The Best Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunt + 13 Ways to Play
In today’s digital age, finding engaging screen-free activities for elementary kids can be tough. As a teacher and step-parent, I’ve seen the value in engaging children through activities that don’t involve screens, and one of my favorites is the neighborhood walk scavenger hunt for kids.
These hunts aren’t just about the thrill of searching but also about instilling cognitive skills, fostering outdoor exploration, and delivering a truly interactive experience that captivates young minds.
The Best Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunt
Add excitement and purpose to your neighborhood walk with our eye-catching, printable Outdoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids!
We’re excited to share our scavenger hunt for kids with you! We’ve put a lot of thought and effort into creating an engaging activity that we believe is one of the best.
This card game has everything you need for a great scavenger hunt – affordability, a wide range of interesting items to find, reusability, and a point system to add some friendly competition and a bit of math to the mix.
Our Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunt Printable includes:
- ⭐ 36 colourful, visually pleasing, illustrated game cards
- ⭐ instructions on how to score points and play the game
- ⭐ easy-to-use scorecards
- ⭐ and many ways to play! 👇
At under $6, our scavenger hunt is an affordable and enjoyable way to keep kids entertained and engaged.
This is not your average neighborhood walk scavenger hunt!
Participants will be living in the present moment, honing observation skills, improving problem-solving skills, and even practicing math skills! That’s right, this game involves keeping track of points earned for finding items. As a result kids are secretly strengthening their adding skills.
There are so many benefits to using games to enhance learning!
This game also teaches players about good sportsmanship and patience while providing the thrill of a challenge.
💡 The dictionary definition of a scavenger hunt:
A game, usually played outdoors, in which the players must collect various objects from a list of things they have been given.
The game cards are interesting and make the activity fun!
The aesthetically pleasing and inviting images on the game cards of common – and some not-so-common – things found around a neighborhood allow readers and non-readers alike to recognize what they are looking for.
The colourful pictures will excite scavenger hunt participants of all ages to get searching.
The point system makes this neighborhood walk scavenger hunt even more appealing. While each card is worth 1 point for finding the item, there is a chance to score bonus points as well. Players have to pay close attention to the details around them if they want to score extra points!
The colourful cards make it easy for children to identify the items they need to find. This makes it easier for readers and non-readers alike to participate.
If you’re ready to have your children look at your neighborhood with a fresh set of eyes and interest, then you’ll want to get this activity now!
The best part is you can play this game over and over!
With a variety of 36 game cards to choose from, the excitement and challenge of the game are heightened. With so many cards available, every round feels fresh and engaging.
While we suggest dealing out 5 cards to each player, with 36 cards to choose from, you could make the game much longer by giving each player more cards!
You can take this scavenger hunt game anywhere you go. Use it on vacation, in other neighborhoods, and play as a team or as a family. This $6 game is worth every penny!
How to Play the Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunt
This outdoor scavenger hunt game for kids will bust boredom and engage participants’ senses.
First you’ll need to purchase the neighborhood scavenger hunt. Then you’ll want to print the product scorecards and playing cards. We recommend printing the playing cards in colour and on thicker paper for longevity, but that’s not a must. Finally cut the cards, shuffle the deck, and hand let the games begin!
How to play the basic version of the game:
💡Deal out five different cards to each player or team or have them pull them out of a hat. Those are the items they will seek and find during the hunt.
👀 Players need to look at their game cards closely for details of what they are looking for.
✏️ Participants can write down the items they are searching for on their scorecards which are included.
🔢 Each game card includes points for finding what’s on the card and provides opportunities to score bonus points.
🏆 Add the score up at the end of the game and see who has the most points.
🔁 Then reshuffle and play all over again. Fun for everyone!
The best part of this game is that it can be adapted and used in a variety of ways.
13 Other Ways to Use Our Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunt Game
1. Pick More Than 5 Cards
The game instructions guide participants to pick 5 cards, but in reality, you can choose as many (or as few) cards as you want!
Challenge your students, children, and family to pick more cards and let the outdoor adventures begin and last even longer.
2. Everyone for Themselves!
Pick 5 cards (or as many cards as you like) for the entire group to search for. That means that players will have to be keen observers as they are tasked with looking for the same items as their opponents! Not only do they have to act fast, but they also need to speak up for themselves!
For example, if one of the 5 cards picked is ‘Three people wearing glasses’ when a player (or team member) sees someone wearing glasses they need to point it out and vocalize their find. Then they (and only they!) can count that person as one of their three people wearing glasses. Communication skills will be developed while playing the game this way!
3. Venture Out Into Different Neighborhoods
Looking for a fun and exciting way to explore different neighborhoods and get some exercise while you’re at it? Grab our scavenger hunt and drive, walk, or even take public transit a few blocks away or even to a whole new area and start exploring!
