There’s no better time of year for a scavenger hunt than the warmer months. It’s easier to get outside, the world is in bloom, and fuzzy animals are having cute little babies.
Whether your kiddo is a scientist or artist — or both! — they’ll love spending time in nature paying attention to the small details that are easy to miss. There’s plenty to observe, when we’re able to make time for it, and tools like our spring scavenger hunt printable make it simple (not to mention free).
Best of all, fun spring activities like these build academic skills while getting kids outside and letting them explore nature. Scavenger hunts build observation skills, enhance sensory regulation, and encourage active learning.
You can also tie in some of your young readers’ favorite books. Most of your family’s best-loved series have spring- and summer-themed volumes. Plus, there are plenty of standalone books that celebrate spring, summer, and all the fun that comes with them. You can even use one of these reads as a prize for completing the scavenger hunt!
Download our free printable scavenger hunt and read on to find book ideas that your budding naturalists will love.
Adventure in Your Own Backyard
Who says you have to go far afield to find warm-weather adventure? Hit your yard (or the local park) and look for items that would be right at home in your favorite reads.
Look for:
- A plant that looks magical enough to be called Sneezing Stickyweed, Fanged Fairymoss, or Grumpy Gilliflower (plant names from Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden, of course!)
- A baby animal like the hero of Teeny Tiny Bunny — but look with your eyes, not with your hands.
- A nest, den, or burrow like the ones in What If You Had an Animal Home!?
Creepy-Crawlies and Beautiful Butterflies
Got a future entomologist on your hands? Take inspiration from The Very Impatient Caterpillar, Make Way for Butterfly, or The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive and identify the bugs and butterflies that make the world hum.
Look for:
- A caterpillar or cocoon. Bonus points if you can identify which species it is.
- A butterfly or moth. Pay attention to which flowers it feeds from — and be sure not to touch its fragile wings.
- A honeybee or bumblebee. Discuss: what makes bees so important to our food chain?
A Trip to the Beach or the Pool
One of the best things about going places with children is that they make everything an adventure. You don’t need to go snorkeling in the Caribbean; a trip to the local pool or shore will be just as exciting when you look at things through their eyes.
Pack a few favorite reads like Peppa Goes Swimming, Clifford: It's Pool Time!, and Owl Diaries #14: Eva at the Beach. And keep an eye out for items on our scavenger hunt list.
Look for:
- Something that makes swimming safer or easier, like a life jacket, floatie, or pair of goggles.
- A plant or animal that likes to hang out at the beach or pool (seagulls count!).
- Something that makes swimming even more fun (a diving toy, pool toy, or sand toy).
Rainy-Day Spring Scavenger Hunt Fun
Even the most nature-loving children might draw the line at running around in the rain for too long. So, on days when the weather doesn’t cooperate, consider bringing the fun indoors.
Look for:
- A stuffy of their favorite aquatic animal and a book on the same theme. (For example, dolphin lovers will love Could You Ever Dive With Dolphins?)
- Something that helps the planet, like a recycling bin or an energy-saving light bulb. (Tie-in book: Owl Diaries #18: The Nature Club!)
- A book about scavenger hunts or treasure hunts. (Check out Gabby's Dollhouse Level 1 Reader: Treasure Hunt — perfect for Gabby’s Dollhouse fans.)
Ready for some fun spring activities for kids? Download our free printable scavenger hunt or build out your summer reading list. Shop The Scholastic Store and search by subject, series, age, and more.
