A scavenger hunt held in the park is a good way to help the kids commune with mother nature and to teach them a few things about the environment. Depending on the park you take them to, there are some basic ways of doing this kind of scavenger hunt.
A trip to the city or town park for example, would be a good place for the kids to learn about the history of the city. You can ask them to collect the most ordinary objects like a leaf, some pennies, a newspaper and other knickknacks commonly found in the park. Each of these items can bear some significant connection to the park. For example, the leaves can be from the first trees that were planted along when the park was made. The pennies can be from the year the park was opened. This process is a good way to help the children learn something about the town and park where they live in.
A very good variation of this game would be to host a photo scavenger hunt. You can ask your players to go around the park with a camera and let them photograph the items on the list. If you hold this in a wild life reserve or conservation area, ask them to take pictures of the animals or plant life the park is protecting. You can also use clues and puzzles instead of giving them a list. This way they can learn more about our environment and its connections with people.
Since this game is obviously held outdoors, be sure to make a set of rules and guidelines. If your teams or players are scattered in a large area, set a reasonable time limit and make sure to tell them to stay within the boundaries of the park. It would also be a good idea to implement a buddy system and for young children to carry a cell phone with them. This way everybody is safe while learning and having fun.
