Before you go
Check the forecast, location access, terrain, and daylight. Bring water and a pen. Wear suitable shoes. Always explore with your grown-up or supervised group.
Be a thoughtful trail explorer.
The best treasure hunt is one that respects people, places, and wildlife.
On the trail
Stay together and respect posted signs. Avoid traffic and dangerous climbs. Do not reach into places you cannot see safely. Never dig for a cache or disturb animals.
Leave it lovely
Replace the cache carefully, take your rubbish home, and leave natural objects in place. For a cleanup activity, adults should handle sharp or hazardous items.
Plan a kid-friendly route
A grown-up should check the route, terrain, access rules, and recent cache information before leaving. Choose an outing that fits the youngest explorer and allow time for breaks. Tell someone your destination and expected return time. Set a turnaround time and keep the group together.
Pack for the whole adventure
Bring enough drinking water and snacks for everyone, sturdy shoes, sun protection, clothing for changing weather, a map, a charged phone, and first-aid supplies. Download navigation ahead of time and bring a backup map. For longer or remote trips, grown-ups should plan with the Ten Essentials and local guidance; a short checklist is not a complete backcountry kit.
Check the weather and take breaks
Look at the forecast and local trail alerts before you go. Choose cooler times on hot days and stop for water and shaded breaks. Change your plan when conditions change. If you hear thunder, end the search and seek a substantial building or an enclosed, hard-topped metal vehicle with the windows closed; an open shelter or lone tree is not a safe place to wait. Stay sheltered for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Look first, then ask a grown-up
Watch where you step and let a grown-up check a hiding place before reaching inside. Leave wildlife alone and avoid touching unfamiliar plants. Never reach into places you cannot see or handle needles, broken glass, or other suspicious objects. Move away and tell your grown-up.
A cache can always wait
Stay clear of roads, railway tracks, steep drops, floodwater, and unsafe climbing. Do not enter private property without permission. Skip a cache whenever the route or hiding spot feels unsafe. Finding treasure is optional; getting everyone home safely is the goal.
Agree on what to do if separated
Before leaving, agree on a simple plan and teach children the grown-up’s name and contact information. If a child loses sight of the group, they should stop in a safe place, stay there, and call out rather than wander farther. Grown-ups should know the local emergency contact options and remember that phones may have no service.
Leave the trail ready for the next explorer
Follow posted trail and land-manager rules. Pack out your litter, leave plants and natural objects where they belong, and return a cache exactly as found. Children should ask a grown-up before picking up litter; sharp or unknown objects should be left alone.