With this scavenger hunt, you can venture out into different neighborhoods and discover all the hidden gems out there. Our scavenger hunt is designed to be adaptable to any location, so take it with you wherever you go.
Each location you visit will offer unique opportunities to discover new things. This means that participants will never get bored with this scavenger hunt.
4. Play Against the Clock
Have each player pick 5 cards and see who can score the most points in an allotted amount of time. I like to start with a 20-minute timer and see how much can be accomplished in that time. Depending on the age and ability of the players involved, you may want to increase or decrease the amount of search time.
Adding a time limit adds a competitive element to the activity, motivating children to complete the hunt within the allotted time. Also, a time frame helps to ensure that the activity is not prolonged, preventing kids from losing interest.
5. Make it a Workout with Bodyweight Movements
This game already has kids outside and moving, but why not take it up a notch and add even more movement to the game?
For example, you could say that participants need to start and end the game with 30 jumping jacks. Or after they find something from their list they have to stop and do 10 push-ups.
Better yet, you can pull one card as the movement trigger card for the entire group. Let’s say you pull the red car card for this. Every time a participant sees a red car, the entire group must stop (somewhere safe!) and do 30 squats (or whatever movement works for the group).
6. An Inexpensive Birthday Party Game (or Loot Bag Idea)
Our scavenger hunt is reasonably priced at $5.55, is easy to set up, can be printed at home, used over and over again, and doesn’t require any special equipment making it the perfect birthday party game.
And since it requires minimal supplies, it can be tailored to fit any budget and any group size. All that’s needed is for the game cards and scorecards to be printed and cut. Having a printed copy of the instructions is also helpful.
Not only is our scavenger hunt affordable, but it also encourages teamwork and problem-solving skills, making it a great way to keep kids engaged and entertained.
If you have a smaller party group, you could always print each guest their own copy of this game as part of their loot bags! Plus, by using a scavenger hunt as a party activity or as a loot bag item, you’re giving party attendees a fun and memorable experience that they can enjoy long after the party is over.
With a little planning and a lot of fun included, our scavenger hunt can be a great way to make birthday parties more exciting without breaking the bank.
7. A Road Trip Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Our scavenger hunt card game is an excellent activity to keep kids entertained during long or short road trips.
With scavenger hunts, kids can be actively engaged in their surroundings instead of just sitting in the back seat during long car rides. Plus, they provide an educational opportunity for kids to learn about their environment while having fun at the same time.
💡 Teacher Tip: These cards are a great excuse to take a break!
Pick a neighborhood along your route to stop and walk around (stretch those legs) and get them looking for fun things!
8. Play While on Vacation
Our scavenger hunt is a fun and engaging activity that will add a sense of adventure and excitement to any vacation. It’s a great way to explore new places and cultures, teach children about the world around them, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
This activity is easy to pack and play with while walking the day away and exploring a new place. It’s a great way to make children aware of the unique features of different environments and the diversity of our world.
What may be common in their neighborhood may not be so common in other places they are traveling to. Maybe participants will realize that cats aren’t as common around their vacation destination, or that there are so many more bikes in the city they’re visiting.
9. An Outdoor Family Game
Scavenger hunts are a great outdoor family game in general because they provide a fun and interactive way for family members to spend quality time together while enjoying nature and getting some fresh air.
They can also be tailored to fit any age group and skill level, making it a fun activity for everyone to get involved in, even the grandparents!
This outdoor scavenger hunt is a budget-friendly activity, requires minimal supplies, and can be done in various locations or even right outside of your home. This printable game can be enjoyed by all ages, making it a perfect outdoor family game.
10. Connect to the Parts of Speech
By incorporating the parts of speech into a scavenger hunt, you can make language arts more interactive and engaging for students. This will also help children better understand and remember the different parts of speech, while also having fun and being active.
💡 Fun Fact – We made a Parts of Speech Scavenger Hunt!
It’s great to use as a fun follow-up in your classroom or at home!
When participants find items from their cards, get them to use 3 adjectives to describe the item they’ve found in order to receive the points. Or have them identify the location of the object they found using an accurate preposition.
For even more of a challenge, have participants use an interjection every time they find an item. Whoohooo!
💡 Refresh your knowledge of the parts of speech:
Parts of Speech for Kids: The Ultimate Guide
Parts of Speech Videos for Your Elementary Language Lessons
11. Find-and-Draw Scavenger Hunt
Have players pick five (or more) cards from the deck and accompany them outside with their sketch pads and favorite coloured pencils so that they can draw the items they find.
Allow them to draw in any style they like to truly explore their creative side.
