Today I want to share 40+ scavenger hunt lists ideas for kids of all ages. Who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt? I know that I do!
In this list, you can find a range of different thematic scavenger hunts, from seasonal scavenger hunts, to scavenger hunts to learn the ABCs, to math and science scavenger hunts. Cool, huh!
And of course, you will find my scavenger hunts in Spanish scattered throughout the post!
Enjoy, and let me know if you find the perfect scavenger hunt for your kiddo, and tell me all about it in the comments below!
What is a scavenger hunt?
A scavenger hunt is a fun, interactive activity that is educational, too! They consist of a list of items usually centered around the same theme, and the point of the game is to find all or as many items on the list as possible.
The game can go as long as you want, or you can set a time limit for how long the game should last. It’s up to you!
Scavenger hunts are great for preschool and elementary-aged children. They promote new vocabulary use and encourage movement to find the items.
On this list there are some scavenger hunt ideas for older kids, too.
Another great thing about scavenger hunts is that they can be used indoors and outdoors. If the weather is nice, you can do a fun outdoor scavenger hunt. If it’s a rainy day or too cold, try an indoor scavenger hunt!
I use scavenger hunts often in our bilingual home. They are an easy way to learn new Spanish vocabulary and for encourage minority language use at home. They are also so much fun!
The free printable scavenger hunts that I offer on my blog come in both English and Spanish. They are great for the classroom and the home.
Since we love scavenger hunts so much, I decided to do a round-up post of a range of different scavenger hunt themes starting with my favorite, a gratitude scavenger hunt to remind us all of things for which we need to be thankful.
That said, browse through this list of scavenger hunts and see if you find one that will suit your child’s liking. There are some great indoor scavenger hunt ideas as well as outdoor fun ideas from which to choose. Happy browsing!
List of scavenger hunt lists ideas for kids
- I’m going to start this list of scavenger hunts off with this gratitude scavenger hunt. This is a fun way to teach children about gratitude, something not easy to do given the self-centered nature of kids. This is an activity you can do multiple times throughout any season of the year!
- Ready to get those listening ears ready? Print out this sounds of nature scavenger hunt (available in Spanish) and go on a nature walk with your littles. Explore new areas of your neighborhood. Find a spot far from manmade sounds such as cars, tractors, electronics etc. Find a spot to sit down and listen for the items listed on the sounds of nature scavenger hunt. So fun!
- Here’s is a fun and free neighborhood scavenger hunt get the kids outside, walking around the neighborhood. Exercise and fun, all in one. Some words that you can find on this scavenger hunt are: Fire hydrant, trash can, dog, and lots more words that can be found in your neighborhood.
- For another neighborhood activity, try this outdoor scavenger hunt with outdoor chalk. Have your littles draw items around the neighborhood and have all the kids find the items on the list!
While you have your chalk out, try this relaxing mosaic heart chalk activity. A mindful activity for all kids!
- On your next trip to the playground, print out this playground scavenger hunt and have your littles search for different playground equipment such as the slide, the monkey bars or the zip line. Young kids will love this hunt!
- For more outdoorsy fun, try this outdoor scavenger hunt that includes clue cards with easy, rhyming riddles to solve.
- For your next camping trip, take along this interactive camping scavenger hunt to encourage your children to discover nature and learn the names of all the camping gear.
- Before you head to the zoo, print out this zoo scavenger hunt and see if your kids can check off every animal on the list as they walk throughout the zoo.
Then, learn about the zoo in Spanish with this selection of zoo animal books in Spanish, or these zoo animal printables for preschoolers in Spanish!
- Headed to the library, or have a TON of books at home? Here is a fun book scavenger hunt that is perfect for elementary-aged kids. Some items on this scavenger hunt are: a book with an animal on the cover, a history book, a dictionary and more!
- Celebrating a birthday? Why not make it fun with this birthday scavenger hunt for kids and adults! Hide gifts where the scavenger hunt clues lead and have your child figure out the clues to find their gifts!
- If your sweet girl loves her princesses, try out this princess scavenger hunt. Hide princess items around the house, or even in your backyard and have your darling look for all of the princess items, such as tiara, high heels, ribbons and more. So dazzling!
- For more magic, try this fairy scavenger hunt to find fairy objects such as moss, mushrooms and feathers.
- Practicing the colors with your preschoolers? This color scavenger hunt will make for a fun activity to get the kiddos outdoors looking for different colors.
For more color practice check out this round-up of color activities for preschoolers!
- Taking your preschoolers on a trip around the pond? Print out this pond scavenger hunt and see if they can identify all of the pond items on the list.
- Likewise, if your preschooler is learning their ABCs, try out this unique nighttime alphabet treasure hunt. For this activity, you will need a flashlight, metallic crayons, a clip board and your treasure map hunt. What a perfect way to learn the ABCs.
