October 14th

By Mutt Mulligan

Channel your inner Christopher Columbus & Take a Discovery Trip of Your Own today!

To celebrate a spirit of exploration this Columbus Day, why not take your family on a discovery trip outside? Creating a nature scavenger hunt with several things that your kids have to find is a  fun way to get them interested in exploring the natural world around them.

Photo courtesy of Home Science Tools.

Be clear about the rules upfront. Should the children collect or simply observe the items? (Tip: make it a “photography hunt” to ensure the items are “captured” without disturbing anything.) Is there a parameter within which you want them to stay? How about a time limit?

Here are a few ideas of what to include in your nature scavenger hunt.

• Leaf
• Acorn
• Pine cone
• Feather
• Spider web
• Squirrel
• Bird (make it more difficult by requiring them to find a specific species!)
• Animal tracks
• Bug
• Butterfly
• Rock or stone
• Seashell (if you live near water)

The options are endless, and can be customized depending on your location. Please share your suggestions in the comments section. We’d love to hear tales or see photos of your exploration trip on TurfMutt’s Facebook page! For more fun ideas on how to get your kids outdoors check out TurfMutt’s Family Activities Guide.