Heart-Shape Scavenger Hunt

Invite children (or adults) to search for heart-shaped treasures in nature. This is a fun outdoor nature scavenger hunt idea, perfect for Valentine’s Day, summer camp, or any day of the year!

Get outside to look for heart shapes in nature with this creative scavenger hunt idea for children (and adults). A heart scavenger hunt is a fun outdoor activity for kids of all ages, including homeschooled families and school groups. Children from toddlers to teens will enjoy going outside to search for heart-shaped natural treasures in the backyard or schoolyard, down the block, at the park, or in the wild.

Going on a nature hunt to see how many hearts and heart shapes you can find is a fun nature scavenger hunt idea for kids and adults. First published on January 25, 2018, this heart scavenger hunt activity is regularly updated to improve its content and remain current. You might also enjoy this list of outdoor activities. Ideas include several more nature activities and a few other outdoor scavenger hunt ideas for kids.

Heart shaped tree with quote, "The heart of Nature is Everywhere." by Nell Regan Kartychok, founder of Rhythms of Play.

How to go on a Heart Scavenger Hunt in Nature for Valentine’s Day or Any Day!

Going on a heart-shaped nature scavenger hunt is a delightful, educational outdoor activity that appeals to kids and adults alike. As of its most recent update, it now includes a Free Heart Scavenger Hunt Printable, which is optional. You don’t need a printable to hunt for hearts in the natural world, but it can add to the fun!

Since this unique scavenger hunt idea involves searching for natural items shaped like a heart, this creative outdoor activity is perfect for a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts. You might also enjoy creating your own nature scavenger hunt for kids.

Whether you are a parent, teacher, an instructor of outdoor nature schools and forest kindergartens, a homeschool parent looking for an educational outdoor activity, or just a curious nature lover looking for a fun adventure, this outdoor scavenger hunt idea is sure to please young and old alike! While you’re out on a heart hunt, feel free to look for natural treasures to add to a nature sensory bin or basket.

Scroll down to discover an informative guide to this heartwarming adventure, including the types of heart-shaped treasures and natural wonders you might see, and the many benefits of participating in this outdoor activity for kids and adults. Making sensory bottles with natural items you find is another fun activity for kids of all ages. You can look for things to put in them while out looking for hearts. Visit nature sensory bottles for step-by-step instructions.

Examples of heart shaped natural wonders you can find on a heart nature scavenger hunt.

Heart-Shape Scavenger Hunt Instructions:

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to enjoy a heart-warming nature activity that’s fun for young and old alike. You might also enjoy making nature mandalas.

1. Prepare to hunt for heart shapes in nature:

Get the optional FREE printable for this fun outdoor heart activity here: Heart Scavenger Hunt.
Gather a group of students, homeschool buddies, friends, or family members. This activity is more fun in groups, but is also enjoyable as a serene solo endeavor.
Pack essentials like a camera or cell phone for taking pictures, a nature notebook for jotting down finds, any other nature study supplies you might need, along with a few basic necessities such as water, snacks, and a first-aid kit.

2. Select a location to look for natural treasures shaped like hearts:

Choose a location rich in natural diversity:
- Forests, parks, beaches, nature reserves, hiking trails, and gardens are excellent choices as they offer a variety of potential heart-shaped finds.
Ensure the outdoor area is safe and accessible for all participants before sending children off on a heart nature hunt.

3. Go outside to search for heart-shaped natural wonders:

Invite children and adults of all ages to go outside to search for heart-shaped treasures from each category on the list.
There are two primary ways you can go on a heart nature scavenger hunt:
- Either get outside for the day to search for heart shapes, including heart-shaped items and other natural treasures.
- Or look for them every time you head out into nature, like my daughter and I do!
Establish rules and guidelines for the scavenger hunt with the tips below:

