Scavenger Hunt in Nature Using a FREE Printable!

Looking for a way to get your kids out in nature? Look no further! Use these super cute mason jar printable from Mornings Together for a scavenger hunt in nature. Did I mention that this printable is FREE?!

These mason jar printables were the perfect tool to help my toddlers separate the colors of nature, adding a fun and educational aspect to the activity. We scavenged our yard for different colored items from nature, such as flowers, leaves, pinecones, rocks, and even some pretty weeds. It was amazing to see all the different hues and shades of colors in the natural world. You can either have your children glue their nature treasures to mason jars as a “souvenir” from their outdoor adventure or leave the treasures unglued so that you can reuse the jars time and time again. This way you can create a collection of their nature finds.

If you need inspiration, I highly recommend checking out @littlestwildlings on Instagram for a stunning visual of this same scavenger hunt along with more incredible nature-inspired activities. Also, don’t forget to visit Mornings Together for this beautiful mason jar freebie along with many other amazing ideas! It’s a great way to spend quality time as a family, get your kids excited about exploring the outdoors, and learn about the world around them. 

• If you’re doing this activity with younger children, consider showing them the colors on the mason jar lids before the hunt so they know what to look for. This will help them identify and collect the items more easily.
• Bring a basket, bag, or bucket with you on the scavenger hunt to hold all of your treasures. This makes it easier for small hands to hold a variety of items. My daughter even brought along a rolling Mickey Mouse suitcase. To each of their own.
• Keep an eye out for poison ivy! Before you head out, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself and your children with the appearance of poison ivy. A quick Google search will provide images and information to help you identify it and avoid unwanted exposure.
• Turn this activity into a team event. Place one or two jar patterns on a clipboard and have children explore in groups of two for the hunt. This adds a cooperative element to the scavenger hunt and encourages teamwork. When finished, come together and present your findings to the group, sharing and discussing the different items collected.
• As you sort your nature items into colors, take the opportunity to have conversations with your children about what, where, and how they chose to categorize each item. This is a great way to teach them about the natural world and encourage their curiosity. Talk about the different types of flowers, leaves, and rocks you find, and discuss why they may have chosen certain items for specific colors.
• Try this scavenger hunt throughout the different seasons. Nature changes with each season, and this activity offers a wonderful opportunity for children to observe how colors and natural treasures vary with the changing seasons through visual comparison. Take a picture of the final product after each scavenger hunt and compare the pictures at the end of the year.

Additional Learning Activities:

• Nature Journaling: Encourage your children to keep a nature journal where they can record their observations, sketches, specific locations, and descriptions of the nature items they find during the scavenger hunt. This activity promotes creativity, writing skills, and attention to detail.
• Nature Detectives: After the scavenger hunt, take on the role of nature detectives with your children. Examine the collected items, especially the plants, flowers, weeds, and leaves, and work together to solve the mystery of their identifications. One excellent aid in the identification process is the LeafSnap app. This FREE app allows you to take a photo of a specific leave or flower and will identify it within seconds. My children and I love LeafSnap and have learned so much about different types of trees and flowers from using this app.
• Nature Art and Crafts: Use the collected items to create nature-inspired art and crafts. Your children can make collages, leaf rubbings, pinecone characters, or create patterns with the items they found in nature. This activity fosters creativity, fine motor skills, and an appreciation for natural materials.
• Nature Scavenger Hunt Bingo: Create a bingo-style game with different items from nature. Give each child a bingo card and have them mark off the items they find during the scavenger hunt. This activity encourages observation skills, attention to detail, and provides a fun challenge.
• Scavenger Hunt Checkers: Have children create DIY Checkers board out of cardboard. You will need to add 8 rows and 8 columns and color alternating squares. Search for objects in nature that can be used for checker pieces, such as acorns, flat rocks, or sea shells.
• Nature Photography: Encourage your children to take photographs of the items they find during the scavenger hunt. Try different views, angles, and dimensions. They can capture the beauty of nature and create a visual record of their exploration. You can later organize a mini-exhibition of their nature photographs at home using a cardboard trifold. They may even be able to enter their project into the state or county fair.

🫙Memory Enhancer:

If you’re looking to create new family memories, consider visiting a new place, such as the beach, park, field, or playground, to explore nature in different environments. Exploring unfamiliar locations can make the experience more memorable and exciting for everyone.

If you’re going on vacation this summer, this activity would be a fabulous way to make new memories as a family. You could even Facetime Grandma and Grandpa and have your children present their coloring-sorting adventure over the phone. This way, they can feel connected to the experience and share the joy of discovering nature.

So what are you waiting for? Download, print, and explore the great outdoors with your family! Ready, Set, Go!

🐛If you’re a nature LOVER and want a creative way to help beneficial insects, also check out Easy and Fun DIY Bug Hotel for Kids!🪲🍁Or if you’re interested in making chunky DIY crayons that would work perfect with leave rubbings, take a look at Fun and Easy Summer Popsicle Crayons! 🖍️