Canada Day Scavenger Hunt

I think it's safe to say that kids of all ages love scavenger hunts. Searching for and then discovering special objects is exciting!

If you're planning a Canada Day party this year, a Canadian themed scavenger hunt is a great way to keep the kids busy and having fun. While they play they'll also be celebrating and learning a bit about our home and native land.

There are a few different ways to organise a scavenger hunt and you'll want to tailor yours to the ages and abilities of the children participating.

Keep it simple for toddlers and preschoolers. I'd suggest modelling the activity after an Easter egg hunt (in other words, no detailed instructions for the little ones to follow). This is how I approached the Canada Day Scavenger Hunt I put together for my son and his cousins (ages 2 and 4). I gave each boy a Canadian flag bag and told them that I'd hidden objects around the lawn that were either red and white, or had a maple leaf on them. I'm sure this went over the head of the 2-year old but he was able to understand that we were looking for toys that were NOT the usual ones he played with.

I made sure to hide one of each item so that the boys would all end up with the same things (no fighting over who got more or better toys!). The kids had a blast and even helped each other out if they spotted something they had already found but the other one(s) hadn't yet.

With older children, the scavenger hunt can be more elaborate. You could give them a checklist or photos of the items to find. Or, ask them to find or photograph things that represent Canada, such as a maple leaf, a loonie or toonie, a piece of hockey equipment, a picture of the Queen, a toy moose or beaver, a bottle of maple syrup, etc.

However you decide to carry out your Canada Day Scavenger Hunt, one thing you can be sure of is that your kids will love it.

I hope you have a fun and memorable Canada Day!