How to Plan a Nature Study Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is "hide and seek" with a twist and kids love the process of finding people or objects. Nature scavenger hunts for children will add an exciting new aspect to the idea of searching for hidden objects. A nature scavenger hunt can open children's eyes to the wonder of the natural world and provide countless learning opportunities.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose a location. The location of the scavenger hunt determines the list of items the children will search for. A local park, wildlife center or even your own backyard can provide lots of hunt fun for children.

2. Visit the scavenger hunt site. The site will determine safety measures to take, the item list and duration of the hunt. Nature can be dangerous for young children. Poison ivy, wild berries and mushrooms, water and steep terrain can cause injuries and even death so pick your site carefully. They also get tired easily, 5 minutes for each year of age is perfect for children under 6.

3. Think carefully about the age of children participating. Children may get frustrated if they cannot find the items on the list or get tired if the hunt is too long.

4. Decide if you will have a single prize for a winner who collects all the items first or the most items. You may decide at the end of the hunt to have a pizza party for everyone instead of awarding a single prize.

5. Make a list of items to find. Seeds, pine cones, leaves, frogs, and spider webs are just a few of the exciting wonders waiting for children to discover during the nature scavenger hunt.

6. Add other opportunities besides finding items to the nature hunt. Ask kids to wade in a stream, use a compass, draw a flower or other unique challenges.