Use a timer and see what they can accomplish in an hour, or let them take their time, it all depends on what works for your and your kids.
No need to collect points in this version of the game, just make it about the artistic element of drawing.
12. Rainy Day Indoor Writing Activity
The weather isn’t cooperating for an epic outdoor scavenger hunt? No worries! Have children pull 5 game cards and then get them to write a story that includes the items from the cards they pulled.
💡 Fun Fact: This is similar to our Roll A Story product, but different!
Both activities provide an engaging platform for elementary learners to develop their creative writing skills while having fun.
Each card pulled can be used as a story element in an epic tale. Kids can use the cards as a starting point to brainstorm ideas and develop an awesome story.
Using our scavenger hunt game cards as writing prompts for stories can be a fun and creative way for kids to practice their writing skills. It can help them develop their imagination, writing ability, and storytelling skills in a fun and engaging way.
💡 Teacher Tip: Have players add drawings to their story, turn it into a play, design a movie poster, or better yet, visit this blog post for more creative ideas to do with these playing cards. The opportunities to have fun while learning are endless!
13. Make it a Photo Scavenger Hunt
In a photo scavenger hunt, participants take photos of specific objects they are tasked to find instead of just noting when they find something.
Children can use a tablet, digital camera for kids, polaroid, or anything available and safe for them to use to capture images.
Photo scavenger hunts can be done individually or in teams, and they can be a fun and creative way to explore and bond with friends or family. It’s also a great opportunity to practice photography skills, as they learn to frame, focus, and capture different images.
Our Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt Stands Out
Unlike other online scavenger hunt printables, our unique neighborhood walk scavenger hunt card game stands out for many reasons. Here are just a few.
Our Scavenger Hunt Game is Visually Pleasing
With eye-catching graphics and illustrations, these playing cards hold the attention of both children and adults. The vibrant colours and clear images make it easy to identify the items they need to search for.
Our Scavenger Hunt Game is Educational
We wanted our scavenger hunt to be more than just a seek-and-find game. That’s why we added an educational element to it, with each card having a point value and bonus points to be accrued. This not only adds to the fun of the game but also allows participants to sharpen their math skills along the way, making it an educational activity that parents can feel good about.
Our Scavenger Hunt Game Connects Kids with Nature
This neighborhood walk scavenger hunt is designed to help elementary-aged kids (and even adults!) identify and appreciate the plants, animals, as well as other items and features that exist out in the world around them.
We believe it’s important for children to develop an understanding and appreciation of the great outdoors, and our scavenger hunt is one fun way to do that.
Our Scavenger Hunt Game Makes Students Think Critically
In our scavenger hunt game, bonus points are offered for finding specific items, which encourages children to think critically.
They need to decide whether they’ll go for the bonus points and the likelihood of finding those items.
This aspect of the game promotes strategic thinking and decision-making skills, making it more engaging and challenging.
💡 Teacher Tip: Discover our love for scavenger hunts!
You’ll find more of our unique scavenger hunt activities on Etsy and Teachers Pay Teachers.
Parents and Teachers Love This Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunt
Here are just a few reasons why parents and educators LOVE our neighborhood walk scavenger hunt printable card game:
It is easy and convenient.
Our printable scavenger hunt is designed to be easy and convenient for parents or educators to use.
Simply download and print the scavenger hunt along with the scorecards, cut out the playing cards, and you’re ready to go! No need to spend time creating clues or preparing materials. This is a hassle-free option that provides an instant activity that kids can enjoy over and over again.
It encourages outdoor exploration.
Designed to be played outdoors, our scavenger hunt encourages kids to explore their surroundings while getting some fresh air.
They get to venture out into nature around the neighborhood – at a park, in a backyard, on a hiking trail – as they set out in search of specific items. This promotes physical activity, enhances observation skills, helps kids connect with nature, and fosters a sense of curiosity and wonder about the wonderful world around them.
It’s a sneaky way to get kids to exercise.
Unlike traditional forms of exercise that may feel like a chore or obligation, our neighborhood walk scavenger hunt is engaging, and exciting, and encourages kids to move around freely to explore their surroundings.
During a scavenger hunt, children are on the move, running, walking, climbing, crouching, and jumping (at least my students are!), which can improve their cardiovascular health, build endurance, and enhance their overall physical fitness.
By combining exercise with play, this scavenger hunt will help to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage kids to stay active and fit.
It promotes family bonding.
If you’re looking for an activity for your family to do together, this is it!
As noted above (see #9 in our list), our printable scavenger hunt is a fantastic family game. Parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even grandparents can team up and work together to walk the neighborhood in search of specific items to complete the scavenger hunt.
