My two kids love a good scavenger hunt, and we do them regularly. Here’s one with a twist: instead of bringing everything home, we take photos as we go. Here’s how to do a photo scavenger hunt with the kids.
What Is a Photo Scavenger Hunt?
A scavenger hunt is a game where kids (alone or in teams) work through a list of items, spotting or finding each one to prove they’ve completed the hunt. With a photo scavenger hunt, instead of collecting items to bring home, you simply snap a photo of each one you find.
You can turn it into a race, with everyone trying to be first to complete the list, or take the pressure off entirely and just enjoy wandering and spotting things together, the way we did on our Out for a Walk Scavenger Hunt.
Scavenger hunts are easy to plan and work just as well outdoors, in the backyard, on a walk, or around town, as they do indoors on a rainy day. They can also be themed around the seasons or occasions like Halloween, Easter, Christmas or St Patrick’s Day, and they’re a lovely, low-key way to get kids noticing the world around them.
How to Do a Photo Scavenger Hunt
You’ll need:
- Your phone camera (or a digital camera if you have one, or let the kids take a turn behind the lens)
- A bag, in case anyone wants to bring smaller finds home too
- A scavenger hunt list
- A pen or pencil to tick off items as you go
Getting Started
Draw up a list together as a family, or use one of our ready-made scavenger hunt lists to get started straight away:
- Out for a Walk Scavenger Hunt
- Backyard Scavenger Hunt
- Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Indoor “Rainy Day” Scavenger Hunt
- Autumn Scavenger Hunt
- Winter Scavenger Hunt
Our Photo Scavenger Hunt Walk
Here are a few of the photos we took on our own scavenger hunt walk, using the Out for a Walk Scavenger Hunt list.
A Bench
A bench was first on our list, and we knew there was one further along the path. Luckily, no one was sitting on it when we got there.
A Yellow Flower
Our walk took us past the graveyard, so we stopped in to say a prayer for Granny and Grandad. There was no shortage of flowers there, so we snapped these yellow ones.
There was just one problem with this one: we still had three more items left on our list, and this definitely wasn’t one we could bring home with us!
Gates
Nearly home, we spotted these lovely old gates.
We had great fun on our scavenger hunt, and the kids loved spotting things as we went. Later, we sat on the sofa together and looked back through all the photos of everything we’d found.
Have you tried a photo scavenger hunt with your kids? Tell us how it went in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a photo scavenger hunt?
It’s the same idea as a classic scavenger hunt, working through a list of items to find, but instead of collecting each item, you take a photo of it as proof. It’s a great option when items are too big, too fragile, or simply not meant to be picked up (like flowers in a graveyard!).
What do you need for a photo scavenger hunt?
Just a phone or camera, a scavenger hunt list, and something to tick items off with. A bag is handy too, in case smaller finds do come home with you.
Can you do a photo scavenger hunt indoors?
Yes. It works just as well on a rainy day at home as it does outdoors. Our Indoor “Rainy Day” Scavenger Hunt list is designed exactly for this.
Are photo scavenger hunts good for younger kids?
Yes, they’re easy to adapt for any age. Younger children can enjoy spotting and pointing things out, while older kids can take charge of the camera and ticking off the list.
Related Ideas to Try Next
- Out for a Walk Scavenger Hunt
- Backyard Scavenger Hunt
- Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Indoor “Rainy Day” Scavenger Hunt
More Rainy Day Ideas
No printable for this one, but if you’re planning a rainy day at home, browse our other indoor activity ideas for more ways to keep the kids entertained, or save this article to come back to next time you need a scavenger hunt list.
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