Camping Scavenger Hunt Ideas For All The Family

Camping vacays surrounded by nature are the stuff of family-lore. And let’s be honest, they are an amazing opportunity to let kids be kids, climbing trees, going on adventures, rolling around in the dirt.

But what if you want to take the engagement with nature up a notch? What if you want to weave a little brain-fizzing fun and even competition into your trip?

Well, you can’t go far wrong with setting up a scavenger hunt.

Scavenger hunts are brilliant for kids of all ages – from teeny toddlers through to those big kids we call adults – which makes them the perfect game to play out in the wilds.

A well woven scavenger hunt is such a great way for kids to explore their surroundings and learning to appreciate the environment they’re in.

A scavenger hunt is also a great team activity if you’re camping with a group.

Just take a look at this great little video of a camping scavenger hunt in action. to feel inspired.

Then continue reading for some ideas for creating your own scavenger hunt.

Scavenger Hunt Ideas for the Great Outdoors

Of course a scavenger hunt starts with a list of items that need finding.

You will need to tailor your list based on your location, whether it’s a forest, park, or national park.

But here’s some general ideas that work well if you want to set up a hunt where you are camping.

First up, some nature-based ideas to make the most of your surroundings…

1. Find a leaf of a certain colour or shape.
2. Look for a unique animal track.
3. Spot a certain kind of bird.
4. Locate a piece of litter and throw it away.
5. Identify three different types of rocks.
6. A specific type of tree
7. Find a feather.
8. Look for a pinecone
9. Find a flower of a certain variety or colour
10. A Spider Web
11. A Butterfly
12. A Bird’s Nest (Look but don’t touch!)
13. Moss on a Rock
14. Tree stump
15. Y-shaped stick
16. A Squirrel or Chipmunk
17. A certain bug (look but don’t squish!)
18. An Acorn
19. A Stream (remember water safety)
20. A Unique Mushroom (Observe without touching)

And now some camping-specific ideas…

1. Marshmallows
2. Find a campfire ring.
3. A compass
4. Flash light
5. Camping chair
6. Bug spray
7. First aid kit
8. Matches (look but don’t touch kiddos!)
9. Backpack
10. Toilet paper
11. Hiking boots
12. Tent (!!)
13. Sleeping bag

Consider creating teams to introduce a bit of friendly competition. This works well with older children and teens.

And you can offer prizes for the winning team to keep everyone motivated.

Make sure to include essentials like a map of the area if you are planning on scavenging far and wide.

Flashlights or headlamps are great for evening scavenger hunts at dusk and into the evening.

If you’ve got a bunch of teens who are wedded to their phones, consider turning the hunt into a photo scavenger hunt, so they feel like they’re getting a fix!

Want the easy option for setting up a scavenger hunt?

Grab not one but two Camping Scavenger Hunts, along with eight other camping themed games in the Camping Games Bundle .

You get all of these games in a cute camping design that you can print and take with you:

• Scattergories
• Pictionary
• Wildlife Trivia
• Word Search for Teens and Adults
• Word Search for kids
• Picture-led Animal Charades
• Scavenger Hunt – everyone can play!
• Picture-led Scavenger Hunt – great for little kids
• This Or That
• Word Scramble

Laminating these printables before you go makes them durable, and you can then use dry-erase markers on them.

Before you go... 

You might also like this Summer Bucket List for teens  with a free printable template.