Saw some ads for apps that make hiking into a game with scavenger hunts and nature identification stuff. My 8yo loves hiking but gets bored without something to "do." Are these any good or just gimmicks?
Most paid scavenger hunt apps are pretty generic and the novelty wears off fast. If your kid likes hiking for hiking but wants structure, just make your own list - "find something red, something smooth, something that makes a sound." Kids engage with that just as much.
Try iNaturalist first since it's free. If he gets into identifying plants and bugs for real then you can upgrade to paid apps. No reason to commit until you know he'll stick with it.
iNaturalist is free and actually educational without feeling forced. My kid likes logging the stuff we find and seeing where other people have spotted the same animals. Keeps her engaged without being a gimmick like some of the paid ones
Seconding the camera route - my son basically ignores the apps but will spend 30 mins photographing mushrooms if he thinks he's doing "real science." Tapped into that natural detective instinct way better than gamification
We tried like 4 different apps and honestly the best "app" was just giving him a cheap camera to take pics of bugs and plants. Free and he got way more into actually observing stuff than tapping a phone screen
iNaturalist is free and legit. You find something, photograph it, and the app identifies it. Way better than paid scavenger hunt apps. Plus your kid actually learns real nature facts instead of just checking off a list.
PictureThis is legit - my 8yo uses it constantly on hikes now. She gets hyper-focused on identifying plants instead of complaining about her legs hurting, so win-win for me lol
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We tried Pikmin Bloom (turns real walking into a game) and my 8yo was into it for like 2 weeks then forgot about the app but kept the hiking habit. So mission accomplished even if the app didn't stick?
Geocaching is the original scavenger hunt game and honestly it's still the best. You find hidden containers using GPS coords that other people have hidden. Real treasure hunts instead of just digital checkboxes.