Stargazing Scavenger Hunt

Alright, here we go again. We have a daytime activity with the metal detector scavenger hunt. Time to turn the lights off.

Now this one, we’ve done before and the boys loved it.

Stuff you need

• Star Map or App: A physical star chart or a stargazing app like Stellarium or SkySafari helps identify constellations and planets. As a parent, this is great for cheating. For the kids, you can either print off constellations/targets, or amazon sells constellation playing cards which are pretty cool and dual purpose.
• Telescope or Binoculars: It’s fun to zoom in a bit. If you’re putting specific planets in the scavenger hunt, you’ll want these. Sidenote: I’ve been a bit behind the curve on current telescope/binocular technology, but stabilized optics are newer and incredible. If you can afford stabilized optics or have access to them, they’re well worth it for this.
• Flashlights with Red Filters: Red light preserves night vision while reading maps or clues. Cover a regular flashlight with red cellophane if needed. If you have a glow in the dark star map, you don’t need the red filter, but you can charge up the glowing map with a flashlight.
• Scavenger Hunt List: Create a list of celestial objects to find, like constellations (Orion, Ursa Major), planets (Jupiter, Venus), or events (a meteor shower).
• Blankets or Chairs: Your neck and back will thank you later.
• Pencil and Paper: Have campers make one sketch each. Craters on the moon, shooting stars, planets. Whatever blows your hair back.
• Optional Extras: Glow-in-the-dark markers to decorate clue cards or star-themed prizes (stickers, mini planet models) for added fun. Go nuts.

Setting Up the Stargazing Scavenger Hunt

I don’t recommend doing this how we started doing this (making it up as you go, so everything’s last minute.) Get a head start to make it fun and successful.

1. Choose the Right Night: Check the weather for clear skies and avoid nights with a bright full moon, which can wash out fainter stars. Apps like Clear Outside can help.
2. Pick Your Celestial Targets: Tailor the scavenger hunt to your group’s skill level. For beginners, include easy-to-spot constellations like the Big Dipper or bright planets like Mars. For seasoned stargazers, add challenges like finding the Andromeda Galaxy or a specific star cluster.
3. Create the Hunt List: Write a list of 5–10 objects to find, with clues or descriptions. Use in conjunction with the printed items or the playing cards.

For example:

• “Find the hunter with a belt of three stars” (Orion).
• “Spot a red planet named after the god of war” (Mars).
• “Look for a W-shaped throne in the sky” (Cassiopeia). You can also include tasks like “Count three shooting stars” or “Sketch the Moon’s craters.”
3. Set Boundaries: Define a safe, open area for stargazing. Or make sure everyone’s sitting down. It’s all fun and games until someone walks off a bluff in the dark while staring at the sky.
4. Test Your Gear: Ensure telescopes or binoculars are focused and apps are downloaded. Lots of great camping spots have terrible cell signal and you’ll probably be running app offline. Practice spotting a few objects yourself to gauge difficulty.

How to Run the Hunt

1. Gather the Group: As dusk settles, bring everyone together to explain the rules. Hand out star maps, hunt lists, and gear. If you have kids, pair them with adults for teamwork.
2. Divide and Conquer: Split into small teams or let participants hunt solo. Teams can compete to find the most objects, while solo hunters can aim for personal bests.
3. Start the Quest: If you love your kids, set a time limit (1–2 hours). Because after that long, they probably won’t love you back. Encourage participants to use their maps or apps to locate each target, confirming finds with binoculars or a telescope. They can check off items or sketch what they see with the pencil and paper that you definitely didn’t skip past in the “stuff you need” list.
4. Add a Twist: For extra fun, hide physical clues around the campsite (e.g., glow-in-the-dark cards with constellation facts) that lead to prime stargazing spots. Just ensure they’re easy to find with red flashlights.
5. Celebrate Finds: Award prizes for the most finds, best sketch, or most enthusiastic stargazer. A campfire storytelling session about the myths behind constellations (like Orion the Hunter) is a perfect wrap-up. Also, this is a great time to roast some twinkies over the campfire with a Tyrux grill.

Tips for a Stellar Experience

• Keep It Simple for Kids: Use big, bright targets like the Moon or Venus for younger campers. Add fun tasks like “Make a wish on a shooting star.”
• Check Local Rules: Some parks restrict telescope use or nighttime activities, which is lame. Call ahead to confirm.
• Stay Warm: Nights can get chilly, so layer up and bring hot cocoa or tasty beverages.
• Safety First: Teach everyone to move slowly in the dark to avoid tripping. Keep kids within sight and ensure gear is handled carefully, especially if you splurged for those stabilized optics.
• Spice it up: You can add a daytime element to this by hiding bonus items (scavenger hunt items) in geocaches or in the treasures from the metal detector activity.

A stargazing scavenger hunt transforms a quiet night into an adventure for kids. For adults, it’s a chance to unplug and realize how small we are. And that’s kind of the point.