EXPLORE MAINE'S WILDERNESS
Scavenger Hunt with a
Story & Photos by AISLINN SARNACKI
Willamina Sarnacki-Wood, 10, walks along a trail in the Bangor City Forest on May 11, searching for items on her scavenger hunt sheet.
A trail winds through the woods, around clusters of swaying ferns and lichen-covered boulders. Golden mushrooms dot the mossy forest floor. And a brown bird with a speckled chest sings an ethereal tune. The Maine wilderness is full of diverse beauty. Every delicate wildflower and fluttering butterfly has a name and story. If you’re trying to learn more about nature, it can sometimes be overwhelming. Where do you even start?
How About a Game? Outdoor scavenger hunts can help you become better acquainted with nature while honing your observation skills. They’re also a great activity for children, keeping them active and engaged while spending time outside.
How to Create an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Outdoor scavenger hunts can be designed for any age group or skill level. While some involve hiding objects, such as an Easter egg hunt, others are simply about finding items that 46 Summer/Fall 2022
already exist in nature, such as plants, rocks, and seashells. You don’t even need to know the names of plants and animals to create one.
“It's a cool way to get people to start to notice details and distinctions in nature, which is the first step to realizing that there's a lot of diversity out there.” For example, design a hunt in which you search for the colors of the rainbow in nature. Or look for different shapes, textures, or aromas. You can even create an outdoor scavenger hunt using different household items, according to Hazel Stark, co-founder of the Maine Outdoor School. “Bring out a Q-tip or toothbrush, then try to find something in nature that matches the shape or reminds you of the item,” said Stark.
During the hunt, one person can verbally announce items for everyone to find – one at a time – or participants can carry a visual reference such as a list or grid of items on a sheet of paper. “It can be like scavenger hunt bingo where you try to find all the things on the sheet or five in a row,” said Stark. “That tends to work best for kids who need a little more motivation. It’s a bit of an incentive because they want to win.” Creating a scavenger hunt sheet can be a fun art project and an opportunity for learning vocabulary words. Children who haven’t yet learned to read can represent items with photos or pictures. And don’t forget to leave some room on the sheet to write notes or draw pictures of what you find in nature.
Ideal Scavenger Hunt Locations Any outdoor space, whether it’s a vast tract of forestland or a tiny, fenced-in backyard, can serve as a wonderful place for an outdoor scavenger hunt.
