40 minNothing at all
Nature Treasure Bag
One bag, one walk, ten things to find.
🔍
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Twelve things to find in the park, and a race to get them all.
Write the list before you leave and an ordinary trip to the park becomes an hour-long mission.
What you need
- paper
- pen
- a bag
How to do it
- Write twelve things to find: a feather, something yellow, a stone shaped like an animal.
- Include two that are genuinely hard so it does not end too quickly.
- Give each child a copy and a bag.
- Set a boundary they must stay inside.
- Compare finds at the end and vote on the best single item.
Why this is good for them
Searching for a described object rather than a named one means holding a concept in mind and testing things against it. Including deliberately difficult items keeps older children engaged in what would otherwise be a very short activity.
Adapting by age
3 to 4 yearsSix picture clues instead of words, and stay together.
10 to 12 yearsPhotograph rather than collect, and add a time limit.
Keep it safe
Set clear physical boundaries. No berries, no mushrooms, nothing from a bin. Wash hands afterwards.
Cleanup tip
Return natural items to the ground before leaving.
More like this
30 min
Chalk Trail Outside
Draw the instructions on the pavement and let them follow the trail.
30 minNothing at all
The Perfect Stick Hunt
Find the best stick in the park. Just one. It takes ages.
15 min
Freeze Dance
Music on, dance. Music off, freeze. That is the whole game.
35 min
Puddle Depth Survey
Wellies on, stick in hand, and every puddle on the street measured.
15 min
Egg and Spoon Walk
A potato on a spoon and a very slow, very serious walk down the hall.