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Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas for a Child

Have a scavenger hunt to get your children out of the house. Scavenger hunts require a child to find everything on a list. Always consider your child's age, maturity and development level before settling on a scavenger hunt idea. Accompany your child on any scavenger hunt to keep him safe.

Neighborhood Hunt
- Have an adult accompany a child on a neighborhood scavenger hunt.
  
  In a gated neighborhood or a cul de sac, give your child a list of unusual items to find in neighbors' houses, and have the child go to the homes to get the object. Have the child promise to return the item, or the adult accompanying the child can check off the item from the list after verifying that the child found it. Possible neighborhood hunt items: a plastic measuring cup, a pink highlighter, a Chia Pet, a plastic chip clip, a wooden clothespin, a paper lunch bag with a cartoon character printed on it, a marshmallow chick or an empty coffee can.
Rural or Backyard Hunt
- On a scavenger hunt, a child can look for items in his own backyard.
  
  If your backyard is large or you have acreage, give your child a list of outdoor items to collect in a paper bag. Once the child collects these items, he can use them to make a craft or glue them to a piece of cardboard for a collage. Let the child look for items such as a pine cone, a stick shaped like a Y, a red leaf or a pink rock, or create your own list based on your backyard and its natural elements.
Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt
- Have older children or the adult with them take pictures of items for a natural park scavenger hunt.
  
  In nature preserves and parks, you cannot remove anything from the property, but a child with an adult can still have a scavenger hunt by using a digital camera to take pictures of the objects found on the list. The digital camera provides the judge an instant verification that the items was properly identified and found. Try this option with a scout troop or class learning about the local flora and fauna. Possibilities for pictures in a nature preserve or park include: a bird's nest, a squirrel, a rabbit, a bird's egg shell, a shed snakeskin, the state tree, the state flower, the state bird or a turtle.

Kids Games