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The Crazy Outdoor Mama

Family Camping Fun and More!

5 UNIQUE (+free!) Camping Scavenger Hunts For the Best Summer Camp Yet! [Free Printables!]

As anyone knows, kids naturally loooovee to explore, and what better way to do that than through a fun camping scavenger hunt!

I love them because it allows children to focus on the little details around them, as well as have some fun sensory play too!

Sometimes I bring a premade one, but sometimes I sort of scout around, see what’s there, and make one that’s unique for wherever we are camping at!

For example, when we camped in Moab, Utah there was vastly different trees and rocks there than our mountainous hometown of Jackson, Wyoming!

To be honest, sometimes camping makes me a little too relaxed (who doesn’t love to hang out in a camp chair around a campfire??), and I need a reason to get up and explore!

With a scavenger hunt, there is actually a goal and I love being able to walk around and help my little guy find anything we can!

Anyways, I just wanted to give you some scavenger hunt ideas for the outdoors that include idea pools, templates, and heck, even some blank templates so that you too can have a fun scavenger hunt and explore around your camp area!

4 pdf scavenger hunts for kids camp

What are some fun ideas for a camping scavenger hunt (more than just the traditional one?)

There are actually quite a few different ways to go about having a scavenger hunt!

This can depend alot on where you are as well as how old your child is.

It’s important to not make the scavenger hunt TOO hard or it might frustrate the younger ones- that doesn’t mean though that you can’t have those couple really rare things on the list that they’ll feel awesome if they find!

Don’t forget – it’s not a bad idea to have an adult go with small groups of kids (if you’re camping with more than just your own) so as to make sure no one gets themselves into a dangerous situation trying too hard to find something on the list!

Anyways, here are a couple different kinds of scavenger hunts!

Don’t forget to check out these other 11 fun campground activities for kids here!!

Traditional Camp Scavenger Hunt

This is usually a simple list of items that just need to be seen!

It’s best not to encourage kids to pick the items up so that everything is left as it was found for other to enjoy!

A couple of rocks or twigs won’t hurt of course if you are somewhere that is legal (National Parks do not allow you to take anything out of them – even flowers and such!) for younger children since it’s pretty darn fun to be able to take your treasures with you!

Related: The Best Camping Toys for Kids of 2019 (Can I buy some for myself???)

printable outdoor scavenger hunt for camp
This camping scavenger hunt is perfect for exploring the outdoors!

Camera Hiking Scavenger Hunt

This is a really fun twist that is geared for older kids who can opearte a phone camera or anything else that takes pictures.

I also like that this adds a little accountability to the scavenger hunt – with older kids, it’s fun to add small prizes for whoever finds the most items, and kids can be really competetive!

By taking pictures of each item, not only are you leaving nature undisturbed for others to enjoy (especially for harder to find things!) but they could also be made into a fun collage to remember the big scavenger hunt they had at camp!

Related: Something fun to do with various treasures kiddos find is make sensory soup!! Printable “recipe cards” included!

Sensory Scavenger Hunt

Sensory scavenger hunts are fun at camp because they really encourage true exploration of the world around them!

This type of scavenger hunt for camp is usually a list categorized by the senses “Feel, Hear, Smell, See” (Taste is the last one, but it’s not a good idea to encourage kids to taste stuff they might they find without pretty intense supervision!)

For example, “Listen to a bee buzzzzzing” , “Touch squishy mud” “Smell a flower” “See a bird in a tree”

Related: Toddlers love sensory activities – check out all you need to know about camping with toddlers for even more fun!

printable camping scavenger hunt with senses pdf
Explore four senses (We’re leaving out taste for this one!) around camp with this printable scavenger hunt pdf that’s perfect for hiking or just exploring around camp!

Scavenger Hunt Experiences

This is a perfect scavenger hunt for the outdoors for the kiddos! I especially love this idea if summer camp or the big family camp trip only happens once a year – it’s a big nudge to experience as much as you can!

Some of the items might include cooking marshmallows, swinging from a rope, starting a fire, finding some edible berries, pitching a tent…..

This one will really ensure memories are made, and at the end of the camp trip, it will be a good reminder of how much fun each child had!