It’s a great opportunity for quality family time where increased communication and teamwork among family members fosters bonding.
It is reusable.
Our printable scavenger hunt comes with 36 game cards that are reusable, making it a versatile activity for various occasions.
With so many interesting playing cards, chances are that participants will pull a different series of cards each time they play.
And since this neighborhood walk scavenger hunt is not based on clues, it can be used over and over again. Clue-based scavenger hunts cannot be used over and over again without some modifications, which makes them more time-consuming and much less reusable.
It offers screen-free entertainment.
This outdoor scavenger hunt is a great way to offer screen-free entertainment for kids. In today’s digital age, many children spend way too much time on screens, whether it be watching TV, playing video games, or using smartphones and tablets.
Parents love that our scavenger hunt offers a refreshing break from screens and encourages kids to get up, get outside, and be active.
It’s really fun to look at.
Our neighborhood walk scavenger hunt card game is appealing to kids not only because of its fun and interactive nature but also because of its visual appeal.
Kids are naturally drawn to bright colours and visually stimulating designs, and the use of colourful cards and images in this scavenger hunt makes it more exciting.
By incorporating visually pleasing graphics and designs, the game captures kids’ attention and keeps them interested throughout the activity making the experience more enjoyable and memorable. And you never know, this may even encourage them to continue exploring their neighborhood long after the game is over.
This activity is super affordable!
For the average price of a latte, you have an activity for kids that is educational, good for their health, fun to play with, can be used in many ways, and can be reprinted if it gets damaged. And while the 36 playing cards are in colour, the scorecard page is black and white (cheaper to print!) and can either be photocopied or even redrawn by hand for reuse.
Tips from the Teacher:
🖨️ Print the game cards on thicker paper and laminate them if you really want them to last.
📋 Get a set of clipboards to make carrying around the scorecards easier!
Included in this awesome scavenger hunt game are 3 pages each with 12 game cards for a total of 36 game cards in the set, instructions on how to play, and 2 scorecards.
Download and print our scavenger hunt, and watch your kids set off on an exciting adventure that will stimulate their minds and create lasting memories!
Why We Made This Scavenger Hunt for Kids
As a Montessori elementary teacher, step-mom, and enthusiast of the allure of scavenger hunts, I understand the joy they bring to students.
But I also know about the opportunities for learning and teachable moments that exist within them.
With my experience in both education and parenting, I recognize the potential for fostering creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork in children through engaging activities like scavenger hunts.
Thanks to my partner, a designer extraordinaire, this neighborhood scavenger hunt card game came to life, featuring appealing imagery that sparks imagination and enhances the overall experience.
The card images and colours were carefully selected to pique the interest of inquisitive elementary-aged kids, while the layout and scorecards were made with the elementary child in mind, ensuring that the game is both fun and educational.
Our aim in creating this scavenger hunt for kids was to combine fun with learning, and that’s exactly what we did! Get your copy of this awesome game and see for yourself.
💡Teacher Tip: Like scavenger hunts? Then you’ll love rebus puzzles!
Check out our rebus puzzle blogs and rebus puzzle products. You won’t be disappointed!
Do You Know About National Scavenger Hunt Day?
It’s true, there is a day dedicated to scavenger hunts and we even wrote a whole blog about it!
National Scavenger Hunt Day is celebrated every year on May 24th.
While the history of National Scavenger Hunt Day is not clear, the purpose of this playful day is to encourage people to have fun, engage with their surroundings, and foster teamwork and camaraderie.
Scavenger hunts have been around for centuries and have been enjoyed by people of all ages across the world. In fact, the first recorded scavenger hunt was in the early 1930s, when a woman in the United States started to incorporate scavenger hunts as part of her entertainment activities at parties.
Over time, the popularity of scavenger hunts grew, and they became a popular activity for school events, team-building exercises, and social gatherings.
National Scavenger Hunt Day is recognized as a way to promote social interaction, outdoor activities, and problem-solving skills. It is also a great reason to get friends and family together to create lasting memories.
The Wrap-Up: The Best Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunt
By using our neighborhood walk scavenger hunt card game, you can get your kids outdoors to explore their surroundings. This activity encourages creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking while providing hours of fun.
With scavenger hunts, you can also introduce children to new vocabulary, and interesting landmarks, and teach them about the environment around them.
So why not give it a try? Our neighborhood walk scavenger hunt is an excellent way to get your kids off their screens and into the beauty of the real world that exists all around them!
Get Your Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt Now!
Experience the joy of exploration with our Outdoor Scavenger Hunt for elementary-aged kids!
Create an unforgettable adventure that keeps your children entertained, engaged, and eager for more.
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The Best Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunt & 13 Different Ways to Use It
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