Make your camping trip more fun with a treasure hunt in the great outdoors!
FAVORITE CAMPING ACTIVITY
If you're taking your family on a camping trip this year, add a camping treasure hunt to your list of activities!
My family has been going camping to the same place every year for the last 30 years!! We love the great outdoors and have some pretty fun camping traditions that have strengthened our family.
Well, now that everything is sorted, we can dive head-on into the gaming part. To be honest, our camping treasure hunt is always on our list of favorite camping activities and it is probably also the reason that we like to go camping so often.
Related:
HOW TO DO A CAMPING TREASURE HUNT
Putting together a camping treasure hunt is easier than you think! Here's how to do your own:
1| GET A TREASURE FOR EACH PERSON
Before you leave on your camping trip, be sure to get a treasure for everyone who will be participating in the treasure hunt. The sky is the limit here. We usually grab something from the dollar store (because kids are so easy to please) and maybe a fun treat Treasure hunt is a great way for you to get your kids moving and active. But you could also get the adults present to participate in them too as it can be a fun activity to do.
If you want to wrap the gifts, do it before you leave. Then stash the treasures in your camping gear totes so you won't forget them!
Treasure ideas:
- stickers, coloring books, toy cars, camping gadget, mini lotion, hair accessory, treats.
2| PRINT THE CLUES BEFORE YOU GO
Your clues can be as fancy or simple as you like. Some years my mom and her sister would write very basic clues and others my super creative cousins would write full themed clues such as Disney, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pioneers, or a compass course.
The clues can be fancy or just written on line paper.
EASY TREASURE HUNT CLUES
When lots of little children will be camping with us, we use picture clues of common camping places. They can look at the picture and know where the next clue is!
For example, when they found this clue with the fishing pole picture on the fire pit, they knew that the next clue would be by the fishing gear!
But I also created written clues for older kids who know how to read. This one's my favorite: haha.
HOW MANY TREASURE HUNT CLUES TO USE
6-7 clues seems to be just the right amount. All clues are hidden around the campground/camping area in well-known places like the outhouse, canoe, campground sign, tent, fire pit, tackle box, etc.
3| CHOOSE A DAY FOR YOUR TREASURE HUNT
We usually do our treasure hunt on the 2nd to last day, because the last day is always too busy with breaking camp and going home. The treasure hunt keeps everyone happier since there is something fun to look forward to!
4| HIDE CLUES AND TREASURE
If you are staying in a campground, wait to hide the clues until just before your hunt so that other campers don't move your clues.
Hide your treasure in the place that the last clue leads to. If you use the written clues, the treasure will be hidden in your car.
Now you're ready to go treasure hunting!
TREASURE BOX IDEAS
Create a fancy treasure box like this cute one my sister-in-law made a few years ago out of cardboard and gold tape!
Or you can just use a bag or bin you have. Really, it does not need to be fancy!
Show off your fun hunt! Tag @sofestive on Instagram so I can feature you.
Let us know what you think!