Bookish Outdoor Adventures: Plan a Family Literacy Scavenger Hunt
At Once Upon a Book Club, we love taking part in exciting adventures through the pages of our favorite books. As you know, our book subscription boxes bring that much-needed excitement with our amazing surprise gifts, but now it’s time to take the fun outside!
We’re planning the ultimate Bookish Outdoor Scavenger Hunt, where the magic of reading meets the thrill of exploration. Combining physical activity with the joy of books, this outdoor adventure will keep your kids moving, reading, and discovering hidden treasures—all while enjoying being outside! (Yes, screen time has officially been put on hold.) And more importantly, you will be creating those family memories that last a lifetime. Who knows, you may just start a new family tradition.
We can’t wait to share our step-by-step guide on planning the perfect scavenger hunt. So sit back, relax (while you can), and let’s get the adventure started!
Step 1: Map It Out
Every adventurer needs a map!
Start by creating a map to lead your family on a journey through your backyard, local park, or hiking trail. Each clue should incorporate something literacy-related. For example, you could hide a small jar with a riddle inside that leads them to their next destination—only after they solve the puzzle by reading a passage from their book.
Make sure you mix it up with physical tasks like finding specific items, solving book-related riddles, or even performing tasks like jumping over imaginary rivers or climbing small "mountains" (aka playground equipment).
You could even create a theme based on their current read. Wait, scratch that, we have the perfect book for the occasion! The Adventure is Now by Jess Redman is just what you need.
About the Book:
A fun-filled, action-packed middle grade novel about a boy who learns about protecting the environment, finding real friends, and living in the now while spending the summer on a remote island.
Sometimes it's hard to be Milton P. Greene. He says all the wrong things, his family is falling apart, and everyone at school avoids him because of the very embarrassing Bird Brain Incident. But when Milton plays his video game Isle of Wild, he becomes someone else―Sea Hawk, the brave and brilliant naturalist explorer who conquers danger at every turn.
Then Milton’s parents ship him off to the remote Lone Island for the summer, where his uncle Evan is an environmentalist researcher. The island is chock-full of spectaculous species, and Milton realizes this is his chance to become the brave and brilliant naturalist he’s always wanted to be―and even meet some fellow explorers!
But as it turns out, the future of the Lone Island is in some pretty serious peril, and the only thing that can save it is a field guide full of cryptic clues. If Milton and his unexpected new friends are going to protect the island, they’ll have to trust each other, discover new truths, and embark on a wild and wondrous adventure all on their own.
With our Brave Explorer Box, your kids will have everything they need to channel their inner adventurer. Yes, our Explorer Kit and Bug Catching Kit will take things to the next level!
Step 2: Add Some Fun Challenges
To make the scavenger hunt more fun and engaging, mix in different reading challenges. For example, they could:
Decode a Riddle: Write a simple riddle on a slip of paper hidden in a tree or under a rock. The answer to the riddle will guide them to the next clue.
Solve a Puzzle: Create a puzzle where they have to match characters with their descriptions or match book titles with their authors. They can only move forward once they’ve solved the puzzle.
With the Explorer Kit, they can use their magnifying glass to inspect nature up close or follow animal tracks (okay, maybe just the neighbor’s dog tracks). The Bug Catching Kit adds another layer of adventure, where your kids can learn about the different insects they encounter while reading about adventurers who discovered new species.
To keep the reading focus, you can include tasks like finding words in nature that start with each letter of the alphabet or reading a specific chapter to solve a clue.
Step 3: Physical Challenges Meet Bookish Fun
Because we’re outdoors, let’s throw in some physical activities too. Maybe they have to hop like a frog to the next checkpoint (aka the picnic table) or tiptoe across an imaginary tightrope to "escape the deadly bug breath.” You can tie in these fun physical tasks with reading by asking them to perform the action after answering a book-related question correctly.
For example, they could be asked, “What is the name of Milton’s video game?” If they answer correctly, they get to move forward by leaping like a frog to the next clue!
Step 4: Adventure Downtime
We all know that even adventurers need some downtime, right? Along the scavenger hunt, set up some cozy little "reading nooks" outdoors, like a blanket under a shady tree or a hammock by the porch. It’s time to rest, grab a hotdog and soda while the final clue is revealed.
No scavenger hunt is complete without a treasure at the end! The final clue can lead them to a small reward—a new book, their favorite candy, or a movie night voucher. Or perhaps you have a budding author and a new notebook is needed for them to start writing their own stories.
Conclusion
A bookish scavenger hunt isn’t just a fun way to get outside and burn off some energy—it’s also a sneaky way to keep reading exciting. By turning literacy into an adventure, kids will associate books with fun, exploration, and discovery. Plus, it’s a perfect bonding experience for the whole family, mixing the thrill of the hunt with the joy of reading.
So grab your books, map out your clues, and get ready for a bookish outdoor adventure that will have everyone laughing, reading, and exploring! Bringing bookish adventure into your kid’s life has never been easier than with our tween boxes. Check out our blog to find out more about the best tween book box around! Happy reading from all of us at OUABC. We would love to hear about your adventures and scavenger hunts!
