Try hosting a family scavenger or treasure hunt.
Treasure hunts are a great way to incorporate literacy and vocabulary building into a fun, interactive activity. Nature-based scavenger hunts are also a lot of fun in the summer. Feel free to use the resources below--or just utilize them as inspiration!
RIVER-BASED VISUAL CLUES: Use this scavenger hunt as a way to add tier II and tier III vocabulary to a trip down the river.
1. Ahoy mateys! We’re on a raft, now ye’ must observe, the way the water goes around each curve. Is the current fast or is it slow? Describe the way the water flows.
2. Arrrr ye’ scallywags, you’ve got one clue, but to get the next, here’s what ye’ must do: Observe the trees. Do they have needles or leaves? How many kinds of leafy deciduous trees do you see?
3. Land ho! Observe things to your left and your right. Describe to your captain if riverbanks are in sight.
4. Me hearties, me crew, the breeze is making wave after wave. Observe these small ripples and describe how they behave.
5. A pirate’s goal in life is to discover gold and buried treasure. Can you describe Jackson Hole’s climate by observing the weather?
6. Yo, ho, ho, have you discovered any new kinds of boats? Describe what buoyancy is and why this raft floats.
7. Lads and lasses, this river is full of freshwater, not salt like the sea. We drink freshwater, who has this in common with me?
8. Observers, this water is muddy, it’s opaque and not clear! Can you tell if there are fish swimming right here?
9. There are lot’s of buoyant things in the water, like floating logs, sticks, and grasses. Observers, can you point out any of this kind of debris as it passes?
10. Some trees, called conifers, stay green all year long. Have you observed any conifers, please answer in song!
NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT: If your child completes the entire sheet, allow them to earn a prize!
Can You Find Me?
- Tri-Colored Rock
- Three Leaf Clover
- Pine Cone
- Wildflower
- Feather
- Bark
- Litter
- Stick
- Woodchip
- Spruce Needles
- Fallen Leaf
- Puddle
Can You Find....
- Something soft
- Something rough
- Something smooth
- Something circular
- Something triangular
- Something square
- Something green
- Something red
- Something blue
- Something brown