Looking for ways to get your kids out of the house to explore?
Road trips, fun beach days, and the streets of your local neighborhood or park are fantastic places to encourage kids to engage in a photo scavenger hunt!
Kids love games. That’s why photo scavenger hunts are fun for everyone as you explore new places with them and their friends.
Let’s learn more about some exciting photo scavenger hunt ideas you can use!
What You’ll Need
Before we begin, let’s make sure that you have what you need to carry out these scavenger hunts. Double check to make sure you’ve got:
- A camera or smartphone
- Writing instrument
- Scavenger hunt lists or print outs
- A grand prize for the winner
Photo Scavenger Hunt Guidelines
The rules are simple. But you’re also free to get as creative as you’d like. For example, will you set up teams? Or will you have everyone play as individuals?
The players in the scavenger hunt will have a list of items they’ll look for in the area you choose to play in. The winner is the first person to find all the items and photograph them within the time allotted.
Here are the steps:
- Select a location and theme
- Assign someone to be the moderator or judge
- Decide if you want to separate your players into teams (in each team, always put kids with adults for balance)
- Set clear boundaries within the location
- Set a timer. An hour is plenty of time for everyone.
- Award the winner the grand prize
For creative scavenger hunts, check out the themed printables by Shutterfly below.
Zoo Scavenger Hunt
Round up the crew and spend the day visiting animals! This makes it fun for the kids to check out all the animals they’re interested in seeing in person.
Your list for each player will include tigers, monkeys, zebras, penguins, reptiles, …and don’t forget to add a couple of souvenirs as well as taking a photo with the zookeeper to the list!
Road Trip Scavenger Hunt
Road trips to new places are great ways to spend time together with your family and friends. You’ll all journey through lookout points, explore bridges, and check out nearby trains.
But remember—safety first. Pay attention to your surroundings.
Here’s what you can include in your list:
- Yield sign
- Arrow
- Lake
- Bridge
- Train
- Gas station
- Motorcycle
- Lookout points
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
If you don’t feel comfortable carrying out a scavenger hunt during a road trip, there’s no problem with staying local! Kids will love this because they can tell their friends to come along and join the fun.
You’ll all have fun discovering the ins and outs of your community. Plus someone may discover hidden places for the first time!
Here are some ideas for what to include in your list:
- Stop sign
- Mailbox
- Dog
- Plants
- Fire hydrant
- Butterfly
- Brown door
- Fence
Home Scavenger Hunt
This is perfect if you’re squad is made up mostly of younger kids. You can keep your eye on them in a small environment, while they have tons of fun!
You don’t need a lot too. If you’ve got markers, puzzles, and spare change, then you’re all set. Keep your home clean by reminding everyone to help clean up after the scavenger hunt.
Sample list:
- Blue socks
- Green markers
- Stuffed animal
- Salt shaker
- Toothbrush
- Penny
- Book
Farmer’s Market
Not only are farmer’s markets great places to grab all your seasonal goods, but they’re also awesome for mingling with your neighbors. The kids will love to hunt for strawberries, lovely flowers, or baked bread.
Feel free to include these things on your list too:
- Stroller
- Corn
- Tomato
- Asparagus
- Potato
- Onion
Beach Scavenger Hunt
Fun for every age, there are tons of items to find at any beach. It’s a great way to get everyone outside to enjoy some fresh air and fun under the sun. Just don’t drop your phone in the water when you snap your pics!
Here are some of the things each participant can hunt for:
- Seashells
- Sunglasses
- Beach ball
- Boogie board
- Umbrella
- Lifeguard
- Birds
- Bucket
Keep everyone entertained with a well-planned scavenger hunt next time you’re looking for things to do! Everyone will be able to have fun outside, and at the end of it, they can share their photos of what they’ve found.