Fall is the perfect season for watching nature change. Leaves turn every color, squirrels race around with nuts and seeds and pods drop everywhere.
A fall nature hunt gives kids a reason to slow down and really look, and it works for toddlers all the way up to big kids.
How to Do a Fall Nature Hunt
Fall Scavenger Hunt Packet
Get the printableA printable fall scavenger hunt
Laminator or sheet protector
View on AmazonKids binoculars
View on AmazonMagnifier and tweezers
View on AmazonA safe outdoor spot
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Print and protect
Print your scavenger hunt and laminate it or slide it into a sheet protector so it survives the trip.
Find a home base
Set the sheet on a picnic table or blanket.
Hunt one category at a time
Start with leaves. Find different shapes and colors and bring them back to the sheet.
Sort and record
Lay each find on its spot on the sheet, or write or draw it.
Slow down
Toss leaves, listen for birds and smell, feel and describe each find.
What to Look For on a Fall Nature Hunt
- Leaves in red, orange, yellow and brown, and with bug holes.
- Seeds and nuts like acorns, buckeyes, pinecones and maple “helicopters.”
- Animals getting ready for winter, like squirrels gathering nuts and birds flocking.
- Textures: rough bark, smooth stones, crunchy leaves.
- Changes: compare the same tree from week to week.
Take only what’s on the ground, and don’t touch mushrooms or berries. Skip buckeyes for kids who still mouth things, since they’re toxic if eaten.
More fall activities
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Want a hunt for every season? Grab the seasonal scavenger hunts bundle.
The fall scavenger hunt includes
- Printable fall scavenger hunt pages
- Instant PDF download, nothing is shipped
Perfect for
- Nature walks and field trips
- Toddlers through early elementary
- Fall science units
Fall Nature Hunt FAQ
Colorful leaves, acorns, pinecones, seeds, bark, birds, squirrels and signs of animals getting ready for winter.
All ages. Toddlers can match objects, and older kids can draw and write.
Our fall scavenger hunt packet is in the shop above.
Laminate it or slide it into a sheet protector.
More Fall Activities
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From families like yours
Did you try it? Tell us how it went!
We love seeing these activities out in the wild: the lumpy letters, the snack breaks, the proud “I made a B!” moments. Leave a star rating, tell other parents what worked (and what totally didn’t), and add a photo of your setup if you’d like.
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