One of these lists is a campground scavenger hunt for helping children and families get oriented to the features around the campsite and may help them identify their site, amenities, and safety concerns in the area around your campground.
The other is a giant family camping scavenger hunt, perfect for the families who love exploring around the campground and doing a little ‘campsite spying’.
These camping scavenger hunts are perfect for younger kids who are old enough to venture a little ways away from the campsite, for families, or for larger group activities.
These printables are available for download after you join the Take Them Outside Newsletter. Not only will you get access to these, but you’ll also get a whole bunch of other camping games, packing lists, and outdoor family goodies.
There was a certain age where my kids adored scavenger hunts! Just a few scribbles on some scrap paper was enough to get them out and about hunting and discovering. We’ve done scavenger hunts around home, at the airport, in the woods, and in the backyard. So, it seemed like it was time to create some scavenger hunts for camping too!
Favourite Camping Printables from our Etsy Shop:
Looking for an easy nature-y activity? These printables are sure to provide a bit of quiet diversion for your kids at the campground!
How to do a camping scavenger hunt:
You don’t have to get fancy here. Download and print out these lists, grab something to check off your found items, and voila! You’re ready to go hunting.
If you’d like to get fancy, I’ve seen lists taped to bags, or laminated lists. If you’re a family that prefers to ‘take only pictures’ these scavenger hunts will work for you as well. In fact, sometimes the kids really enjoy the added element of taking a photo of all their finds.
Adding the ‘photo’ challenge usually leads us to spend more time later that day or the following day going back through the photos and talking more about each item they photographed.
Either way, remember, the goal here is to get outside and have fun!
Getting to know your campground scavenger hunt
Thinking about what to put into a camping scavenger hunt, it occurred to me that there are lots of things around the campground that I usually point out to my kids for safety and orientation . So, I thought, perhaps I could integrate that teaching into the scavenger hunt itself.
This list will be most helpful if you do it with your children as apposed to having them do it independently . When we get to a new campground we take our kids to find the bathrooms, the play area, take note of memorable structures, and discuss safe boundaries for their roaming.
The Mega Camping Scavenger Hunt
Are you someone who loves walking around the campground and checking out everyone else’s setups? I am definitely that snoopy person!
I love seeing all the cool tents people have or the super huge motor homes or the decked out camping kitchens people set up. And then there are the cute little retro units and all the sweet dogs to say hi to and all the kids running around just as eager to spy new people as I am. Anyhow, if your family enjoys this, then this scavenger hunt will be a great fit!
This camping scavenger hunt might also work well as a game or competition. Try pairing off into teams or groups of families to photograph the items with an agreed-upon time limit. The team with the most items checked off wins first dibs on the marshmallow roasting sticks that night!
I do hope these camping scavenger hunts bring lots of fun to your next family camping trip. If you do end up trying the mega-hunt I’d love to hear how long it took your family to find all the items on the list!
Sign up to get access to the fantastic outdoor family printables library and you’ll also get access to the the Getting to know your campsite scavenger hunts there!
Other Camping Activities to check out:
- The Mega List of camping activities for kids and families!
- Camping activities to play in the dark at night
- Camping fun for your own backyard
- Favourite Camping Toys and Games for Kids