Camp crafts are AMAZING experiences – try making these!

printable camping scavenger hunt idea using experiences
This printable PDF camping scavenger list focuses on experiences – it’s a great way to highlight and remember the fun that was had while on the big camp trip, or for their time away at summer camp!

Alphabet Outdoor Scavenger Hunts

I definitely wanted to specify “outdoor” in this one because it’s pretty likely you won’t be able to find everything around camp!

I know you’re first thought is probably going to be “Well what do I put on the list for the hard ones like X, Y and Z?

Honestly it was mine too once I first had the thought – but here is what you could do!

X could be something “Xtra special” to the child such as a really cool rock, or fun waling stick they find along the wya.

Y could be a Y shaped stick

Z would have to be the bZZZZZing of a bee!

fun printable scavenger hunt idea with alphabet for hiking or camping
This fun outdoor scavenger hunt is a perfect one to use while hiking since there’s so much you need to find! If you’re camping for a long time it could also be really fun to do with the kids!

DIY Your Own Camping Scavenger Hunt!

Some of these items on my scavenger hunts may not be in your area or campsite, so if you’d like, copy and paste the items below to create your own list!

Here’s what’s included on my premade ones, plus some extras I thought of!

Camping Alphabet/General Scavenger Hunt Ideas

  • ⬜Ant
  • ⬜ Acorn
  • ⬜Bark
  • ⬜ Bug
  • ⬜ Bird
  • ⬜ Bee
  • ⬜Creek
  • ⬜ Clouds
  • ⬜ Camp Chair
  • ⬜ Cliff
  • ⬜ Dew
  • ⬜ Dirt
  • ⬜ Evergreen Tree
  • ⬜ Flower
  • ⬜ Flashlight
  • ⬜ Fog
  • ⬜ Forest
  • ⬜ Green Leaf
  • ⬜ Grass
  • ⬜ Grill
  • ⬜ Hat
  • ⬜ Insect
  • ⬜ Jug of Water
  • ⬜ Kindling
  • ⬜ Lady Bug
  • ⬜ Map
  • ⬜ Moss
  • ⬜ Moon
  • ⬜ Nest
  • ⬜ Orange Leaf
  • ⬜ Pinecone
  • ⬜ Petal
  • ⬜ Quick Animal
  • ⬜ Rock
  • ⬜ River
  • ⬜ RV
  • ⬜ Sunglasses
  • ⬜ Stream
  • ⬜ Spiderweb
  • ⬜ Sleeping Bag
  • ⬜ Tree Stump
  • ⬜ Trail
  • ⬜ Tent
  • ⬜ Travel Trailer
  • ⬜ Unique Rock
  • ⬜ Umbrella
  • ⬜ “V” Shape in Tree
  • ⬜ Walking Stick
  • ⬜ Water
  • ⬜ X on the Map
  • ⬜ Zipper
  • ⬜

Camp Experiences Ideas

  • ⬜Pitched a Tent
  • ⬜ Skipped a Rock
  • ⬜Climbed a Tree
  • ⬜ Climbed to the Top of a Hill
  • ⬜ Helped To Start a Fire
  • ⬜ Made a Camp Craft
  • ⬜Got Warm Around a Campfire
  • ⬜ Crossed a Creek
  • ⬜ Cooked Food Over the Fire
  • ⬜ Helped with a Chore Around Camp
  • ⬜ Heard or Told a Camp Story
  • ⬜ Went Fishing
  • ⬜ Took a Hike
  • ⬜ Went on a Nature Walk
  • ⬜ Swam in the Lake
  • ⬜ Sang Campfire Songs

Camp Senses Ideas

See It

  • ⬜Bird in a Tree
  • ⬜ Fish in the Water
  • ⬜ Spider Web
  • ⬜ Animal Footprints

Touch it

  • ⬜ Muddy Rock
  • ⬜ Crunchy Leaf
  • ⬜ Moss on Tree/Rock
  • ⬜ Something Sticky

Hear it

  • ⬜ Stick Breaking
  • ⬜ Bee Buzzing
  • ⬜ Grasshopper/Cricket
  • ⬜ Splashing Water

Smell it

  • ⬜ Stagnant Water
  • ⬜ Blooming Flower
  • ⬜ Campfire Smoke
  • ⬜ Pine/Cedar/Local Tree

Are there any different outdoor scavenger hunt ideas or templates you would like to see?