Related: 20+ Fun Ways to Learn the ABCs With Your Preschooler
- Here’s another fun alphabet scavenger hunt . On the first page, find words that start with a certain letter. On the second, find and write words that start with a letter. This scavenger hunt is a great way to get kids engaged with reading and writing.
- Go on a bug scavenger hunt to look for all types of crawling-creatures such as dragonflies, crickets, beetles and more!
Learn about bugs in Spanish with these bug printables geared towards preschoolers.
- Is your middle schooler struggling with math? Why not make learning math fun with a math scavenger hunt that includes different items that can be found in everyday life such as a recipe with a fraction, a repeating pattern and more!
- Sticking on the math theme, print out this measuring scavenger hunt by measuring items using different measuring tools such as rulers and tape measurers. Big kids might enjoy this game!
- Looking for a hands-on geology activity for middle schoolers? This Geoscavenger Hunt might be right up your alley. It is a hunt for products that derive from rocks, minerals and other resources in Earth’s crust. Cool, huh?
- Bring the fun indoors with this fun indoor scavenger hunt that will have the kids in giggles as they search all over for a household item such as: something large, something soft, something square, etc.
- Learning rhymes is an important part of developing literacy skills. Play this fun rhyming scavenger hunt with your elementary-aged kids to help them brainstorm and figure out the rhyming items in the game. This is a great hunt for younger kids.
- Celebrate the new school year with this back-to-school scavenger hunt, a fun way to find their new school supplies throughout the house!
You might also like: Back-to-School Affirmations in Spanish
- Here is another school-related scavenger hunt. Search for common classroom objects with this classroom scavenger hunt A to Z.
- To keep the kids busy on long drives, check out this road trip scavenger hunt and get the whole family involved. A great activity to pass the time on long car rides.
- Take advantage of technology and play this picture scavenger hunt. Give each player a phone and have them take pictures of the items on the list.
- If you are practicing social distancing, here is a fun virtual scavenger hunt you can play!
Seasonal Scavenger Hunt List Ideas for Kids
Looking for a particular seasonal scavenger hunt list? If so, in this section you can find seasonal-related scavenger hunts arranged by seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall and their corresponding holidays.
Winter Season
- Today, I am inviting you to go outdoors with this FREE winter scavenger hunt, available in Spanish and English. But, before you go out, don’t forget to ask your kids to suit up for the cold by going to search for the necessary winter clothing on this list!
- Burn off the energy this Christmas with this Christmas nature scavenger hunt that will get them outdoors and playing.
- Want to learn about Christmas in Spanish this year, try out a Christmas scavenger hunt in Spanish. Go on a family stroll and practice Spanish together by identifying all of the objects on the list.
- Why not learn a little Spanish this Valentine’s Day with this free scavenger hunt available in Spanish and English!
Read more: Winter Worksheets for Preschoolers
Spring Season
- As soon as the warmer weather starts to make its appearance, print off this Spring scavenger hunt and get the kiddos outdoors and in touch with nature again after the long winter.
- Make your kiddo window shopping around St. Patrick’s Day and see if you can knock off any items off this St. Patrick’s Day scavenger hunt, available in English and Spanish. Make a family fun day out of it! You could even hide St. Patrick’s Day items around your house. Who will find the most objects and get the most points?
- Are you looking for fun ways to learn Spanish with your child or students this Easter? Look no more. This Easter scavenger hunt in Spanish is not only a fun, interactive activity, but it will work your child’s vocabulary memorization in Spanish as well!
Read more: Spring Bucket List Ideas: 93 Activities to Do With the Kids this 2022
Summer Season
- Play this fun summer scavenger hunt to find all sorts of summery items such as a beach towel, a sports ball, flip flops and more.
- On your next beach trip, print out this watercolor beach scavenger hunt to find items commonly found at the beach such as 3 different kinds of shells, an interesting rock and more beach items.
Related: Beach Sensory Bin for Toddlers
- Kids will love this fun free printable 4th of July scavenger hunt that will have them hunting for patriotic themed clues throughout the house!
Fall Season
- This fall, when you’re headed to a park or playground, print out this fall-themed scavenger hunt to look for specific fall items! It includes 18 different clues that will lead to all of the favorite fall items.
- If Spanish in your minority language at home, then your kiddos might light this fall scavenger hunt in Spanish to learn new fall vocabulary words such as: ¡una hoja roja, una manzana, una piña y más!
- Go on a nighttime stroll with this Halloween Scavenger hunt in Spanish and English. Who will find all of the Halloween objects on the list first?
- Use this free printable scavenger hunt with a Thanksgiving theme as a fun energy-buster at family parties for the littles. Hide objects around the house and see who can find them first!
Well friends, I sure do hope that you found the perfect scavenger hunt for your kiddos on this list! I will be updating it every so often to add more fun scavenger hunt lists ideas from which to choose.
Happy hunting!
Continue reading:
- Autumn Leaf Activities for Preschoolers
- 20 Color Learning Activities for Preschoolers
- 20+ Fun Ways to Learn the ABCs With Your Preschooler
