100 Things to Look for on a Nature Walk

Use this list of 100 things to look for on a nature walk with kids to make your family walks more fun

Here are 100 Things to Look for on a Nature Walk to keep you and your kids busy no matter where you head out to explore. From the classic signs that an animal has been in an area, to the source of water that is necessary for life, this list has tons of fun things for you and your kids to watch out for on the trail.

100 Things to Look for on a Nature Walk

1. Animal Tracks
2. Berries on bushes or trees
3. Fruit from trees
4. Nuts from trees
5. Fallen leaves to determine types of trees in the area
6. Moss on logs, rocks and in shady areas
7. Local common snakes (wear long pants, boots and never disturb)
8. Insects
9. Arachnids (spiders)
10. Animal homes, holes in the ground or obvious dens (don’t disturb,just observe)
11. Natural or man made caves or dwellings
12. Creek beds and rivers
13. Different types of rocks and minerals
14. Rock formations
15. Wild flower species
16. Trails from humans or animals
17. Carcass or remains of animals
18. Animal droppings
19. Antlers from deer
20. Various types of spiderwebs
21. Wild turkeys
22. Wild hogs
23. Different species of birds
24. Lizards
25. Markings on trees from deer or bears
26. Evidence of fire (from wildfire or humans building camp fires)
27. Cocoons from moths
28. Naturally growing mushrooms
29. Butterfly chrysalis
30. Ant hills
31. Fossils
32. Natural water springs
33. Trash or litter you can pick up and dispose of properly
34. Geocache locations (plan your nature walk around local GPS locations of Geocaches
35. Tadpoles in rivers, creeks or pools of water
36. Skin that has been shed from snakes
37. Fallen branches or limbs that could be used to build shelter
38. Different colored leaves
39. Algae on water or ponds
40. Lily pads on water or ponds
41. Fractal items like leaves, spider webs and similar
42. Different types of soil along the way
43. Beehives
44. Bird nests
45. Mistletoe (it is parasite in many trees)
46. Fallen logs
47. Off road vehicle tracks (look for dirt bike, 4 wheeler or other similar off road vehicle tracks)
48. Naturally growing herbs
49. Different types of grass and ground covering
50. Different smells (wood, grass, animal droppings, flowers, mold)
51. Different types of tree bark
52. Trees that are easy to climb
53. A rock with multiple colors
54. New or baby trees around older existing trees (signs of healthy soil and a tree that is dropping seeds)
55. Different types of seeds from trees and plant life
56. Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, or Sumac (you want to avoid, but it is a great way to teach kids what they look like)
57. Worms
58. Animals or insects that camouflage themselves
59. Count the different colors you see along the way
60. Look for frogs
61. Squirrels nests (where they hoard nuts, berries and other supplies)
62. Natural compost (areas where leaves and such are rotting to create rich soil)
63. Pine cones
64. Something round
65. Plants with thorns on them
66. Walking sticks (the insect as well as the stick for use to steady yourself while exploring)
67. Waterfalls
68. Vines to pretend you are Tarzan on (only with adults permission and safety precautions)
69. Quartz Crystals
70. Money(people often litter or drop change that animals pick up and take back to their nests)
71. Eggs (birds, snakes and lizards all lay eggs)
72. Snails
73. Red clay
74. Feathers from birds
75. Arrowheads or slate rocks that could be fashioned into arrowheads
76. Arrows
77. Ferns
78. Remnants of shells used in hunting
79. Blossoms or buds on a tree or bush
80. A tree growing through something like another fallen tree, rock formation or similar
81. Ladybugs
82. String or twine gathered by birds or discarded by hikers
83. Carvings on trees from other walkers or hikers
84. Signs of infestations killing plants (dead trees, grass or areas that look like something has killed plant life
85. Rocks that are bigger than you are
86. Something that is soft and fuzzy
87. Seashells (if near the ocean)
88. Something straight and narrow
89. Fish in ponds, rivers, creeks, lakes or tide pools
90. Clover
91. Mud puddles (to splash in and have fun)
92. Grassy areas for picnics
93. Caterpillar
94. A leaf with holes in it from insects
95. A super large leaf that could provide shelter
96. Sand
97. Broken glass (litter from other hikers)
98. Weather balloons
99. Wild onions
100. Cactus

This list includes items you would expect to find, a few unusual things, and of course evidence of outside life leaving litter behind. Use this list to create a scavenger hunt for your kids on your next walk!

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