4. Establish the rules and guidelines for the hunt:

Before starting, it’s best to lay down a few groundrules, especially if your children, like toddlers, preschoolers, or kindergartners, will be playing. Trust me when I tell you, I’ve learned this lesson the hard way.
First, determine whether you will look for hearts for a single day or for an extended period.
If playing for a set amount of time, decide whether you will work individually to find hearts, in teams, or as a whole group. Then, create teams if needed.
Finally, determine how you will play or use the Free printable Heart Scavenger Hunt in the Rhythms of Play Learning Center:
- Either count each heart that is spotted or pointed out.
- Or find at least one item (or the maximum possible) from each of the heart-shaped categories below to win the heart scavenger hunt game! Each of these categories below is also listed on the Free printable and explained in the next section:
  - Plants and leaves
  - Flowers and seeds
  - Vegetables, fruits, and nuts
  - Rocks and stones.
  - Trees, trunks, and branches.
  - Tunnels and natural arches.
  - Puddles, ponds, and lakes.
  - Clouds and sky.
  - Birds, animals, and other wildlife.

5. Please hunt for hearts outdoors with care:

Please encourage all participants to respect nature by observing without disturbing it. To do so, teach your children or students to look closely without harming plants or animals.
When on an outdoor nature hunt for heart shapes, use the opportunity to educate about the importance of conservation and the beauty of natural forms.

6. Point out and gather heart-shaped treasures:

When you find a heart-shaped item in nature, make a tick mark in the box on the free Printable scavenger hunt, or write the name of what you see, or describe it in detail.
For a more challenging task, draw or sketch what you see in the provided blank space.
Collect only a few heart-shaped natural materials to take home with you, if any.
Alternatively, you can take pictures of the hearts you find and use glue tape to put your favorites in your nature journal.
A heart-shaped tree isn’t exactly something you can put in your pocket and take home with you. Nor should we take more than we need from nature.
My daughter and I enjoy pressing and preserving some of the flowers and leaves we collect that look like hearts. Click HERE to learn how.
We also have a small collection of heart rocks that my daughter and I found in nature, as shown in the photograph below.

Nell Kartychok holding a heart shaped rock with a basket of stones shaped like a heart in the background. — Heart-shaped rocks that my daughter and I found over the years on our daily outdoor adventures in the natural world.

7. Record results if desired:

Record your results on the free printable heart scavenger hunt, or record the types of heart shapes you discover in your nature journal or notebook.
Alternatively, use a three-hole punch to insert the printable scavenger hunt into your nature notebook to record your results.
Draw sketches of what you see, or use glue tape to add pictures if desired.

Related: DIY Heart Leaf Lanterns

Examples of Heart-Shaped Treasures You Can Find in Nature:

Encourage children and adults of all ages to try it to see how many heart shapes they can capture in nature! Scroll through the following list of ideas for fun heart-shaped natural items and objects to look for. You might also enjoy looking for the Signs of Spring, another fun outdoor nature scavenger hunt idea for kids or adults.

1. Plants and Leaves:

Look for plants and leaves with naturally occurring heart shapes, such as those in the photographs and video included in this post.
Many plants have heart-shaped leaves, such as the redbud tree (Cercis canadensis), philodendrons, and certain types of ivy.

Heart-shaped leaves with quote, "Hearts are everywhere in nature." by Nell Regan Kartychok

2. Flowers and Seeds:

In the plant kingdom, many leaves and flowers naturally grow in heart shapes, and several types of flowers and seeds have heart-shaped petals and leaves.
You can see a few heart-shaped flowers in the video below.
Specific flowers and seeds, like bleeding hearts or heart-shaped seed pods, naturally mimic the shape of a heart.
The leaves of the Heartleaf Philodendron or the Anthurium flower are also heart-shaped.
How many other heart-shaped flowers and seeds can you find?

3. Vegetables, Fruits, and Nuts:

Walnuts often reveal their natural heart shapes when you crack them open perfectly in half.
You can see an example of a walnut’s tasty, heart-shaped contents in the video of heart-shaped wonders in nature below, and in my tutorial, which shows how to open walnuts and use the shells to make crafts.
Sometimes, you can find vegetables and fruits that have grown in the shape of a heart, such as the potato my daughter holds in the photograph toward the bottom of this post.

