Kids love scavenger hunts and summer is the perfect time to
host one. Scavenger hunts are so much fun that your kids will
ask to play them over and over again. So, add a little variety
to your summer treasure hunt planning and try one of these
ideas.

Archaeological Dig

Use a sandbox or find a great spot at the beach to bury plastic
dinosaurs and/or bones in the sand. If you do this at the beach,
mark out the location with some tent stakes and string. Also,
remember how many items you hid. Assign points to different
types if you want to give the game an extra twist, but it's not
necessary. Kids will enjoy the thrill of digging for the buried
fossils regardless. If possible, give each child a pail and a
shovel. Then, let the hunt begin. The child who finds the most
dinosaurs/bones in the allotted time wins. If the children are
very young, let them keep the dinosaurs they find as a prize.

Panning for Gold

Spray paint some tiny stones gold and use a hard plastic
swimming pool or sandbox to mix more unpainted stones and lots
of sand and water. For this hunt either get a steel sieve for
each of the kids (they are available at most discount stores)
or cut pieces of plastic screening for them to use to pan for
gold. The child who finds the most gold in the allotted time
wins. Please note: It is important that the stones you use are
very tiny or it will be too easy for the children to spot them
without sifting through the sand and other stones.

Jigsaw Puzzle Hunt

Get a kid's jigsaw puzzle that has large pieces (20 or less is
optimal). Hide the puzzle pieces all over the play area. Kids
have to find the pieces and put the puzzle together to win. If
you want more than one team to compete, paint the backs of each
team's puzzle pieces a different color.

Clean Up Hunt

Make a list of things that are routinely left around the yard
and have your children compete for who can find the most items
in the allotted time and put them back in their proper place.

Nature Scavenger Hunt Bingo

Make up some blank bingo cards and get the kids to write or
draw in a different nature item in each square. Then, have them
trade cards with someone else and send them out to find the
items on their card. Play till someone gets a bingo or a full
card.

Internet Scavenger Hunt

Rainy days are perfect for an internet scavenger hunt. There
are usually several available if you do a search on the web.
Some even offer great prizes. Bonus: You'll have fun visiting
interesting sites together with your children and you'll
probably learn a few things along the way.

About The Author: The author has hosted hundreds of community
programs and events over the last 25 years. If you are planning
a party or want to try an internet scavenger hunt for yourself
visit
http://www.scavenge r-hunt-fun. com/internet- treasure- hunt.html
or
http://www.diva- girl-parties- and-stuff. com/internet- scavenger- hunt.html

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