I had originally wanted to do a more BINGO style, but I also know that not everyone wants to use a ton of color ink when they print these!

I hope these scavenger hunt ideas are something you’ll enjoy with the kids the next time you go hiking or camping!

Don’t forget – to receive these scavenger hunts (+access to even more printables), you’ll need to sign up to my email list! (don’t worry, I won’t spam up your inbox!)

Pin this if you loved it, and check out these other fun camping activities!

I have a ton of prinables in the works, but most of these are saved so I can modify things for you as long as I have time!

Camping Crafts

Here are some other camping activities you'll love to do with your kids!

51 Funnest Camping Crafts to Make your Next Camp Out Awesome!

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This fun and creative camp craft is a good way to keep your kids busy at a campsite while creating a fun memory to bring home later!

Sensory Soup - A Fun Kid's Camping Activity

Give kids a bowl with some water, and it's amazing what happens next! Print out your four free "recipe cards" for added fun and magic!

Hand Print Campfire Craft - A Camping Keepsake!

This handprint campfire craft is such a cute thing to do with your baby on their first camp trip - bring it home and hang it on the wall when you get back!

11 Easy Ways To Keep Kids Busy While Camping (that are cheap and easy!)

It's no joke that camping with your kids can be hard sometimes - break that afternoon lull with these fun campground activities for kids! Keep the kids busy at the campground so you get a chance to relax (sort of!)

The 29+ Funnest Kids Camping Toys, Games and Activities of 2019

These fun kids camping toys are great for use anywhere - campfire sets for at home, play camping tents for the campground, and even barbie camping sets! There's some camping toy each kid will love here!

Cute Camping Craft For Kids: Glowing Camping Lantern (Made from a Water Bottle!)

Bring your next camping themed party or classroom week to life with this GLOWING camping lantern! It's really easy to make, and kids will love having their very own camping lantern craft!

13 Best Camping Books for Toddlers that Will Get Them Excited for that Camp Trip!

Get the kids excited about camping with these cute camping books! Toddlers, preschoolers and older will love these camping themed picture books that illustrate the magic of camping!

Rock Rescue Nature Sensory Bin

I know it sounds simple, but it's an amazing sensory play experience for kids to play with rocks and water! Let them "rescue the rocks" so that you can get some chores (or relax time!) in and not feel guilty!

5 Fun Scavenger Hunts to Play at Camp! [Free Printables!]

Outdoor Scavenger Hunts are PERFECT to play with kids while camping and hiking! These four printable outdoor scavenger hunts are best for camping, and focus on abcs, sensory, experiences and of course your traditional scavenger hunt!

Easy and Fun GLOWING Campfire Craft (Paper Free Upcyle They'll Love!)

Make this five minute quick and easy campfire craft that actually glows! This DIY campfire is perfect for pretend play in the classroom or at the next camping themed birthday party!

Easy and Fun Summer Camp Necklace Craft

Celebrate your next family camp trip or summer camp with friends and make these pretty (and EASY!) camping necklaces! Make a camp necklace with your favorite memory with this fun DIY!

fun free printable camping scavenger hunts

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Stacy Bressler

Stacy Bressler is an avid outdoorswoman, wife, and mother of three who lives in Jackson, Wyoming. She loves all things camping and enjoys sharing helpful tips, fun activities and laughable learning experiences she finds along the way! Navigating the outdoor life through the lens of humor and positivity, she chronicles it all on her website "The Crazy Outdoor Mama"

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Comments

  1. These unique scavenger hunts sound amazing, and I will try to organize a few of these scavenger hunts with my mates. We will have a great experience together, and that’s what matters the most.

    Reply

  4. Well, this seems super fun!! I just had a cute idea for Winter now too. Scavenger hunt in your own house when it’s too cold outside to go out there!

    Reply

  6. These printables are such a great idea!! I know that kids would love them because this is something that I would have enjoyed to do as a kid.

    Reply

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