3. Rocks and Stones:

Water and wind erosion can sculpt rocks into heart shapes, often found in riverbeds, beaches, and hiking trails.
Heart-shaped rocks are one of my favorite treasures to find, and sometimes, it seems as if someone has left them on the trail for someone else to find, especially when they seem to be positioned or peek out of the dirt so perfectly.
- Was it the hand of spirit, or was it someone like me or YOU?

4. Trees, Trunks, and Branches:

Look for trees that have grown or been shaped into a heart form through natural growth patterns or how branches intertwine, as shown in the photograph below.
Sometimes, the branches of a tree reaching toward the heavens resemble the lobes of a heart, like the one in the photograph at the top of the post.
Carvings are another, more destructive heart shape found in tree trunks. While these heart shapes are fun to see in nature, we don’t encourage their creation. They are damaging and hurtful to the trees and our environment. Imagine how you would feel if someone carved a heart on the trunk of your body or leg.

Tree branches entwining to create the shape of a heart when viewed from the ground.

5. Tunnels and Natural Arches:

Some natural arches and tunnels carved by erosion, wind, or waves can form a heart shape when viewed from the right angle.
These can be hard to find in nature, so look for these types of natural heart shapes in the video below to gather inspiration for where you might look.

6. Puddles, Ponds, and Lakes:

It’s fun to find a puddle, pond, or lake in the shape of a heart, but most can be hard to spot from anything but an airplane or a mountaintop.
I have found many heart-shaped puddles, especially in the crags and crevices of large boulders and rocks.
You can see one I found in the photo and video below that also has a heart-shaped rock in the upper right lobe of the heart puddle. I didn’t put the rock in the heart-shaped puddle before I took the photograph, but someone else might have to surprise someone like me!
Get outside to see if you can find water on the ground in the shape of a heart.

A heart shaped puddle with a heart shaped rock in the upper right lobe of the heart found and photgraphed by Nell Regan Kartychok — Here’s a photo I took of a heart-shaped rock in a heart-shaped puddle while hiking in Upper Bidwell Park in Chico, CA. It didn’t put the heart-shaped pebble in the photo, but I wonder if someone did it for me to find. If you did this, well done, thanks for the gift. It was a rare find!

7. Clouds and sky:

Look for heart shapes and patterns in the ever-changing canvas of the sky.
Search for both clouds in the shape of a heart and heart shapes in the negative space between the clouds that look like a sky heart, as shown in the photograph below.
Hearts spotted in the clouds are entertaining because they symbolize love, hope, and the serendipitous beauty of nature.
Finding heart shapes in clouds is a whimsical experience that can add an element of wonder to your outdoor adventures.
Don’t forget to take a photo of the heart-shaped cloud or section of the sky if you can!

A heart appearing in the negative space between clouds in the sky.

8. Birds, Animals, and Other Wildlife:

Heart shapes in wildlife are a fascinating demonstration of nature’s artistry, seen in various species and behaviors.
In birds, heart-shaped displays are often observed in mating rituals, such as the courtship of the peacock spider, in which the male arches his body to form a heart shape to attract females.
Animals, too, can inadvertently form heart shapes, such as when two swans touch heads, and their necks form a perfect heart, a symbol often associated with love and fidelity.
Specific butterfly and moth species have heart-shaped patterns on their wings, creating a stunning visual spectacle.

white swans making heart shape and heart shaped rock

Video with Examples of Heart Shapes Found in Nature and Natural Heart-Shaped Wonders in the Wild:

Mother Nature creates many beautiful heart-shaped things; check out several examples in the video I made below!

What heart shapes have you discovered in the natural world? Please share any other heart shapes that birds, animals, and wildlife display in the comments below!

Stay Aware of Natural Heart-Shaped Surprises:

Heart shapes of all kinds occur naturally in the wild. Sometimes the heart shapes you find are stationary, while at other times they move like clouds or animals. For example, look at the beautiful swans forming a heart with their necks in the photograph and video of heart-shaped natural wonders above.

