Nature walk bingo

Nature walk bingo tips

• Walk through the pictures before you set out. Point out that a bird's nest may be old and empty, and that animal tracks show up best in mud, sand or snow, so kids know where to look instead of scanning the path.
• Agree on a look-but-don't-take rule. Kids can point to or photograph the squares instead of collecting them, and nests, mushrooms and berries stay where they are. Make it clear that nobody tastes the berries, however ripe they look.
• Squirrels and chipmunks are easier to spot when the group stops moving. Pick a bench or a log, sit quietly for a minute, and watch the base of the trees, where they often dig and forage.
• Get low for the small stuff. Moss, mushrooms, snails and earthworms tend to show up in damp, shady spots, especially after rain, so check fallen logs and lift a corner of leaf litter. A magnifying glass makes kneeling down feel like real fieldwork.
• When someone calls bingo, ask each child for one square that was hard to find and one thing they saw that isn't on the card. Jot the answers on the back of the sheet; next walk, those become your bonus squares.

Best for

Ages

5 to 10 years, with pre-readers playing from the pictures

Group size

2 to 12 players, with one adult per small group

Duration

30 to 60 minutes, depending on grid size and route