Paint one row of a cardboard egg carton in various colors, then challenge children to seek out finds in the yard that match each color, which they can nest in the corresponding cubbies. This pre-made kit also serves up a similar idea.

We're obviously biased, but this one, featuring the charming illustrations frequently seen in the magazine, is our favorite for a weekend in the countryside. Kids seek out everything from red barns and tire swings to honor stands and bed-and-breakfasts.

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Make a list of standard shapes (circle, triangle, heart—you get the idea) and challenge kids to find those shapes around the house or out in nature. (You can even assign points to each shape, with the more challenging ones

Help your kids raid (and rediscover) their bookshelves with a list of literary-themed look-fors: a book with more than 300 pages, a book with a brother and sister, a book with a dog protagonist, a book set in the city, and so on.

Turn your next family stroll around the block into a more engaging activity for the little ones with this downloadable Bingo game featuring items you'll likely encounter along residential streets, including "basketball hoop" and "lawn mower."

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Geared toward slightly older kids (think 8-12), this hunt takes inspiration from our favorite literary sleuth. Cut out letters from a magazine to patch together cryptic clues, each leading to the next. Winners can enjoy Nancy's favorite blondies.

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If you didn't take a photo, did it really happen? In this hunt, you divide into teams—each equipped with a Polaroid or Instax camera—and challenge participants to capture specific moments (a group cheerleader-style pyramid) or places (a statue, a barber shop) on film in a certain amount of time.

Fun twist: A photo hunt using existing photos stored on your phone. How quickly can participants find...a receipt? A dog? A selfie? A flower? An accidental photo of your foot you took while walking?

If you're a parent who frequently brings (drags?) kids along to the antiques store, this is the hunt for you. Keep them engaged (and buy more shopping time for yourself!) by challenging them to find an assortment of items including: an American flag, a vintage Barbie, a vinyl record, a bowling pin, a Shiny-Brite ornament, a serious-looking portrait, a hat, a pair or roller skates....

This is a great way to keep kids engaged during your Saturday errands. Challenge them to find a variety of in-season ingredients and flowers along with things like: a bearded dad wearing a baby carrier, a child being pulled in a wagon, a shopper holding a Stanley cup, and so on.

Jot down a list of items on a paper lunch bag, then collect the loot of your labor inside the bag.

Place coins in plastic Easter eggs (or something else to help weigh the eggs down) and drop them in the swimming pool, then challenge kids to find as many eggs as they can. You can even assign points to various colors. (Only for strong swimmers.)

Note: For a nighttime, out-of-the-pool twist, place battery-operated tea lights in the eggs for a glow-in-the-dark hunt.

Perfect for a rainy day indoors, this hunt involves writing down one's name, then finding items around the house that correspond with each letter. (To entertain kids a little longer, incorporate the middle and last names too.)

Send more adventurous kids out spotting insects. (It may help to clarify that these items should remain outside.)

Assign each child a color and see who can most artfully assemble a collection of items around the house in that colorway.

Here's to the ol' red, white, and clue! Create a trail of American history-themed riddles (you can even kick it off with an "official" letter from the White House), or challenge younger kids to find something red, white, blue, the #4, a hot dog, a bottle of ketchup, an ice pop, you get the idea.

For a less common twist on a scavenger hunt, organize a recipe hunt to get kids exciting about baking. Hide pertinent ingredients and/or baking tools (measuring cups, oven mitts) around the house, give them the list of what to find (you can even jot the list on a recipe card), and send them out on their search. Once they've secured all of the staples, you're ready to bake!