Nature Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn't love a scavenger hunt? Get your kids outdoors this summer and "scavenging" for treasures in nature.

Things to See

•Insects, such as a butterfly, dragonfly, grasshopper, and beetle.
•A spider web.
•Leaves.
•Frogs, toads, and lizards.
•Wildflowers.
•Mushrooms.
•Find feathers or abandoned birds' nests.

Things to Collect

•Pinecones, dandelions, seeds.
•Encourage identification skills by having the kids find different types of leaves or flowers native to your area. (Look for regional field guides in your local library or on enature.com, or do an internet search for the "native plants" of your area.)
•Collect ferns, moss, pinecones, seeds, thorns, and other botanical specimens.
•Catch butterflies, capture a ladybug, dragonfly, or other insects, find a cocoon or chrysalis.
•Look for fossils, colored rocks, quartz, or flat skipping stones.
•Find a temporary "pet," such as a frog, snail, or grasshopper. (You should let them go after you've observed them.)
•Look carefully for something "camouflaged," such as a walking stick insect or a moth that blends in with its surroundings.

Things to Do

•Go wading, swim in a lake, climb a tree, go on a picnic.
•Draw a flower, make a dandelion chain, make a leaf rubbing.
•Get up early to watch the sun rise, write a description of a sunset.
•Go hiking, build a shelter, find your way with a compass.
•Look at pond water, go stargazing with binoculars or a telescope.
•Record a birdsong or other animal sounds.
•Find a chrysalis and watch a butterfly emerge from it.
•Go to the zoo and have each child find a fact about their favorite animal.
•Keep a nature journal for writing descriptions of activities and drawing pictures.

Things to Photograph

•Birds at a bird bath, birdfeeder, or bird house.
•Squirrels or other small animals.
•Animal tracks (if you have time, you can also make a plaster cast).
•Sunset or sunrise.
•Waterfall, mountain, boulder, lake, or swamp (with someone in the picture!)
•A sibling or friend doing one of the activities listed under "things to do."
•Unusual sights like a tree root curled around a rock.
•The discovery (plant, animal, landscape) that amazed you the most.

Make a Display

Encourage kids to keep a nature notebook with a record of everything they saw on their nature explorations. Their notebook can include pressed flowers and leaves, pictures they took with a disposable camera, written descriptions, drawings, and more. Let them display three-dimensional objects in a display case or keep them in their own decorated cardboard nature box. Items such as rocks can make an attractive decoration in a glass jar. Insects can be pinned and labeled to be kept either on a piece of corrugated cardboard, or in a more permanent and attractive exhibit case. After hunting all summer, they should have quite a collection!

Nature Tools

Before setting out on a nature expedition, gather a few important tools from around the house:
•Plastic bags - bring home specimens without making a mess.
•Camera - take pictures of what can't be collected with a digital or disposable camera.
•Notebook and pens or colored pencils - make notes and drawings so you can remember what you see.
•Jars - transport insects and other small critters, or use to display rocks and shells
•Snack - hunting can work up an appetite!
•Sunscreen - don't get burned.
•Baby wipes or hand sanitizer - clean up when you get grimy.
•Insect net - catch butterflies and other flying insects.
•Binoculars - observe birds and squirrels up close.
•Magnifying glass - see the intricate details on insects, flowers, leaves, and more.
•Field guides - get help identifying trees, flowers, rocks, birds, etc.
•Backpack - carry all your exploration tools conveniently.