Get the Kids Outside This Summer With Our Tree Scavenger Hunt

With the summertime here and the kids out of school, you’re probably trying to think of ways to spend time outdoors while keeping the little ones occupied through fun, engaging activities. At Ben & Annie’s Trees for Tomorrow, we have just the right solution for our families seeking out an outdoor adventure that everyone can enjoy—a tree scavenger hunt. 

From Live Oaks to Black Cherry Trees and a number of native species throughout the state of Texas, going on a tree-searching endeavor is a great way to provide an educational and fun-filled experience—so grab a pen and paper, gather up the kids with backpacks and water, find a safe wooded area, and continue reading to find the ultimate tree scavenger hunt that you can follow from Ben & Annie’s. 

Find a tree with visible roots

There are many trees throughout Texas with roots visible above ground, most commonly the Live Oak or the Bald Cypress. When trees are planted in small areas, their roots don't have enough room to expand naturally. In an attempt to find water and nutrients, the roots will grow out of the soil and spread along the surface—allowing for greater access to oxygen for the tree. Once you’ve found a tree with roots above the ground, you can check this off the scavenger hunt list and continue exploring the breathtaking native trees. 

Search for a tree with flowers

Many trees throughout Texas naturally grow flowers coming in all sorts of colors, such as a Desert Willow or Crape Myrtle. For a more challenging task, try narrowing it down to one specific color of flower—perhaps yours or your kids’ favorite color. For example, if you’re looking for a tree with purple flowers, you’d look for a Redbud,  Chaste Tree or Purple Smoke Tree. Once you’ve found a tree with the flower color of your choosing, you’re one step further to conquering the ultimate tree scavenger hunt. 

Scavenge for a triangular shape

In this part of the scavenger hunt, you’ll look at the canopy of a tree, which is where the most leaves and branches are found. Canopies can come in arrays of different shapes, but triangular canopies are indicative of most evergreen trees and cypress varieties. The Carolina Sapphire and Magnolia are both great examples of triangular-shaped trees that thrive year-round in the Texas weather. After you’ve found your triangular-shaped tree, it’s time to cross this mission off of your list and move on to the next steps. 

Discover a tree with fruit

Due to the lack of water, fruit trees can be a bit difficult to find in Texas, but they do exist and are very rewarding if you do ever come across one. Most common fruit trees include Persimmon Trees, Black Cherry Trees, Chokecherry Trees and Flatwoods Plum Trees. If you aren’t able to find a tree with fruit, it’s okay to skip through this part of the scavenger hunt, but if you do come across one—you’ve officially conquered the hardest part. 

Look for a tree with no leaves

For this part of the scavenger hunt, you’ll want to look for trees with pines instead of leaves—such as Eldarica Pine Trees or Eastern Red Cedars. Evergreen trees typically have needles instead of leaves to help with water retention and to keep snow from weighing down branches and getting damaged in the colder regions. After you’ve come across the perfect pine tree, you can cross this mission off of your scavenger hunt and move towards the end of your tree-searching expedition. 

Detect a tree with smooth bark

Trees have so many different types of bark, especially depending on age and species. As a tree grows, its wood thickens and pushes out against the bark that surrounds it. The different ways in which the bark adapts to this pressure is what gives each species its distinctive appearance. Many young trees have smooth bark, along with varieties such as Beech, Crape Myrtle and Ash. Once you’ve found a beautiful tree with smooth bark, you’ve officially accomplished the Ben & Annie’s tree scavenger hunt.

Above all, we want you and your family to have a fantastic summer filled with memorable adventures and fun experiences—and our tree scavenger hunt is an amazing way to do so while also providing a great learning experience. At Ben & Annie’s Trees for Tomorrow, we make it our mission to spread awareness and promote education about the vital importance of trees in our environment—and there’s no better way to experience the true beauty and serenity of trees than getting outdoors to explore and examine them firsthand. To learn more about the Ben & Annie’s mission, don’t hesitate to reach out at (210) 670-5297 or contact us online at any time—and have a fantastic time doing our tree scavenger hunt!