Crisp air, flannel shirts, and rows of pumpkins as far as the eye can see. Fall is the perfect time to step outside and take your little ones on a pumpkin patch adventure.
While just being there is already a blast, adding a scavenger hunt turns the trip into a playful and purposeful experience.
This Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt was made with toddlers and preschoolers in mind. It’s low-prep, screen-free fun that helps kids explore their surroundings, stay engaged, and learn along the way.
What’s Included
The printable scavenger hunt includes 16 charming illustrations featuring things you’ll actually find at a real pumpkin patch. Think wagons, hay bales, gourds, and of course…pumpkins in all shapes and colors. Here are a few things they’ll be hunting for:
- Orange pumpkin
- Green pumpkin
- Scarecrow
- Hay bale
- Tractor
- Wagon
- Sunflower
- Corn stalk
- Gourd
- Apple basket
- Acorn
- Wooden sign
You can laminate it and bring a dry-erase marker or just let kids point and name what they find.
How to Use It
- Download and print the scavenger hunt here.
- Review the items together with your child so they know what to look for.
- Pack it up with a clipboard and pen, or laminate for re-use.
- Head to the patch and let the fun begin!
You can also turn it into a photo hunt by letting older kids snap pictures of what they find.
Why Kids Love It
Scavenger hunts are a hit with kids because they make everything feel like a game. Instead of just wandering around, they’re on a mission. They’ll be observing, talking, and pointing out all kinds of cool things. That’s play-based learning in action—and they don’t even know it.
Plus, it keeps everyone from getting too bored or cranky in the middle of the patch. (Let’s be honest, long lines and crowded hayrides can test a toddler’s patience.)
Why Parents & Teachers Love It
This hunt:
- Encourages language development through naming and describing
- Promotes observation and focus
- Adds structure without limiting creativity
- Keeps kids busy without needing a screen or sugar
- Can be used in a classroom, backyard, or farm outing
It’s also ideal for early finishers in a preschool group, as part of a homeschool unit, or just to give your child a “job” during a family day out.
Fun Facts About Pumpkin Patches
1. Pumpkins grow on vines—just like watermelons.
When you visit a pumpkin patch, you’re actually walking through a big field of vines. Some pumpkin vines can grow over 20 feet long!
2. Not all pumpkins are orange.
You’ll find white, green, yellow, even blue pumpkins at some patches. Some are bumpy, some are smooth, and all of them are unique…just like kids.
3. Pumpkin patches are more than pumpkins.
Many patches grow sunflowers, corn, and gourds too. That’s why you might see hayrides, corn stalks, and apple baskets alongside your pumpkins.
4. The biggest pumpkin ever grown weighed over 2,700 pounds.
That’s heavier than a small car! You won’t find one that size at every patch, but some farms have giant pumpkins on display.
5. Pumpkin seeds are called pepitas.
They’re inside every pumpkin you pick and can be roasted for a yummy fall snack. So yes—your scavenger hunt can turn into a snack hunt too.
6. Farmers plant pumpkins in the summer.
That way, they’re fully grown and ready for picking just in time for fall festivals, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.
7. The word pumpkin comes from the Greek word pepon, which means large melon.
So technically, when you visit a patch, you’re walking through a melon field. Who knew?
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