Fall scavenger hunt for kids
Activity Workshop · Printables
Fall scavenger hunt for kids
A fall scavenger hunt for kids is a ready-made list of things the children need to find out in nature on an autumn walk — a red leaf, a chestnut, a pine cone or a mushroom. Just print the sheet and the children have a mission that turns every Sunday walk and the whole fall break into a nature treasure hunt.
About this sheet
A fall scavenger hunt is a nature hunt made for walks in autumn. Instead of hidden notes, there's a list of things the children have to look for outside — something red, something yellow, a chestnut, a pine cone, a mushroom they can look at but not pick. They tick off each thing they find, and because the youngest get picture cards, children who can't read yet can join in.
The hunt is made for October half term and the fall break, and for Sunday walks in the woods, a park or the countryside. It gives the children a goal and draws them further down the trail when their legs start to tire. The challenges are all about what's happening in nature right now: leaves changing colour, nuts and cones on the ground, and animals getting ready for winter.
The sheet comes in three difficulty levels: pictures for ages 4–6, simple tasks for ages 7–9, and slightly harder challenges for ages 10–12, such as finding animal tracks or three different kinds of leaves. Download the sheet free without signing in and print it on A4 at home before you head out.
What you get
- A ready-to-use checklist on one A4 sheet with typical autumn things to find — leaves in fall colours, chestnut, pine cone, mushroom and animal tracks.
- Three difficulty levels: pictures (ages 4–6), simple tasks (ages 7–9), and search challenges like finding three kinds of leaves (ages 10–12).
- A tick box beside each item so the children can see how far they've got.
- Bonus challenges — find something that smells of autumn, spot migrating birds overhead, count the leaves on a bare branch.
- A 'nature detective' certificate to print and fill in when the list is complete.
How to use it
- Choose an age. Set the difficulty level for the child. The youngest get picture cards to look for; older children get tasks they have to solve out in nature.
- Print and bring along. Print the sheet at home before you go. Pop it in the bag with a pencil and a bag for collecting finds, and you're ready at the edge of the woods.
- Send the children on the hunt. Hand the children the sheet once you're outside. They search and tick off each thing they find until the list is full and the treasure waits at the end of the trail.
Download the fall scavenger hunt free
Choose an age, download the sheet as an A4 PDF and print. Ready to use straight away — no sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a fall scavenger hunt?
- A fall scavenger hunt is a ready-made list of things the children have to find out in nature in autumn — a red leaf, a chestnut, a pine cone, a mushroom. They tick off each thing they find on the walk.
- Is a fall scavenger hunt good for October half term or the fall break?
- Yes. It's made for walks during October half term and the fall break, and gives the children a clear mission that turns the walk into a little nature treasure hunt.
- What age is a fall scavenger hunt for?
- The sheet comes in three versions for ages 4 to 12. The youngest get picture cards to look for, so children who can't read yet can join in.
- Can I print a fall scavenger hunt for free?
- Yes. The sheet downloads as a free PDF without signing in and prints on A4 at home before you head out.