Scavenger Hunt at the Lake

60 things to spot from the shore and the dock, from a no-wake buoy to mist on the water.

Scavenger Hunt at the Lake

TeamLake and date

  1. Spot it from the shore or the dock, then leave it where it is.
  2. Nobody goes in the water for the hunt.
  3. Living things are looked at and never touched.
  4. If you hear thunder, the hunt moves indoors.
  1. Rocks piled into a small breakwater or wall2 points. Look only; no climbing.
  2. A heron or egret flying low over the water2 points. Standing still does not count here: it has to be flying.
  3. A pine cone on the beach1 point. Any cone counts.
  4. Your team's shadows on the dock at the same time1 point. Everyone in the shadow at once.
  5. A picnic table with a view of the water1 point. Sit at it for one point.
  6. A bird perched on a dock post1 point. Any bird, any post.
  7. A rowboat pulled up on shore, upside down2 points. Upside down only; a boat the right way up is 1 point.
  8. A line of ducklings or goslings2 points. Three or more in a row.
  9. The farthest shore you can see1 point. Name one thing on it.
  10. A boat wake reaching the shore2 points. Count the waves that arrive after the boat has gone.

Points: of 15

Next step Pond, creek and woods findsA hunt for a bigger boat

How it works

This scavenger hunt at the lake is played from the shore and the dock: boats, buoys, diving birds, cabins and mist on the water, 60 finds scored 1 to 3 points. Nobody goes in the water for the hunt.

Read the full guide

Pick the lists that fit your lake

A busy lake with a marina suits Boats and the water and The dock and the shore. A quiet one suits Birds and wildlife and Water, sky and sound, where Mist lying on the water is worth 3 points. Choose in the menu beside the main button, then press Print this list.

A lakeside scavenger hunt for a whole weekend

Print one sheet on arrival and keep it on the cabin table. Some finds wait for the right hour: a sunset over the water, stars reflected in the lake from the dock with an adult, a fish jumping clear.

Tips
  • Thunder ends the hunt: the list says so, and the points wait until the storm has passed.

Questions and answers

What can you find on a lake scavenger hunt?

Things only a lake has: a floating dock, a no-wake buoy, a pontoon boat, a boat wake reaching the shore, a bird that dives and comes up somewhere else, and an island with a tree on it.

Is it safe for a family at the lake?

The hunt stays out of the water: finds are spotted from the shore and the dock, rope swings and rafts are looked at only, and an adult is on the dock for anything after dark.

How is the lake hunt scored?

Each find carries 1, 2 or 3 points, shown at the start of its note, and the note is the judging rule: a sailboat counts 2 only with its sail up.

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All 60 finds

The dock and the shore 12

  • A bait shop, a boat rental or a snack stand sign 2 points. The sign counts; nobody buys anything.
  • A bench or chair at the end of a dock 1 point. Somebody has to be able to sit on it.
  • A boat launch ramp 2 points. The sloped slab that runs down into the water.
  • A cleat on a dock, with or without a rope on it 2 points. Point to it; leave any rope where it is.
  • A dock that floats and rises and falls with the water 3 points. Watch the join to the shore move; that proves it.
  • A dock with a ladder going down into the water 1 point. Any ladder counts, metal or wood.
  • A dock with a number or a name on it 1 point. Write down the number or the name.
  • A flag flying on a dock or a boat 1 point. Say which way the wind is blowing it.
  • A life jacket hanging up or stored on a dock 1 point. Look only; it may be somebody's spare.
  • A no swimming or swim-at-your-own-risk sign 2 points. Copy the exact words.
  • A ring buoy or throw rope on a post 2 points. The rescue ring stays on its post.
  • A rowboat pulled up on shore, upside down 2 points. Upside down only; a boat the right way up is 1 point.
Show all 60 finds (48 more)

Boats and the water 12

  • A boat pulling a skier or a tube 3 points. Watch from the shore.
  • A boat wake reaching the shore 2 points. Count the waves that arrive after the boat has gone.
  • A boat with a name painted on it 1 point. Write the name down.
  • A buoy marking a channel or a swim area 2 points. Say what color it is.
  • A canoe 1 point. On the water or pulled up on shore.
  • A fishing boat anchored and not moving 2 points. Watch for a full minute to be sure.
  • A kayak 1 point. One seat or two, on the water or on a rack.
  • A no-wake sign or buoy 2 points. Copy the wording.
  • A person standing on a paddleboard 2 points. Kneeling counts only if they stand up before you leave.
  • A pontoon boat 2 points. Moving or tied up; both count.
  • A sailboat with its sail up 2 points. A furled sail is 1 point.
  • An island in the lake 2 points. Anything with a tree on it counts.

