Backyard Summer Scavenger Hunt
Take this game to the party.
Download the instructions and game materials in your preferred edition. Each PDF is 3 pages. Print only the pages you need.
US Letter • Single-sided • For A4, choose Fit. Browse all printables
Make a list of ten things guests can observe in a defined outdoor area. Ask players to point, draw, or write rather than collect plants or disturb wildlife.
What you need
- Paper
- Pencils
- Clipboards
A phone timer is handy for timed rounds. Set out supplies before guests arrive, and give the group one practice turn if the rules are new to them.
How to play
- Explain the boundaries and put children in pairs with adult supervision appropriate to the space.
- Give teams 15 minutes to find and record as many list items as possible.
- Bring everyone back to a shaded meeting spot and compare answers.
- Give one point per observed item or simply celebrate a complete group list. Accept different reasonable examples.
Prompts and round ideas
- Something yellow
- A leaf with a jagged edge
- A shadow
- Something round
- A bird you can hear
- A smooth stone
- Something taller than you
- A flower
- A cloud
- Something that moves in the breeze
Make it work for your group
For a patio, use colors and shapes rather than nature-specific items. For rain, play from a window and describe what you can see.
A host’s note
No tasting plants, reaching into hidden spaces, or leaving the defined area. Choose a time and location that suit the weather.
Plan your party flow
Explain the aim before handing out supplies, then demonstrate one turn. Let guests join as a player, helper, or spectator. Stop while the group is still enjoying the game rather than adding extra rounds just to fill time.