How many clues does this backyard scavenger hunt include?

There are 26 clues in total, moving from easy hiding spots like a flowerpot or sandbox that young children can spot right away, through medium spots like a compost bin or rock, up to harder ones like a spare tire or trampoline ladder for older kids to finish the hunt.

What age group is this scavenger hunt best suited for?

The easy clues work well for children around four to six years old, the medium clues suit six-to-nine-year-olds, and the hardest clues are written for kids around eight and up. Mixed-age groups tend to do well together, since older kids naturally help younger ones with the trickier spots.

Do I need to buy anything to run this hunt?

No. Every clue points to something an ordinary backyard already has — a fence, a mailbox, a sandbox, a garden chair. Print the sheet, cut along the lines, and hide each clue in the spot it describes; no extra props or purchases are needed.

Can I use only some of the clues instead of all 26?

Yes. The clues are grouped by difficulty, so you can pick a shorter set — say eight easy clues for a quick hunt with toddlers, or the full run for an afternoon-long hunt with a bigger group of mixed ages.

What should we hide at the very end of the hunt?

That part is up to you — a small treat, a toy, or a treasure box works well as the final prize once the last clue (under the trampoline ladder) is found. The clues themselves only handle the finding; the reward at the end is yours to choose.

Backyard Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Activity Workshop · Printables

Backyard Scavenger Hunt for Kids

A backyard scavenger hunt doesn't need anything you don't already have lying around: a flowerpot, a fence, a sandbox, and a few minutes to tuck clues away before the kids come outside. This printable sheet gives you 26 ready-made clues pointing to exactly those everyday spots — no special props, no elaborate setup beyond five minutes with scissors and a walk around the yard. The clues are written to build excitement gradually: the easiest cards get found fast by the youngest players, while the trickier ones near the end call for a bit more looking and teamwork. Print the sheet, cut along the lines, hide each slip where it belongs, and let the hunt begin.

About this sheet

No two backyards are laid out the same, but almost every one has the same handful of features: something that holds soil, something that marks the edge of the property, somewhere a mailbox stands, and somewhere kids already gather to play. This hunt leans on exactly those constants, so you're not shopping for props — you're just walking your own yard once with a stack of cut-up clues in hand.

The difficulty curve is built in on purpose. The first eight clues send kids to spots a four- or five-year-old can reach and recognize on sight — a flowerpot, a fence line, a sandbox. The middle stretch asks for a bit more looking (a compost bin, a rock that never moves, a raspberry bush) and works well for a mixed-age group where older kids can help younger ones. The last six clues are written for readers who can handle a short rhyme and a bit of real searching — tucked under a tire, behind the grill, under the trampoline ladder — a fitting finish line for the treasure at the end.

Printing and hiding takes about five minutes: cut along the lines, tuck each clue where the text describes, and decide whether the first clue gets handed to a child or read aloud to start the hunt. Nothing here requires props you don't already own — just your yard, some scissors, and a few minutes before the kids come outside.

What you get

26 printable clues, sorted from easy to hard, ready to cut and hide
Clues written to build suspense with playful, rhyming language kids enjoy reading aloud
Hiding spots limited to features almost every backyard already has — no shopping list needed
A ready-made difficulty curve so mixed-age groups of kids can hunt together

How to use it

Print and cut the clues. Print the sheet and cut along the lines so each of the 26 clues is its own small slip of paper, ready to tuck away one at a time.
Hide each clue in its spot. Walk the yard once and hide each clue exactly where its text points — under the flowerpot, by the fence, in the sandbox, and so on through the list.
Hand over the first clue. Give the easiest clue to the youngest child, or read it aloud to the whole group, to kick off the hunt from the very first easy hiding spot.
Follow the trail to the end. Let the kids move through the clues in order, from the easy early spots to the trickier hiding places near the end, finishing at the last hidden clue and the treasure or treat waiting there.

Download free

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Frequently asked questions

How many clues does this backyard scavenger hunt include?: There are 26 clues in total, moving from easy hiding spots like a flowerpot or sandbox that young children can spot right away, through medium spots like a compost bin or rock, up to harder ones like a spare tire or trampoline ladder for older kids to finish the hunt.
What age group is this scavenger hunt best suited for?: The easy clues work well for children around four to six years old, the medium clues suit six-to-nine-year-olds, and the hardest clues are written for kids around eight and up. Mixed-age groups tend to do well together, since older kids naturally help younger ones with the trickier spots.
Do I need to buy anything to run this hunt?: No. Every clue points to something an ordinary backyard already has — a fence, a mailbox, a sandbox, a garden chair. Print the sheet, cut along the lines, and hide each clue in the spot it describes; no extra props or purchases are needed.
Can I use only some of the clues instead of all 26?: Yes. The clues are grouped by difficulty, so you can pick a shorter set — say eight easy clues for a quick hunt with toddlers, or the full run for an afternoon-long hunt with a bigger group of mixed ages.
What should we hide at the very end of the hunt?: That part is up to you — a small treat, a toy, or a treasure box works well as the final prize once the last clue (under the trampoline ladder) is found. The clues themselves only handle the finding; the reward at the end is yours to choose.