🌿 Backyard treasure hunt
A treasure hunt in the fresh air, among the trees and flower pots. If your yard is missing one of the spots, swap in another one and change only that clue.
A backyard is the perfect place for a treasure hunt: there is room to run, plenty of corners to hide notes in, and nobody worries about breaking something in the living room. The 8 rhyming clues lead from the tree trunk, past the flower pot and the garden hose, all the way to the back step where the prize is waiting. Setup takes about 15 minutes, and the hunt suits ages 4 to 9.
Before you start
- Print the clues, fold each one, and hide it in the spot the clue before it points to. Hand the first clue to the kids to start.
- Walk around the yard first: put away tools, garden chemicals and anything prickly.
- Tuck each clue into a small zip bag or under a light stone so the wind can't blow it away.
The clues (cut along the dashed lines)
- Clue 1I've branches up high and my leaves are green, Look down by my roots for a clue still unseen!
- Clue 2I'm a pot full of soil with a flower on top, Look just behind me, this is your next stop!
- Clue 3I'm long and I'm twisty, I give plants a drink, The clue's right beside me, it's closer than you think!
- Clue 4I open and close and I squeak when I swing, Look close beside me to find the next thing!
- Clue 5You wipe your feet on me before you come in, Lift up my corner, a clue's tucked within!
- Clue 6I stand on four legs out here in the sun, Look under my seat for the next bit of fun!
- Clue 7I'm round and I'm green and I'm low to the ground, Look down by my feet, there's a clue to be found!
- Clue 8One step, then two, as you climb to the door, The treasure waits on the lowest one, for sure!
Show the answers (for the grown-up)
- At the foot of the tree
- Behind the flower pot
- Next to the garden hose
- By the yard gate (on the inside)
- Under the doormat
- Under the garden chair
- At the foot of the bush
- On the bottom step by the door
Answer key (for the grown-up)
- At the foot of the tree
- Behind the flower pot
- Next to the garden hose
- By the yard gate (on the inside)
- Under the doormat
- Under the garden chair
- At the foot of the bush
- On the bottom step by the door
The treasure
A bubble kit, sidewalk chalk or a new ball for the yard.
Ideas and variations
- For older kids: Add a mini challenge at every stop before the next clue can be opened: five hops on one foot, find a heart-shaped leaf, or count the flower pots.
- Two teams: Print two copies on paper in two colors. Each team collects only its own color, and the treasure is shared at the end.
- Flashlight hunt: On a summer evening, give every child a flashlight and stick a glow-in-the-dark sticker or reflective tape on each clue.
- Backyard birthday: Make the treasure the guests' party favor bags. The hunt becomes the grand finale of the party.
Before you hide anything, think about sun and safety. In summer, play in the morning or late afternoon, with hats and water bottles. Keep clues away from pools, buckets of water and faucets kids can turn on, and check for bees near any flowers. No yard? The same clues work almost as they are in a nearby public garden.
Questions and answers
How long does a backyard treasure hunt take?
Usually 15 to 25 minutes for 8 clues, depending on age and the size of the yard. Younger kids who need each clue read to them will take a bit longer.
How many kids can play together?
Up to six or eight in one group. With more kids, split them into two teams with different colored clues so everyone gets a turn to find one.
What if the wind blows the clues away?
Put each note in a small zip bag or under an upside-down paper cup, and weigh it down with a light stone. Hide the clues just before the game starts.