations. Provide blankets and flashlights to the participants. With a little luck, nature will provide you a clear sky. The rules are simple. Lay down, open your eyes and stargaze. See how many constellations you can find. The benefit of this activity is twofold. It may calm overly energized children and spark an interest in astronomy.
Bake Your Cake and Eat it Too
This is a two-part activity that may be best suited for older children with a long attention span. Prior to the hunt, choose a recipe to prepare. Make a complete list of the ingredients and utensils needed to prepare the recipe. Divide the list in half. As a safeguard, make sure you have all of the necessary materials on hand. Divide participants into two teams. Each team is responsible for finding their half of the recipe. If appropriate, hunters can canvass your neighborhood, asking for items on their list. Enlist the help of other adults as needed to ensure all of the children are well supervised. If that is not feasible, items may be hidden in your home and yard. The first team to fill their list wins the hunt. After all of the materials are gathered, prepare the recipe and enjoy.