Need a reason to get outside and really look around? Camp Counselor Loreley has just the thing. Today in Adventure Fun, we’re heading out for a Color Scavenger Hunt—a playful way to explore the neighborhood, connect with nature, and get those little legs moving. With just a cardboard drink tray and a few crayons or markers, Loreley turned an afternoon walk into a color-matching mission. Her kids searched high and low for leaves, petals, and bits of nature to match each shade—and yours can too!
This one is quick to set up, endlessly adaptable, and a beautiful reminder that there’s color and wonder all around us.
What You’ll Need
- A cardboard drink tray (from your favorite coffee run)
- Crayons, markers, or paint
- Tape (optional, for securing found treasures)
- A neighborhood, park, or backyard to explore
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How to Go on a Color Scavenger Hunt
Color your tray.
Use crayons, markers, or paint to color each quadrant of the drink tray a different shade—think red, yellow, green, blue, or mix it up with pinks, purples, and neutrals.
Head outside.
Take a walk around the block, your backyard, or a nearby trail. Your kids’ mission? Find natural items that match each color on the tray.
Collect and match.
As your kids find flowers, leaves, petals, or tiny treasures, place them in the matching section of the tray. It’s all about observation and curiosity—not perfection.
Celebrate your finds.
Once the tray is full, take a moment to admire the collection. Talk about textures, names of plants, or where each item came from. Nature makes the best souvenirs. Camp
Counselor Tip: Try swapping colors out for patterns or textures—like smooth, bumpy, shiny, or fuzzy—for a twist on the activity that works year-round, even when flowers are scarce.