Preschool Nature Scavenger Hunt engaging your preschooler in a fun and easy STEAM activity. Using colors to match nature for a clever outdoor camping activity.
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Preschool Nature Scavenger Hunt
I came across this nature scavenger hunt idea as I was combing the internet and Pinterest before our family went on a camping trip last week. You may have seen our little fun preschool nature craft – leaf people! My goal was to have STEAM Activities that were super easy and little to no prep…and I think I nailed it with these fun outdoor camping activities!
This nature scavenger hunt for kids + a paper bag will create a fun time out in nature. This scavenger hunt is perfect for summer, spring, fall or winter and can easily be adapted to any age from preschooler to kindergartener and elementary kids as well. This scavenger hunt doesn’t require a printable but if you are looking for one I’ve got you covered…–> Printable Nature Scavenger Hunt 
What you need for this Nature Scavenger Hunt:
- Paper Bag
- Paints/Markers
Prep for the outdoor nature activity:
Depending on the ages of the kids you’ll want to prep the paper bag with colors. (I used paints but you can use crayon or markers as well.) Just indicate on the outside of the bag the colors that your kids are looking for to match with nature.
How to Lead an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt:
- If you’ve prepped your bags ahead of time go ahead and pass one to each preschooler or child going on the scavenger hunt. If you are going to let the kids prep their bags go ahead and do so ahead of time.
- Explain to your preschoolers that you will be going outdoors and finding nature items that match the colors on the outside of their paper bags.
- You’ll be amazed at what the kids spot and add to their bags.
- You can time this outdoor camping activity or you can let them explore for as long as needed, this is up to you as the leader.
- Once the time is coming to an end gather everyone together to have a little show and tell time and explore what’s in their bag that matches the color scavenger hunt.
How is this activity a STEAM activity?
Science – we explored nature, talked about God’s creation, how things grow and I asked them a TON of questions along the scavenger hunt and nature walk. Always always ask them questions to provoke them to think through the activity!
Nature Science questions I asked and we discussed:
- What do plants and trees need in order to grow?
- How do we have different color leaves?
- I asked if they could hear the wind rustling in the leaves
- Why do you think trees have sap?
Ask questions to help them explore and before long they’ll be the one asking the questions and having the discussions!
Art- Talk about the colors and the colors around us in nature.
Math-
- At the end we counted how many nature items were in our paper bags to see who won!!!
- We also talked about many many different shapes and patterns we saw within nature.
- I asked how tall they thought some of the trees were.
- Again you keep asking them questions and before you know it they’ll be asking questions and prompting new conversations around nature!
Some of the nature items they kids found were really really neat. I think we found every color besides blue…I thought that was a WIN and they did too!
Interested in more Camping Activities?
Kids Nature Scavenger Hunt + FREE Printable
Binoculars – Engineering Activity
We are a husband and wife team, pairing our strengths together to teach our preschooler in the most fun and engaging way we possibly can. The mister is a high school educator at Northlake Christian school in Covington Louisiana and over the Innovation Center, which is all things STEAM. I am a SAHM that blogs pretty much everything we do in our little paradise, from what we eat, to where we travel to how we teach our little one. We hope you are inspired to incorporate STEAM into learning with your children.
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