Errand Safari

• If your family includes small children, you probably have to drag them around town doing necessary errands. Turn an ordinary Saturday morning run to the post office and grocery store into an adventure by making it an errand safari. Plan ahead what errands you need to complete. Draw maps for your children, including landmarks they can look for on the way. Cut out pictures of animals the children might see on signage, food packaging or on the street and put them on the map. They may spot a tiger on a cereal box, an octopus at the car wash or a dog walking on the street.
  
  

Scavenger Hunt

• Children of any age can participate in a scavenger hunt, although you may need to modify your list of things to find according to age. Choose your location. Scavenger hunts make a hike through the woods or a nature center an adventure. Make a list of things you are likely to find on the ground or in a tree. If there are oak trees, put acorns on the list. If there are pine trees, include a pine needle on the list. Bugs, leaves and flowers are good list items. Be as specific as you wish, according to the ages of the children on the scavenger hunt. Put the list in a large zip-top bag and head out for your scavenger hunt through the woods. The findings can be collected in the bags.
  
  The scavenger hunt can be modified to any setting. You just have to change the list of items you expect to find. If doing a scavenger hunt in the mall, you might include movie stubs, a perfume sample and a receipt with yesterday's date on it.
  
  

Geocaching

• Organize a high-tech treasure hunt using your hand-held GPS. Geocaching is growing in popularity, with nationwide hunts as more localized groups coordinating games. Go online to find a geocaching organization that appeals to you. Your state or the manufacturer of your GPS may have an organized group for geocaching. There are also nationwide hunts. Signing up for the site should be free. If it isn't, keep looking.
  
  Get coordinates for the location of a cache, or hidden treasure, near you and you and your family can start your hunt. It may seem easy at first. You have the coordinates and a GPS to lead you there. However, you have to find the best way to get there, perhaps make your way through fields or woods and search for a hidden cache.
  
  Older children can participate on the journey, watching your progress on the GPS and making suggestions. Smaller children can help search high and low for the cache once you get to the location. They can be hidden well to endure weather and wild animals.
  
  Once you find the cache, sign the log. If you take something, leave something behind for another treasure hunter to find. People of all ages geocache for fun, so keep that in mind. Never leave dangerous items or food. Animals are likely to find the food before another family on an adventurous weekend.
  
  

Snow Survivor

• If you live in an area with snowy winters, take your family into the woods during those long, dreary months and play snow survivor. Have the children help plan what supplies you will need to bring along to survive in the snow. Hike into the woods and set up camp, look for food and think of new ideas to stay warm. Try to build a fire, as anyone who wants to survive needs to know how to make a fire.