Invite children from preschoolers to teens outside on a spring scavenger hunt with this printable scavenger hunt with spring-themed clues to check off the list!
We’ve recently updated our spring scavenger hunt printable for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, elementary school-aged kids, teens, and the young at heart. Get the new and updated list of spring-themed clues to hunt for! Unlike some traditional scavenger hunts done indoors, this outdoor nature scavenger hunt provides a great way to get the kids outside learning, and having fun. That makes this spring-themed scavenger hunt idea perfect for teachers and nature school instructors to hand out to students, and parents to give their children; especially homeschoolers. You might also enjoy this list of educational outdoor nature activities for kids.
Children of all ages enjoy going on nature scavenger hunts, especially young kids, but this spring scavenger hunt printable can be just as much fun for older kids and grown-ups as it is for preschoolers and younger kids. But older children and adults might prefer searching for the first signs of spring. No matter which you choose, both scavenger hunt ideas are a great way to educate children about the gorgeous seasonal changes that occur at the beginning of spring.
Best of all, they both have a printable you can use to encourage the kids to get outside to learn while having a blast. Nothing quite compares to the wonder of the return of spring in the great outdoors. Encourage children from toddlers to teens to get outside to look for spring colors bursting from new buds, baby insects and animals bringing new life to the world, and all of the scents, textures, and seasonal sights that make springtime a beautiful time of year. You might also enjoy these nature scavenger hunt ideas for toddlers.
Printable Spring Scavenger Hunt for Preschoolers
From favorite backyard games like hide-and-seek and tag to sandboxes and water tables, there are plenty of great outdoor spring activities that children of all ages can enjoy. Going on a spring scavenger hunt with children is another must-do activity in the springtime!
The best thing about scavenger hunts for kids is that they don’t require much preparation, other than a simple printable, and often you don’t even need that. They’re easy, inexpensive, and add an always-welcome educational element to kids’ playtime without them even realizing that they are learning!
Get the scavenger hunt printable PDF HERE–> Spring Scavenger Hunt Printable
First published in February 2022, this nature scavenger hunt idea for kids is regularly updated and republished to improve the content. You might also enjoy our Signs of Spring scavenger hunt for elementary-aged children, teens, and adults. Invite the kids outside to search for the first signs of spring with this fun and educational nature scavenger hunt idea!
Just look at each of the fun clues you can find in the photo collage below! I hope you get lucky enough to spot a four-leaf clover on your nature hunt, or a rainbow if you see a spring storm! Turn your back to the sun and cross your fingers to see a rainbow. (Learn more in Rainbow Science.) And if you can’t find a four-leaf clover, make one with this clover craft activity, or use a toilet paper roll to make shamrocks and clovers!
Benefits of Going on a Spring Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Going on a spring scavenger hunt outdoors for spring-themed clues offers numerous benefits for kids, combining education, physical activity, and fun in a single outdoor adventure. It encourages children to explore and appreciate the natural world as they search for items or clues related to spring, such as different types of flowers, insects, and birds.
This outdoor activity promotes physical exercise through walking and running. It stimulates cognitive development by challenging kids to think critically and solve problems as they look for spring-themed clues, such as a butterfly on a flower. Additionally, scavenger hunts can enhance observational skills and attention to detail. Participants of all ages must notice subtle differences in their surroundings to find their targets.
Scavenger hunts can also provide an excellent opportunity for social interaction and teamwork as children learn to communicate effectively and collaborate with peers or family members. A spring scavenger hunt is a delightful way for kids to celebrate the season, learn about nature on an outdoor adventure, and develop important life skills. You might also enjoy this giant list of spring activities for kids (and the adults who guide them) with a printable bucket list.
How to Do a Scavenger Hunt With Clues in the Springtime
Although backyard spring treasure hunts might seem like a throwback activity, this scavenger hunt idea is anything but old-fashioned. Whether you’re looking for an interactive way to learn about the natural world in the springtime or find fun new ways to increase children’s sensory experiences outdoors—this spring scavenger hunt for kids is sure to please!
Challenge your kids or students to check off all the spring-themed clues or items on the list they can find in one day, throughout the season, or as a part of the yearly and seasonal rhythms that can be witnessed as the seasons pass.
1. Download the printable spring scavenger hunt.
- First, head over to the Rhythms of Play Learning Center to download the printable spring scavenger hunt for toddlers and preschoolers.
