Scavenger hunts are fun activities that the whole family can participate in! This Thanksgiving scavenger hunt is the perfect fall kid’s activity and a great way to celebrate the holiday together!
Get your scavenger hunt printable here!
Autumn is here, which means leaves, brisk air, and my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is all about food and, more importantly, family. Sometimes it is hard to get the kids active and outside, especially on cooler days. That’s why I love DIY scavenger or treasure hunts! They are so much fun and are suitable for little children or even teenagers! Make it a game if your family is super competitive, and offer prizes to the winners!
How to play a scavenger/Treasure hunt
There are no set rules for how to play a scavenger hunt! The great thing about outdoor scavenger hunts is the fact that there is no player limit! You can have as many family members or kids participate! To make it fun, make sure you have all your items ready to go!
What you need:
*These items are a must-have!
- Scavenger hunt item checklist*
- Printer* (to make more copies)
- Pencil/Pen*
- At least one child*
- Clipboard
- Timer (optional)
Clipboards are great for outdoor hunts since many small children will need a flat surface to check off their boxes. A timer makes it more competitive! If you are timing your scavenger hunt, the child with the MOST boxes checked off wins.
Get your scavenger hunt printable here!
Rules:
It is always nice to have a set of rules already established so everyone knows what to expect. The rules don’t need to be strict; they just make it more real and competitive!
*These rules are mere examples of rules and should be adapted as needed!
- Do not go further than the street. (can be tweaked)
- One item is all that is needed to be “checked off.”
- Make sure everything is checked off as you discover items.
- Animals/Items do not have to be real. They can be decorations or pictures.
- All players must stay inside/outside. (Or they can go inside and outside).
- The child with the most boxes checked off wins!
Anytime children are playing outside; you need to be careful of how far they roam. You can place flags around to mark off boundaries so they know not to go beyond that point.
All children may not find everything on your list, so after a designated time, tell the kids that the person with the MOST items checked off will win. This way, they do not give up when they do not find something.
Other Creative Ideas
Scavenger hunts can be flexible and versatile, so don’t hold back your creativity!
Include Technology
Kids LOVE using technology, and most are very good at it! If they are old enough and have a smartphone, tell them to make sure they take a photo of all the items they find! This way, no one can cheat!
Create Groups
If you have a large family with children that range from 2-17 years old, it is best to create small groups to make it fair! Mix up the ages and make sure everyone sticks together throughout their hunt. Assign one person to check off boxes and a few others to be on the lookout! If using a phone, assign someone the task of taking snapshots!
Hand out fun attire
Kids love dressing up, so make it even more fun by handing out these adorable turkey headbands and glasses! It will get everyone in the Thanksgiving mood and will be great for photos!
Numbers The Items
To make it a bit more difficult, you can require everyone to find more than one of the items on the list. Ex: 3 pumpkins or 5 berries. This will make sure to keep them busy a bit longer!
Final tips for your thanksgiving scavenger hunt
Get your scavenger hunt printable here!
Thanksgiving is a time for food, family, and giving, so make sure to give a treat to EVERYONE who participated, even if they did not “win”! Mini pumpkins, fresh baked cookies, or a small bag of candy corn will do the trick! The best part of this scavenger hunt is that you can play it more than once if you wish. And don’t forget to take photos of your scavenger hunt so that you capture some memories!
More Fall scavenger hunts you may like:
Fall/Autumn Scavenger Hunt Ideas