Everglades National Park scavenger hunt for kids

What makes Everglades National Park worth investigating

Created in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and animals that call it home. With several international designations, the park provides a major source of drinking water for local residents of South Florida and recreational opportunities for all.

Established in 1947, the Everglades was the first national park created to protect a threatened ecosystem rather than a scenic landmark.

Largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Home to 36 threatened or protected species including the Florida panther. The only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist. Contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere The best seasons to visit are winter and spring. The climate in Florida is known to be mild and sunny.The average annual temperatures for South Florida and the Keys range from 74° to 77°F (23° to 25°C). There are two seasons at the Everglades National Park: the wet season and the dry season.

9 things to look for

Use this as an observation menu, not a race. Choose fewer items for younger children, pause for questions and sketches, and leave every natural and historic object where it belongs.

• American Alligator Wildlife
  Look for alligators basking on canal banks or floating in sawgrass marshes Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Great Blue Heron Wildlife
  Tall wading bird often standing motionless in shallow water Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Anhinga Wildlife
  A dark water bird that spreads its wings to dry on branches along the Anhinga Trail Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Sawgrass Nature
  The sharp-edged grass that defines the River of Grass landscape
• Red Mangrove Nature
  Trees with arching stilt roots growing in saltwater along the coast
• Roseate Spoonbill Wildlife
  Bright pink wading bird with a flat spoon-shaped bill Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Solution Hole Geology
  Natural limestone depressions that hold water and attract wildlife
• Tree Snail Wildlife
  Colorful Liguus tree snails found on smooth-barked trees in hardwood hammocks Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Cypress Dome Nature
  Circular stands of bald cypress trees growing in shallow depressions

Checklist items describe things a visitor might observe. A sighting is never guaranteed. Do not approach wildlife, cross barriers, leave approved areas, or handle protected objects to complete an item.

Adapt the hunt by age

Turn “I want to go there” into a family plan

1. The child finds Everglades National Park in the HomeSchool.You park catalog and taps the heart.
2. The parent receives an in-app alert that the child wants to visit.
3. Everglades National Park appears in the child’s Travel Wish List inside the parent area.
4. The family chooses timing together, checks current conditions, and prints or opens this hunt.
5. After exploring, the child can save visit memories and progress in the park passport.

Respect the place

An adult should supervise the entire visit. Observe wildlife from the required distance, stay on allowed routes, follow posted and ranger instructions, pack out waste, and do not collect plants, rocks, cultural objects, or animals. HomeSchool.You is an independent learning platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service or any state or local park agency.

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