- Get the Printable HERE—> Printable Spring Scavenger Hunt.
2. Print spring scavenger hunt:
- Next, print the scavenger hunt onto cardstock or regular printer paper. (Cardstock is a thicker paper that withstands a bit more wear and tear than regular copy paper can.)
- If you would like to re-use the printable, invest in a set of wet-erase markers, and put it inside a clear sheet protector, dry-erase pockets, hang it in an 8×10 inch frame, or hang it with a push pin in the dry-erase pocket There is a hole in the top of each one to make it easy. Alternatively, you can use a laminator with laminating sheets.
- If you are curious, we like wet-erase markers better than dry-erase markers because they are less likely to rub off, and the ink is easy to remove with a wet cloth.
3. Find a location to have a great scavenger hunt:
- Decide where you will host the scavenger hunt. Call it a field trip and head out in search of the spring-themed clues, such as a new leaf, on the list of things to find. A few places you might choose follow:
- Your own backyard (especially if you have a large yard, farm, or live in a rural area.)
- Walk down the block or around the neighborhood.
- A local park.
- Nature trails.
- Zoo, nature center, reserve, or other outdoor educational facility.
- Another outdoor adventure location of choice.
4. Invite Children on a spring scavenger hunt:
- Give each hunter a clipboard with the printable on it and invite preschoolers, kindergarteners, and young elementary school students outside to search for the spring-themed scavenger hunt clues on the list of our printable spring scavenger hunt.
- Or copy the list below these step-by-step instructions in your homemade nature journal.
- Invite participants to build teamwork by working together in a group.
- Or encourage children to head out on a solo adventure in search of clues on the list to work on their problem-solving abilities.
- Tell them that it’s okay not to find everything on the list and that they can continue to search for the clues throughout the spring. (This works well for homeschoolers and nature school students.)
- Or, if you’d like to complete the scavenger hunt in one day, give them a specific number of spring clues to find and check off to complete the activity, such as five. In other words, once they find five things, they have finished their spring hunt.
- When they spot one of the signs on the printable, put a checkmark in the box next to it.
- Reward children for a job well done if they check off each of the scavenger hunt clues, or the number designated before they started, such as five.
- A trip to the library, park, bookstore, toy store, or ice cream parlor makes a great reward!
- When finished use a three-hole punch and put your completed spring scavenger hunt printable in your nature notebook.
Spring-Themed Scavenger Hunt Clues to Look for:
- Here’s a copy of the spring-themed clues to look for and check off. You will notice it has the same items as the scavenger hunt printable in the photo below. (Please note that this list is for personal use only. Do not copy it to make any product for commercial use.)
- Spring showers (Can you also spot a rainbow?)
- A field of flowers
- Birds migrating north
- Fresh sprouting grass or clover
- A butterfly on a flower
- Egg (Look for a bird nest or Easter eggs)
- Dandelions
- New leaf buds on a tree
- Dragonfly
- Earthworm
- Mosquitos buzzing around
- Snail
- Baby chick, duckling, bird, or animal.
Spring Nature Scavenger Hunt for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Nature scavenger hunts provide a fantastic learning opportunity for children of all ages, and this simple spring scavenger hunt printable is no exception. And, we have several more scavenger hunt ideas for kids! Look at the printable nature scavenger hunts located in the RoP Learning Center Library to see what we have available for both young and old.
Although this spring scavenger hunt printable is primarily for young kids such as preschoolers, and kindergarteners. Older kids and adults might also enjoy checking off each spring item they see, hear, or feel on the list. Or, Invite children to search for the signs of spring for a little more of a challenge. Once you are done with your scavenger hunt, use a three-hole punch to put holes in it and put it in your nature journal or notebook.
You will notice that both printables have similar spring-themed items on the list, but the pictures on this printable spring scavenger hunt make it easier for children who are not yet reading. Conversely, the signs of spring printables are more challenging for older children and adults. For more fun ideas, look at these outdoor learning activities for kids.
More Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids
- Nature Sensory Bin Scavenger Hunt
- Bird Scavenger Hunt Ideas (Included in Birding for Kids)
- Nature Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Toddlers
- Signs of Summer Scavenger Hunt
- Summer Scavenger Hunt Printable
- Search for the Signs of Autumn Fall Scavenger Hunt
- Fall Scavenger Hunt Printable
- Signs of Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Winter Scavenger Hunt Printable
- Search for the Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt
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