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Backyard Scavenger Hunt Ideas

A backyard scavenger hunt is a great way to pass the time when the weather is nice. A scavenger hunt at home also works well as a game at a child's birthday party. The list for the scavenger hunt, based on the items you find in your backyard, is easy to create. Children of all ages can enjoy this activity to combat boredom. For younger children, include pictures next to each word so they can "read" the list.

Natural Items
- There are plenty of natural items in the typical backyard that work well on a scavenger hunt list. The list will vary from one backyard to the next, but it can include sticks, leaves, dandelions, worms, flowers or pine cones. Children can work to collect the items as fast as they can, competing either individually or divided into teams.
Hidden Items
- In addition to the natural items found in a backyard, you can add other items for the scavenger hunt. Small plastic toys work well because they won't be ruined and are easy to clean if they get dirty. Hide the items around the yard when the children aren't around. If you're doing the scavenger hunt for a birthday party, hide the items before the guests arrive. You can either have the teams collect the items or write down where they are hidden. The team who finds the most items on the list is the winner.
Neighborhood Search
- If your backyard is small, consider expanding the scavenger hunt to your entire block or neighborhood. This gives children more room to search and you more potential items to add to the list. If you're sending groups out into the neighborhood, make sure each group has an adult going along.
  
  This scavenger hunt also works as a neighborhood event with all the families participating. Adults can help organize the list, hide items and plan the event, and their children can participate in the actual hunt. This works well if there are several backyards in a row with families participating, as children have several backyards to explore instead of just one.
Treasure Hunt
- A treasure hunt is a slight variation on a scavenger hunt. Scavenger hunts typically present the participants with a list. The players collect as many of the items as possible in any order. A treasure hunt gives the player a series of clues. The first clue guides them to a particular backyard location where the second clue waits. The children continue following the clues around the backyard until they find the treasure at the end.
  
  This version of the game works particularly well for a child's birthday party. You can place a basket of the party favors at the end as the treasure.

Kids Games