Printable Winter Scavenger Hunt

This printable winter scavenger hunt is a fun outdoor family activity.

It’s an easy way to go on an adventure within your neighborhood or even in your backyard. It’s always nice to get out of the house and go outside for awhile.

I love creating free family printables to help parents enjoy happy, healthy families. And this snow day scavenger hunt is one of our favorite winter activities.

Jump to:

• How to Keep Children Safe and Warm in Cold Weather
• Creative Ways to Use the Winter Scavenger Hunt
• Winter Scavenger Hunt Items
• Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools for Printables
• Download the Free Printable Winter Scavenger Hunt
• Printable FAQs
• More Scavenger Hunt Fun
• Additional Winter Fun

How to Keep Children Safe and Warm in Cold Weather

We all know how important it is to get fresh air and get out of the house, but as moms we also want to make sure going outside when it’s really cold is safe for our kids. So, here are some tips about keeping kids safe when it’s cold outside:

• Pay attention to the temperature before you and your kids venture outside. As long as it’s above 10 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s safe to play outside as long as everyone is bundled up.
• Make sure your kids are bundled up in layers before walking out the door. Your kids should be dressed in a base layer like long underwear, an insulated middle layer like an insulated jacket and fleece pants, and a waterproof outer layer like a rain jacket and pants — don’t forget the mittens or gloves and a hat.
• Keep everyone’s skin protected from the sun and the cold. Sunscreen is still needed on overcast days and a fragrance-free moisturizer can prevent lips from being chapped and skin from getting dry and uncomfortable.
• Make sure your kids are hydrated. Since the winter air can be dry, kids need to drink plenty of water (or warm drinks and soup) before, during and after activities.

Creative Ways to Use the Winter Scavenger Hunt

This winter scavenger hunt is easy to use. Just attach the printable to a clipboard and grab a pencil (or crayons if you prefer) to mark off items as you spot them, then head out into the great outdoors.

Depending on the age of your kids, you’ll either be able to let them search on their own (of course with you keeping an eye on them) or you’ll search together. Here are a few ideas to make the hunt even more fun:

Take Photos of Found Items

Kids love to take pictures. There are inexpensive instant print cameras for kids that they can use, or, better yet for family bonding, accompany them and take pictures of them with the items they find with your own camera or smartphone.

Make it a Contest

Give each person or team their own list and have them compete to find the most items in a set time period. The winner gets a prize and everyone enjoys a hot cup of cocoa together after the game.

Have Tiered Prizes

If you don’t want to compete against one another, you can instead create tiered prizes like the ones suggested below.

• Find 1-5 items, we’ll build a fire in the fireplace after the hunt.
• Find 5-10 items, we’ll enjoy hot cocoa in front of the fire.
• Find 11-15 items, we’ll have a pizza party movie night.
• Find 16-21 items, we’ll have a sleepover in the family room after movie night.
• Find all 22 items, we’ll go ice skating or bowling on the weekend.

Use it as a Road Trip Activity

If you’re taking a winter road trip, give each child a winter scavenger hunt to keep them occupied during the ride. They can also search for things when you stop at a rest stop — this will give them a reason to walk around and get some exercise.

Winter Scavenger Hunt Items

Winter can be such a beautiful season so lots of words and images come to mind when I think of it. Keeping kids in mind, and the idea of this being an outdoor activity, this word list captures several of those terms while offering great variety at the same time.

Here’s what you’ll be searching for:

Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools for Printables

Printer: This one is a great budget printer. If you’re willing to spend just a little more though, this is a better option. And if you’re looking for an all-in-one home office machine, this one does it all, has high reviews and includes 2 years of ink.

Ink cartridges: Speaking of ink, this is where the cost of using printables can really add up! To save BIG on ink, buy it from CompAndSave.com. It’s substantially cheaper than anywhere else and they carry ink for all major printer brands and models.

Printer paper or cardstock: If you’re printing for one-time, quick use, print on regular printer paper. If you need the printout to hold up to being handled often or if you plan to laminate it to use it multiple times, choose cardstock.

Laminator: Laminating your printable is an inexpensive way to use it multiple times. Just use dry erase markers and wipe off when you’re done so you can use it again!  Alternately, you can cover the printable with clear contact paper to achieve the same thing or place the printable in clear page protectors.

Binder or Folder: If you’re using page protectors for your printables, binders are such an easy way to keep them together and organized. I love this colorful set. If you prefer to stick with standard white though, this set is highly rated and very affordable. And if you need larger binders, this set is terrific. If you go with folders, I like these.

Storage boxes: I like to keep a collection of coloring pages and activity sheets for kids in these plastic storage boxes that I pull out whenever I need to keep kids occupied.

Hole punch: If you don’t use page protectors but want to use binders to organize your printables, a hole puncher will be your best friend. This is the one you want if you’ll be punching holes in several pages at a time and want to do so easily. And this bargain option is ideal if you don’t mind limiting your hole punching to 2-3 pages at a time.

Clipboard: I love this clipboard for on-the-go with the kids. It has built in storage for both printables and markers or pencils.

Download the Free Printable Winter Scavenger Hunt

Now that you have some ideas of how to have fun with the scavenger hunt, here it is. Just fill in the form below the image for immediate access.

Printable FAQs

More Scavenger Hunt Fun

If you really love scavenger hunts, check out this collection of 20 scavenger hunt games from Organized 31!

Each theme contains at least 3 different game boards (most have more). For just $6.99 you’ll have fun activities that will last you all year long.

Additional Winter Fun

Keep the winter fun going strong for you and your family with these other free ideas, recipes and printables.

• Polar Bear Donuts: Brighten up your breakfast with these adorable Polar Bear Donuts! Perfect for winter mornings, or a special breakfast surprise. Fun to make, even more fun to eat!
• Easy To Make Juice Box Snowman: This simple DIY project is perfect for classroom activities or snowy day entertainment. Transform ordinary juice boxes into charming snowmen using basic craft supplies. Great way to teach kids about recycling while getting creative.
• Easy and Fun FROZEN Olaf Cupcakes: Love baking with your little FROZEN fans? These adorable Olaf cupcakes are a fun and easy dessert that starts with a simple cake mix. Perfect for birthday parties, movie nights, or any time you want to bring the magic of everyone’s favorite snowman to your kitchen.
• Family Winter Bucket List Ideas: Ready to make magical memories this winter? Check out our Family Winter Bucket List and embrace the cozy season with fun activities that everyone will love.
• Winter Crossword Puzzle for Kids: Make learning fun this season with our FREE Winter Crossword Puzzle for Kids. ❄️ Perfect for elementary students, this printable puzzle features winter-themed words and clues that build vocabulary while entertaining.
• Indoor Games For Kids, Teens, And Families: Indoor games are not only awesome activities for kids, but they’re also great for parties and for date nights or family nights at home.