How do you plan a backyard scavenger hunt?
Walk the yard and list a few fixed spots, write one clue for each, then chain them so each spot hides the clue to the next until the last one leads to the treasure.
Which backyard spots make good stops?
Pick things that won't move on the day and that kids can reach safely. Ideas: the mailbox, the big tree, the swing, the slide, the garden hose, the doormat, the flower pot, the shed, your bike and the sandbox. Our printable cards have a ready-made clue for each one.
How do you chain the clues together?
- Put your spots in order, ending at the treasure.
- Each clue goes at the spot before the place it describes, so finding one clue sends kids on to the next.
- Write yourself a run sheet with every clue and its answer, like our own hunt board.
- Do one walk-through the morning of the hunt to check every clue is still in place.
What games work between clues?
A quick team game at each stop turns a treasure trail into a party. Balloon games need little space and few supplies; these are the ones we used:
- 🎈 Balloon Pass: Pass a balloon down the line using only your chin and chest — no hands allowed.
- 💦 Water Balloon Circle Pass: Toss a water balloon around a circle without it bursting — the circle gets wider every round.
- ⏱️ Keep 'Em Up: Keep 3 balloons in the air for 2 whole minutes as a team.
- 🎉 Balloon Pop Messages: Pop the balloons to find the secret words hiding inside, then piece the next clue together.
- 🐧 Balloon Waddle Relay: Waddle a balloon from one basket to another holding it between your knees or ankles.
- 🐛 Caterpillar Walk: Walk in a line with balloons squished between each player — hands off, caterpillar on!
Which parts of the yard should be off-limits?
Keep stops away from the pool, the grill or any outdoor oven, and equipment like heaters and pumps. Run games next to features like a bouncy castle rather than inside them, and agree on the hunt's boundaries before you start.
What can I print or use right now?
What else do parents ask?
- How big does my yard need to be?
- Any size works. In a small yard, use more hiding spots that are close together, and add a game at each stop to make the hunt last longer.
- How do I stop kids finding clues early?
- Hide clues just before the hunt starts, keep them out of sight (under, behind or inside things), and have a grown-up hold a clue at any stop where it would be easy to spot.
- What if a clue goes missing?
- Keep a spare copy of every clue in your pocket. If one blows away or gets picked up early, you can hand it over at that stop.
- Can I use Hunt Lab for my own backyard?
- Yes. Type your own spots into the Clue Generator, print our clue cards for common spots, and borrow any of the balloon games.
Which other guides might help?
Who makes Hunt Lab?
Hunt Lab is made by Paul Firmin, a parent in Aurora, Ontario, at Firmin Labs. It started as the plan for his own kids’ backyard birthday hunt. More from Firmin Labs for families: