DIY Nature Scavenger Hunts for Different Age Groups

The first time I handed my toddler a nature scavenger hunt list, he crumpled it in his fist and asked for a snack.

The second time, I gave him a bucket and said, “Can you find something round?” He took off like a mini explorer.

Turns out, the secret isn’t making a list, it’s making it accessible. Over the years, I’ve learned how to tailor scavenger hunts for different ages, attention spans, and sensory styles, and they’ve become one of our go-to ways to slow down and reconnect with nature.

The best part? You can do it anywhere, your backyard, a campground, even a neighborhood walk.

Why Scavenger Hunts Work

Nature scavenger hunts combine movement, observation, curiosity, and play. They help kids:

• Pay attention to details in the natural world
• Build vocabulary and confidence outdoors
• Get moving without pressure to "hike" or "explore"
• Stay engaged on walks, picnics, or slow mornings outside

They’re also a perfect reset on overstimulating days, and an easy win when you don’t have time to plan a big outing.

Tips for Making Your Hunt a Success

• Use containers instead of paper for younger kids (like an egg carton or bucket)
• Set a time limit or clear start and end spots for structure
• Mix sensory prompts (something soft, something that smells good, something rough)
• Offer a reward. A sticker, a high five, or a storytime under a tree
• Keep it open-ended for sensory-sensitive or cautious kids

And as always, dress for adventure. We usually wear our bamboo sun shirts for full sun coverage and flexibility without sunscreen meltdowns.

Age-by-Age Nature Hunt Ideas

Toddlers (Ages 2–3)

Toddlers aren’t reading lists, and they don’t need to find 20 things. Stick with:

• Find something green
• Find something round
• Find a rock, a stick, or a leaf
• Can you touch something rough?
• Can you hear a bird?

Pro tip: bring an empty egg carton and label each cup with a color. Let them collect matching natural treasures.

Preschoolers (Ages 4–5)

At this age, kids can follow simple visual lists and love being given “missions.”

Ideas:

• Find something that smells good
• Find two of the same thing
• Find something smaller than your hand
• Match an item to a color card (make your own!)
• Find something a bug might live under

You can use a visual checklist with pictures, or give one item at a time as a “challenge.”

Early Elementary (Ages 6–8)

These kids are ready for short written lists or category-based tasks.

Try:

• Something living, something non-living
• Something wet, something dry
• Something that flies, something that crawls
• A leaf with jagged edges
• A flower with more than 4 petals

Add optional challenges like drawing what they found or explaining where they found it.

Want to level it up? Ask them to create a hunt for you.

Printable Hunt Kit 

Here is a free printable nature scavenger hunt pack for every age:

For Toddlers (Ages 2–3):

• ■ Find something green
• ■ Find something round
• ■ Find a stick
• ■ Find a rock
• ■ Touch something rough
• ■ Hear a bird

For Preschoolers (Ages 4–5):

• ■ Find something that smells good
• ■ Find two of the same thing
• ■ Find something smaller than your hand
• ■ Match an item to a color
• ■ Find something a bug might live under

For Early Elementary (Ages 6–8):

• ■ Find something living
• ■ Find something non-living
• ■ Find something wet
• ■ Find something dry
• ■ A leaf with jagged edges
• ■ A flower with more than 4 petals

Nature Doesn’t Need to Be Big to Be Meaningful

You don’t have to drive to the mountains to make outdoor play feel special. You just need time, attention, and a few good questions.

Every stick, every sound, every slightly soggy leaf is a chance for your child to build a connection with nature, and with you.

And you never know what they’ll find when they slow down and really look.

Love,
Adriana
Founder of Play Outside