These natural occurrences highlight the diversity and beauty of heart shapes in the wild, reminding us of nature’s capacity to mirror symbols that humans hold dear. However, when the naturally occurring heart shape moves, such as a heart-shaped cloud, it can be challenging to spot and photograph before it is blown away. Natural heart-shaped stationary objects are easier to spot and capture, but often remain hidden from even the most observant pairs of eyes. Challenge yourself and your kids, students, family, and friends to see what they can find in the shape of a heart. You just might be surprised!

Several years ago, my husband was surprised to find a heart-shaped potato peeking out at him from within a pile of potatoes at the Farmer’s Market. You can see my daughter holding this fine heart-shaped specimen in the photograph below. Best of all, he found it on Valentine’s Day. Believe it or not, it was one of the best Valentine’s Day gifts he ever gave us. Move over chocolates; there’s a heart-shaped potato in town—lol! We almost didn’t have the heart to bake it, but we did after taking the photo below, and it was delicious!

A girl smiling with a potato shaped like a heart under her chin. Photo of Charlize Kartychok by Nell Regan Kartychok. — Here’s a photo of my daughter, Charlie, holding a heart-shaped potato that her daddy found.

Why is the heart shape a symbol of love and affection?

There are many theories as to why the heart icon or emoji we know today became a symbol of love and affection. Learn more about why we draw hearts the way we do in this informative YouTube Video by CBC Kids News about the history of the heart shape.

Benefits of Searching for Hearts in Nature:

Going on a heart-shaped nature scavenger hunt has several benefits for kids and adults of all ages. Read through the list below to learn more.

Educational: Participants learn about various species of flora and fauna, geological formations and processes, and the importance of biodiversity.
Physical Activity: Going outside for a nature scavenger hunt encourages physical activity through walking, climbing, or hiking, promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Mental Well-being: Being in nature reduces stress, enhances mood, and improves mental health. The focused activity of searching for heart shapes can also be meditative.
Fosters Connection: Sharing this experience deepens one’s connection with nature and fellow participants. Looking for hearts in the natural world is an excellent opportunity to create lasting memories and strengthen bonds.
Inspires Creativity: Observing the natural world’s variety can spark creativity and lead to artistic or educational projects based on the treasures found during the hunt.

Searching for Heart-Shaped Natural Treasures:

Some heart shapes you find are constantly changing due to animal movement, such as the swans in the photo above, or to elements like clouds or the heart-shaped rock sticking out of the snow in the photograph and video above. Shells that wear down over time due to erosion, like the one in the photo below by Kate from The Craft Train, are another example. Pop on over to check out her cute little pebble love bugs HERE. You might also enjoy making Shell Frames with Handprints.

More Heart Shape Nature Hunt Ideas:

Invite the kids to make nature collages and get creative with some of the hearts they find in nature. For example, Liska at Adventure in a Box shows you how to go on a name-writing nature hunt. You can see the red heart-shaped leaf she included in her example to complete the message she wrote in the photograph below. Try her name-writing idea, make a nature mandala filled with heart-shaped treasures, or come up with another way to create a collage with a few of the natural heart-shaped items you find.

Get outside and go on a heart-shaped scavenger hunt with the kids (and the young at heart) to see how many hearts you can find!

A heart-shaped nature scavenger hunt is not just an enjoyable outdoor activity; it’s a pathway to learning, discovery, and connection. By engaging in this unique exploration, participants of all ages can deepen their appreciation for the natural world, enhance their well-being, and create joyful memories that last a lifetime.

Whether you’re a child, an adult, or somewhere in between, searching for heart-shaped natural treasures can invite a sense of wonder and adventure into your life. After you go on a heart nature hunt, ask the kids to record the types of heart shapes they find in their nature journals.

Check out this giant list of outdoor learning and Nature Activities for Kids for more nature play ideas.

Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author, photographer, and videographer of this heart-shaped scavenger hunt activity for kids and adults HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!