Free Scavenger Hunt Ideas

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Originally published December 12, 2019 and updated August 16, 2023.

These free scavenger hunt printables are a collection of game ideas for the entire year. There are more than 30 scavenger hunt ideas for kids you can download right away and start playing.

Each of these activities for kids can be downloaded and printed immediately. They each contain a minimum of three different game boards, with many containing 4 or more.

Playing a game together is such a fun way to create memories. This collection contains scavenger hunts for kids and scavenger hunts for all ages and interests.

I love a good scavenger hunt ane remember playing them when I was a child. The neighborhood kids would get together and play for hours. We’d race around shouting and celebrating when we found an items. There was good-natured competition and lots of fun for everyone.

I used to set up these games for my own children when they were young. It still makes me smile to remember that they enjoyed the thrill of searching for and finding items on their list as much as I did. With this comprehensive scavenger hunt list, you’ll find that your kids love these engaging activitties.

What is a Scavenger Hunt?

A scavenger hunt is a game involving searching for specific items on a list. It is much like a treasure hunt.

Scavenger hunts are often, but not always, played outdoors.

With this list of scavenger hunt ideas you can set the parameters of the game to meet your specific needs.

Why Play a Scavenger Hunt?

• It’s fun and a fun family activity.
• It can be a distraction for bored child.
• It’s perfect to get children up and moving.
• It is a natural compliment or extension of many activities and events.
• A scavenger hunt is a fun way to get children outdoors.
• It encourages problem solving.
• It helps kids develop the ability to focus.
• It encourages exploration of the environment.
• It can encourage teamwork.

How to Set Up a Scavenger Hunt

• Determine where you will play the scavenger hunt. Set boundaries of the playing area if you want.
• Determine how long the game will be played.
  • You can play until a player finds all the items on the game sheet.
  • You can play until all items in a row or column are found.
  • You can set a time period for the game.
• Choose whether players will play individually or as teams.
  • Playing teams is a great way to have younger children, even toddlers, play by teaming them up with older kids or adults.
  • You can choose to play in groups as a team building exercise.
• Choose how a player wins the game.
  • Finding the most items during a set time period.
  • Finding all the items on the game sheet.
  • Playing the scavenger hunt like a bingo game and finding all the items in a row or column.
• You can choose whether the winner received a prize or whether you’re playing for bragging rights.
  • Hint – playing for the excitement and bragging rights is just as much fun, so don’t feel like you have to provide prizes.
• You use the scavenger hunt games below again and again. You can switch the game sheets that players have. You can change the location of the game so that different items are available.

What is the difference between a scavenger hunt and a treasure hunt?

A scavenger hunt is a search for many different items on a list or game board. A treasure hunt involves solving clues that lead to more more clues and ends with finding a prize.

Tips & Tricks

• Pair younger children with older children so that they can play, too.
• Before the game, compare the scavenger hunt game sheets to the environment where you’ll be playing to make sure that each sheets contains items in the environment.
• If there are not all the items needed to fill in the entire game sheet, play the game with bingo-style game rules. Finding all items in a row or column constitutes a win.
• You can seed the environment with game items if you’d like. For example, with the Valentines’ Card Scavenger Hunt, you can purchase variety packs of Valentine’s cards to insure a great variety of cards to play the hunt with.

The Big Bundle of Scavenger Hunt Games – This big bundle contains 20 different scavenger hunt for kids games for indoor hunts, outdoor hunts and holiday-themed scavenger hunts. Each game contains 3 – 8 different game boards, with a total of 80 game board pages. 

Free Printable Scavenger Hunt Ideas

As a kids’ activity, scavenger hunts encourage kids, little ones and big kids, too, to be active and having fun together. These games are a great way to keep your kids busy with a fun and engaging activity that can be done both indoors and outdoors.

With a variety of themes to choose from there is something for anyone looking for scavenger hunt ideas for every occasion.

Because these game sheets can be easily accessed and printed for free,  they’re convenient for parents or teachers to organize an enjoyable and educational experience for kids and adults.

Additionally, printable scavenger hunts can be customized to suit the age group and interests of the children participating. They provide a sense of adventure and a chance to explore the world around them.

All in all, these great scavenger hunt ideas are a fantastic resource for entertaining and engaging children in a meaningful and interactive way. 

** identifies games particularly suited to playing with children. These games also work for teens and adults, but don’t have to be adapted to be played with school-aged children.

Outdoor Games

This kids activity is an exciting and interactive game that is a great way to get kids outside, encourage exploration, problem-solving, and teamwork. Participants use their observational skills, critical thinking abilities, and creativity to locate the next clue or hidden item. These hunts can be organized for various occasions such as birthday parties, team-building events, or family gatherings.

Nature scavenger hunt ideas offer numerous benefits. They promote physical activity as participants move around and explore their surroundings. They also enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills as participants analyze clues and strategize their search. Additionally, a hunt is a great way to foster teamwork and cooperation as participants collaborate to accomplish common goals.

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Learning Games

Printable scavenger hunts for kids also come in learning scavenger hunt games. They make learning fun and help kids get excited to learn and put skills they’re developing to work as they search for things on their list.

Scavenger Hunt for Kids

In planning a scavenger hunt for kids, you should consider their ages and abilities in deciding which scavenger hunt to choose and how to set the game rules.

Many games can be tailored for children of different ages, but games specifically designed for children are identified with 2 asterisks.

Teaming younger children with older children or adults makes it possible for children of all ages and abilities to play along in a group scavenger hunt event.

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt Printables

Scavenger Hunt Games for the Holidays

Find all our best kids’ activities, games, and printables in the table below. You can scroll though the table and look for ideas or search for specific ideas with the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner (on desktop). Click on the topic and then click through the specific article.