Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt: 24 Clues + Free Printables

Children can search for a colorful leaf, spot something orange, find an item on the dinner table, or discover a cozy place to sit. You don’t need to hide prizes or buy special supplies.

Below are 24 Thanksgiving scavenger hunt clues divided into an indoor hunt and an outdoor hunt. You can use the lists straight from your phone or jump to the free printable checklists at the bottom of this article.

Table of Contents

How to Organize a Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

Start by deciding where the hunt will take place. An indoor hunt works well while the family is preparing dinner or relaxing at home. An outdoor hunt can be a welcome change of pace before or after the meal.

Choose the clues that suit your space, then decide whether children will point to items, check them off, or photograph what they find.

What You’ll Need

• One of the scavenger hunt checklists below
• A pencil or crayon if you’re using a printed sheet
• An adult to read clues or accompany younger children
• Optional: a phone for an older child’s photo hunt

Make it simple: Children only need to find or point to an item. They don’t have to collect it. That way, the hunt stays tidy indoors and leaves outdoor plants and wildlife undisturbed.

Set a Few Ground Rules

Tell children which rooms or outdoor areas are part of the hunt. Keep the kitchen’s cooking area, roads, driveways, and other unsuitable spaces off-limits.

Let younger children search with an adult or older sibling. If something on the list isn’t available where you live, skip it or substitute a similar item.

Indoor Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt: 12 Clues

This version uses familiar household items and autumn-themed details. It works well for a small family gathering, a rainy Thanksgiving, or a group of children who would rather stay inside.

1. Something orange: Find a decoration, toy, book cover, or other orange object.
2. A leaf or a picture of one: Look for an autumn decoration, drawing, or leaf in a book.
3. A place setting: Spot a plate, cup, and napkin together.
4. Something soft: Find a pillow, blanket, or stuffed animal.
5. A spoon: Look for one on the table or in a place an adult allows you to search.
6. Something round: It might be a ball, clock, plate, or pumpkin decoration.
7. A family picture or drawing: Find a photo, framed picture, or artwork.
8. Something that makes a sound: Find a clock, toy, musical instrument, or another suitable object.
9. A book: Find one with a picture you like.
10. Something brown: Look for a wooden item, teddy bear, or decoration.
11. A cozy place to sit: Find your favorite chair or sofa spot.
12. Something that reminds you of Thanksgiving: Choose an object and tell someone why you picked it.

The final clue is intentionally open-ended. One child might find a turkey drawing, while another chooses a family photograph or a favorite dessert plate.

How to Play Indoors

Give each child a checklist, or work together as one team. Read the first clue and let the children explore the agreed-upon space.

Once they find an item, they can tick it off and move to the next clue. For toddlers, it may be easier to point out objects together rather than finish the whole list.

There’s no need to make the hunt a race. A relaxed search allows children to explain their discoveries and lets adults join in without interrupting the rest of the celebration.

Outdoor Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt: 12 Clues

If the weather is suitable, take the scavenger hunt into the backyard, a park, or another familiar outdoor space. These clues focus on noticing nature rather than gathering objects.

1. A fallen leaf: Find one on the ground.
2. Something brown: Look for bark, soil, a leaf, or another natural object.
3. A tree: Find one with an interesting shape.
4. A bird: Spot one perched or flying, or listen for one nearby.
5. Something moving in the wind: Watch a leaf, branch, or blade of grass.
6. A cloud: Find one and describe its shape.
7. Something green: Look for grass, a leaf, or another plant.
8. A rough texture: Point to tree bark or a textured rock without needing to pick it up.
9. Something round: Find a pebble, seedpod, or another round-looking object.
10. A place to rest: Spot a bench, picnic table, or suitable place to pause.
11. A colorful autumn detail: Look for red, orange, or yellow; if those colors aren’t visible in nature, choose another interesting color.
12. Your favorite discovery: Point to the thing you enjoyed finding most.

Not every place has brightly colored autumn leaves in November. The hunt still works with green plants, interesting shapes, clouds, and other details in your local environment.

How to Play Outdoors

Walk together and read the clues one at a time. Children can mark what they find, point it out, or take a photograph if an adult agrees.

Keep the search within your chosen area. Children should leave unfamiliar plants, berries, mushrooms, and wildlife alone rather than touching or tasting them.

If the children want to keep playing afterward, our games to play outside guide has more ideas for different ages.

How to Adapt the Hunt for Different Ages

For Toddlers

Choose just four or five familiar clues, such as “find something orange” or “point to a tree.” Read each clue aloud and search together. A toddler doesn’t need to finish a full checklist to enjoy the activity.

For Preschoolers

Use a printed list and let children make a mark beside each discovery. They can work with an adult if some of the written clues are unfamiliar.

For Older Kids

Ask children to explain their choices, find two examples for a clue, or take a photo of each discovery. An older child can also help read clues for younger siblings.

For Mixed-Age Families

Pair younger and older children, or complete the list as one group. A cooperative hunt often works better than a race when participants have different abilities and interests.

Three Fun Ways to Change the Game

1. Play Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt Bingo

Choose nine clues and arrange them in a three-by-three grid on paper. Children mark each square as they find an item. The goal is to complete a row, column, or diagonal.

2. Try a Photo Scavenger Hunt

Let older children photograph their discoveries instead of collecting objects. Afterward, look at the pictures together and compare the creative ways everyone interpreted the clues.

3. Make a Family Team Hunt

Give the whole family one checklist. Each person can contribute a discovery, and children can take turns choosing the next clue. This works particularly well when grandparents or other relatives want to join in without moving quickly around the house.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt?

A Thanksgiving scavenger hunt is an activity in which children search for holiday-themed or seasonal items using a list of clues. It can take place indoors, outdoors, or around the dinner table.

What can I put on a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt list?

Try clues such as something orange, a leaf, a pumpkin decoration, a family picture, a place setting, or something that reminds a child of Thanksgiving. For an outdoor hunt, include trees, clouds, birds, and other details that are available in your area.

Can toddlers do a scavenger hunt?

Yes. Use a short list of familiar objects, read each clue aloud, and search together. Pointing to a discovery can be enough; toddlers don’t need to read, write, or collect items.

Do I need to hide things before the hunt?

No. The two hunts in this article use objects and natural details that children can already find. You can add hidden paper clues if you want a more elaborate game, but preparation isn’t required.

Can I print the scavenger hunt checklists?

Yes. Use the Print button for either checklist below. Each button opens a clean, printable version of that list rather than printing the entire article.

Final Thoughts

A Thanksgiving scavenger hunt can be as simple as looking for a leaf, spotting something orange, and sharing a favorite discovery with someone you love.

Choose the indoor or outdoor version that suits your day, adjust any clues that don’t fit your surroundings, and let children explore at their own pace. The point isn’t to find everything first—it’s to enjoy a little adventure together.