Birds and wildlife 12

  • A beaver lodge or a gnawed stump 3 points. A pointed stump with tooth marks counts.
  • A bird perched on a dock post 1 point. Any bird, any post.
  • A bird that dives and comes up somewhere else 2 points. Count to ten while it is under.
  • A dog swimming after a stick or a ball 1 point. Any dog, any toy.
  • A fish jumping clear of the water 3 points. The whole fish has to leave the water.
  • A goose or a swan 1 point. Keep your distance; count the family.
  • A gull far from any sea 1 point. Any gull on the lake counts.
  • A heron or egret flying low over the water 2 points. Standing still does not count here: it has to be flying.
  • A kingfisher or another bird diving for fish 3 points. Any bird that drops from the air into the water.
  • A line of ducklings or goslings 2 points. Three or more in a row.
  • A shell or a snail on a dock post or a rock 2 points. Look only; leave it where it is.
  • A spider web between two dock posts 1 point. Look, and leave the spider to it.

Along the shore 12

  • A cabin or a cottage with a porch facing the water 1 point. From the shore or the road only.
  • A picnic table with a view of the water 1 point. Sit at it for one point.
  • A pine cone on the beach 1 point. Any cone counts.
  • A rope swing or a diving raft, looked at from shore 2 points. Spotting only; nobody uses it for the hunt.
  • A shoreline of sand and a shoreline of rock, on the same lake 2 points. You have to see both.
  • A sign with the lake's name on it 1 point. Copy the name.
  • A tree leaning out over the water 2 points. Any tree whose top hangs over the lake.
  • Lily pads, or a flower floating on the water 2 points. Look from the shore.
  • Pale, smooth driftwood on the shore 2 points. Look, then leave it where it lies.
  • Pebbles in three different colors on the shore 1 point. Show all three, then put them back.
  • Reeds taller than the tallest teammate 2 points. Stand beside them, on dry ground, to measure.
  • Rocks piled into a small breakwater or wall 2 points. Look only; no climbing.

Water, sky and sound 12

  • A boat you can hear before you can see it 2 points. Point to the sound first.
  • A sound that carries across the water 2 points. A voice, a bell or a door from the far side.
  • A storm cloud over the far shore 3 points. If you hear thunder, the hunt moves indoors.
  • A sunset over the water 2 points. The sun has to touch the horizon.
  • The farthest shore you can see 1 point. Name one thing on it.
  • The lake a different color near the shore and far out 2 points. Say both colors.
  • The lake so still it looks like glass 2 points. Nothing moving on the surface for ten seconds.
  • Mist lying on the water 3 points. Mornings and evenings are best.
  • Stars reflected in the lake 3 points. Only on a clear, calm night, from the dock with an adult.
  • The sun or the moon reflected in the lake 2 points. The whole reflection has to be visible.
  • Wind ripples moving across the water 1 point. Point to where they start.
  • Your team's shadows on the dock at the same time 1 point. Everyone in the shadow at once.

How this list was compiled: Written for this site by its editors in September 2026: 60 things to spot at a lake from the shore and the dock, in five lists: the dock, boats and the water, birds and wildlife, along the shore, and water, sky and sound. Nothing was copied from another list. Every find is spotted and left where it is: living things are looked at and never touched, nobody goes in the water for the hunt, and anything on a dock is looked at, not used. No lake, park or brand is named, so the list fits any lake. The notes are judging rules, not facts, so no outside page was read. Points and levels are the editors' judgment. Licence: own work