This summer, when the birds are chirping and the sun is shining, why not get your kids outside to do a nature scavenger hunt? It’s a great way to get your kids more in touch with the world around them. Get a big group of your kids’ friends together, and split them up into twos or threes — working together with their pals will teach them teamwork and cooperation. Some fresh air, some good friends, and a fun, lively game — what’s not to love about this great summer activity?
Depending on where you live, there are a few types of scavenger hunts you can do. If you live in a coastal area, or near a lake, you can do a beach-themed scavenger hunt! Make sure you have chaperones, then head down to a body of water near you. Have your kids find something slimy (seaweed or algae), something scaly (fish), something feathered (seagulls, pigeons, shells, driftwood, something that scuttles (crab), etc! Obviously they won’t be able to bring these things back to you — so have them write down what they saw, as well as describe it, on the scavenger hunt list. This will teach your kids to be descriptive and thorough, as well as be able to recognize certain characteristics of objects.
If you aren’t near a coastal area or a lake/river of some kind, you can do a scavenger hunt at a local park or forest-y area. Tell your kids to find something green (leaves), something colorful (flowers, berries), something furry (squirrels), something that flies (birds, beetles), something sticky (sap), etc. If you’re going to a more rural area, be careful and make sure your kids are always accompanied by a chaperone, as there is always a possibility of snakes. Your kids will really get a feel for nature, and the outdoors!
However, if you happen to live in a more urbanized area, you can tailor a scavenger hunt to your neighborhood too! Your kids will become more familiar with the locations of different, important places in your area. For example, on the scavenger hunt items list, you can put ‘mailbox’, ‘bus stop’, ‘construction zone’, etc. You can also add animals like ‘dogs’ and ‘pigeons.’ Finally, you can have them observe people and be able to distinguish defining characteristics of the passers-by — for example, ‘hat’, ‘sunglasses’, ‘black hair’, ‘person driving a red car’, etc. Have them write their observations down, or (if they’re too young), describe them to you.
Your kids will not only have a fantastic time doing a scavenger hunt this summer, but they’ll also get better acquainted with the world around them! Do you have any other ideas for cool, themed scavenger hunts? Comment below and let us know!
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