{"id":43302,"date":"2022-08-01T07:00:51","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T12:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/?p=43302"},"modified":"2022-07-31T18:13:06","modified_gmt":"2022-07-31T23:13:06","slug":"how-to-create-an-ultimate-nature-scavenger-hunt-for-the-whole-family-in-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/how-to-create-an-ultimate-nature-scavenger-hunt-for-the-whole-family-in-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create an Ultimate Nature Scavenger Hunt for the Whole Family"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scavenger hunts are a great way to engage with nature while you walk through it, rather than moving through it absent-mindedly. All it takes is a list of things to find, and your whole family can immerse themselves in the complexity and beauty of nature! To make your kid&#8217;s nature scavenger hunt a little easier, you can print pictures of each plant so your kids can recognize them. Here&#8217;s how to get started.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-43304 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Child-picking-apples-1024x512.png\" alt=\"Platt Hill Nursery - Nature Scavenger Walk Chicago - Child picking apples\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Child-picking-apples-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Child-picking-apples-980x490.png 980w, https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Child-picking-apples-480x240.png 480w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/512;\" \/><br \/>\nTrees for Your Scavenger Hunt in Chicago<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trees are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem, as they clean the air, provide shelter for wildlife, and contribute to healthy soil for smaller plants around them. Here are some favorites you can find in Chicago:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/1002\/Redbud_Crabapple\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crabapple<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/98\/Pagoda_Dogwood\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogwood<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/471\/Common_Lilac\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lilac<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/18667\/Redpointe_Red_Maple\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red maple<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/384\/Red_Oak\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red oak<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/18628\/Heritage_River_Birch_(clump)\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">River birch<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/288\/Norway_Spruce\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Norway spruce<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/311\/White_Pine\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White pine<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Native Plants for Your Scavenger Hunt\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identifying native plants is super important for eco-conscious gardening and earth-keeping. Learning to identify which plants are native to Chicago is a great activity for the whole family to help promote sustainable landscaping and gardening for a lifetime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/11392\/Winky_Red_And_White_Columbine\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Columbine<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/2131\/Butterfly_Weed\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Butterfly weed<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/20632\/Cherry_Pops_Beebalm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bee balm<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/5483\/Berry_Heavy_Winterberry\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Winterberry<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/48\/Black_Chokeberry\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Black chokecherry<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/3226\/Regent_Saskatoon\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saskatoon<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/8097\/Heritage_Raspberry\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heritage raspberry<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plants.platthillnursery.com\/12120026\/Plant\/463\/Snowberry\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Snowberry<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/platthillnursery.com\/r0wxmrag49\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-43307 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-egg-carton-full-of-leaves-and-herbs-1024x339.png\" alt=\"Platt Hill Nursery - Nature Scavenger Walk Chicago -egg carton full of leaves and herbs\" width=\"1024\" height=\"339\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-egg-carton-full-of-leaves-and-herbs-1024x339.png 1024w, https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-egg-carton-full-of-leaves-and-herbs-980x324.png 980w, https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-egg-carton-full-of-leaves-and-herbs-480x159.png 480w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/339;\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nBackyard Items for Your Scavenger Hunt\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to keep your scavenger hunt limited to the backyard, here are some options you can add to your lists for a great hunt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific annual varieties that you have in containers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garden vegetables<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garden tools, such as a trowel or watering can<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unique kinds of weeds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spotting wildlife<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fallen branches with leaves attached<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wild mushrooms (look, don&#8217;t touch!)<\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can hide garden supplies in random places around the yard if you want to make things more difficult to find for your kids!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-43306 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Four-leaf-clover-1024x512.png\" alt=\"Platt Hill Nursery - Nature Scavenger Walk Chicago - Four leaf clover\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Four-leaf-clover-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Four-leaf-clover-980x490.png 980w, https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Four-leaf-clover-480x240.png 480w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/512;\" \/><br \/>\nAdditional Scavenger Hunt Items<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The longer the list, the more time you get to enjoy the outdoors. Here are some additional items you can add to your list to make an awesome scavenger hunt that will keep you busy all afternoon:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pinecones<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A tree changing color (2 or 3 more colors)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific kinds of birds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three leaf clover (4 if you&#8217;re lucky!)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Types of bugs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pointy leaves\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pink flowers\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spot a chipmunk, squirrel, or rabbit!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An evergreen<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A flower with specific numbers of petals<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fallen bark<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spider webs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-43305 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Children-looking-at-sticks-1024x512.png\" alt=\"Platt Hill Nursery - Nature Scavenger Walk Chicago - Children looking at sticks\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Children-looking-at-sticks-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Children-looking-at-sticks-980x490.png 980w, https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Platt-Hill-Nursery-Nature-Scavenger-Walk-Chicago-Children-looking-at-sticks-480x240.png 480w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/512;\" \/><br \/>\nTips for an Awesome Nature Scavenger Hunt\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making a list is one thing, but you can do a few extra things to make sure that you enjoy your scavenger hunt to the max!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Pack Supplies<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure you have enough snacks, water, sunscreen, and bug-repellant for everyone. This way, you won&#8217;t have to cut the fun short and can take as long as you want to finish your hunt!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Plan a Reward<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who doesn&#8217;t love a little friendly competition? Having a prize at the end of your hunt for finding the most items on the list is a great way to add competition and excitement to your hunt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Respect Nature in the Process<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be sure to leave nature in the same condition that you found it. Be careful not to trample any wild areas, leave the berries for the wildlife, and make sure you bring snack wrappers back with you to dispose of in the garbage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you go on an awesome nature <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scavenger hunt in your area<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and discover some cool native plants that you&#8217;d like to add to your garden, visit Platt Hill Nursery in Bloomingdale and Carpentersville. We have gorgeous native plants or trees that will support local wildlife and create a fascinating and educational space for your family right at home. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/contact-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact us <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you have any questions; we are always happy to help!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em style=\"color: #666666; font-size: 14px;\">Platt Hill Nursery is Chicago\u2019s premier garden center and nursery.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Creating a scavenger hunt is easy, fun, and educational. Whether you go to a park or into your yard, there&#8217;s a lot to discover! Start by making a list using these ideas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":348,"featured_media":43303,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[848,969],"tags":[108,109,795,1006,1566,1565,1561,1563,1560,1226,1562,1564],"class_list":["post-43302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kids-activity","category-outdoor-living","tag-bloomingdale-garden-center","tag-carpentersville-garden-center","tag-chicago","tag-chicago-platt-hill-nursery-illinois","tag-getting-kids-into-nature","tag-getting-kids-outdoors","tag-how-to-plan-an-outdoor-scavenger-hunt","tag-kids-activities-in-the-summer","tag-nature-scavenger-hunt","tag-platt-hill-nursery","tag-scavenger-hunt-in-nature-chigaco","tag-scavenger-hunt-items"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/348"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43302"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43302\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}