Backyard Treasure Hunt with Picture Clues

Create a backyard treasure hunt for friends and family. It’s the perfect activity for a Memorial Day picnic, 4th of July celebration, or any other summertime get together. Using picture clues lets even the youngest treasure hunters play along. It also helps beginning readers practice their reading skills.

Backyard Treasure Hunt with Picture Clues

It’s scavenger hunt week here at Inspiration Laboratories. We’ve been having so much fun. We’ve shared hunts to do inside, toddler hunts, preschool hunts, hunts that the neighbor kids will love, and now we’re sharing one that’s perfect for the backyard. Print out the picture clues, invite some friends, and head outside.

The Treasure

Every good treasure hunt needs a treasure. Yours can be as simple as a play area. End the hunt at the sandbox or water table. Or create a box full of treats. We made a treasure box and filled it with goodies that friends and family are sure to love.

The treasure box was super easy to make. Grab a box from the recycling, cover it in foil, and decorate. Place the treasure inside and you’re good to go.

The Backyard Treasure Hunt Clues

This treasure hunt is so easy to set up. Seriously, just print out the backyard treasure hunt picture clues and laminate them with contact paper. I’ve made 18 clues for you. Select the ones that work for your backyard. Make the hunt as long or as short as you like. Maybe start with just 5 clues for younger kids. With older kids, see if you can use them all.

I love that this treasure hunt works in a variety of yard sizes. We played in our own small backyard. We also took the clues to a play date at our friends’ bigger backyard.

Plan out your hunt with one clue leading to the next.

Head to the watering can next.

Keep working your way through the clues.

Some clues might be really easy to find (like the clue on the swing). Others might be more difficult. How many trees are in your backyard? How much grass? You’ll have to look in several places to find the next clue.

Eventually, you’ll end your hunt at the treasure.

Once your kids get the hang of the treasure hunts, they can create them for each other. Place the pictures in a different order or use different clues. It’s fun to play this again and again!

More Scavenger Hunts!

• 3 Very Hungry Caterpillar Inspired Scavenger Hunts
• Invite the Neighborhood Treasure Hunt with chalk clues
• Go on a Sight and Sound Nature Scavenger Hunt – Download the printable list of items to find.
• See all of our scavenger hunts and treasure hunts here.

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This post was originally published on May 16, 2015.