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Scavenger hunts are a ton of fun and they can be adapted to whatever situation you want. Being versatile is the scavenger hunt's best quality. They can be enjoyed by both young and old. You can make one for inside on a rainy day or out in your backyard. They can be themed for any party, in your park, on a trip, or all around a big city! Your creativity is the limit when it comes to making a scavenger hunt. They can be super easy or one that lasts all day long! You can even make them a one-group leisurely search or a timed competitive event complete with several teams. Below are some tips on how to organize a scavenger hunt and some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. We've had lots of fun doing many different kinds of scavenger hunts! I hope you do too!
How to Organize a Scavenger Hunt
Choose a theme.
Choose a topic for your scavenger hunt, such as a holiday, a certain area, a historical period, or a popular film. The topic will help establish the tone and generate enthusiasm among the people attending.
Choose locations.
Choose the location for the scavenger hunt that is appropriate for the topic and accessible to all participants. Remember to consider safety and any approvals that may be needed.
Make a list of objects to find and/or create clues.
Create imaginative and challenging clues to guide participants to each place or object on the scavenger hunt. Try adding riddles, puzzles, or trivia questions to make the hunt more interesting.
Gather supplies.
Collect any scavenger hunt items you'll need, such as clue cards, pens or markers, and awards for the winners. Be sure to bring spares of everything in case of loss or damage.
Divide into teams.
If there are many participants in the scavenger hunt, split them into teams to promote teamwork and friendly rivalry. Assign a team leader to each group to assist, organize, and track progress.
Set the rules.
Set clear instructions for the scavenger hunt, including start and finish time, borders, and any limits or constraints. Ensure that all participants understand and agree to the rules before the scavenger hunt begins.
Begin the hunt.
Gather all participants at the starting site and give them their list of items to find or their first clue. Once the search begins, keep track of each team's progress and be ready to assist or help as needed.
Celebrate the Winners.
After all teams have finished, bring everyone together to announce the victors and distribute awards. Use this moment to recognize the efforts of all the participants.
Some fun Scavenger Hunts to try:
Note: for young scavengers use picture lists instead of words
Alphabet: Make a list of the alphabet. Everyone must find something that starts with each letter of the alphabet. This can be played anywhere!
Colors: Make a list of colors. For very young participants print or write the colored word in each color, or make colored squares instead of words. Everyone must find things that are each color on the list.
Photo: This is where everyone must take a photo of each of the items on the list. Most regular scavenger hunts can be turned into photo hunts!
My Backyard: Bored on an afternoon? Send them outside with a list of things they can find in your own backyard. Include things like a certain kind of leaf, a rock, 3 blades of grass, a small stick, a pine needle, a specific toy, etc.
Road Trip: This is a fun way to pass time on a long car ride! You can include things like different colors and types of cars, a barn, farm animals, a certain gas station, different fast food signs, a semi-truck with red, white, and blue on it, a lake, a bridge, etc. You can tailor your list to the locations you are driving through.
For the Littles:
something that makes a sound
something with a color you like
something soft
something hard or bumpy
something with a letter on it
an animal
a book you like to read
a favorite toy
something with wheels
something that reminds you of Mom or Dad
something you like to wear
something you like to share
For the not-so-little:
Photo Scavenger Hunt
This can be a lot of fun! You obviously can tailor this list to the locations in your town. We played this several times with our youth group and they always had a blast. We gave each team $5 to be able to purchase certain items, but that is totally optional. Teams should have an adult driver with them to take them to the places, but the team should make all of the decisions about the order of places to go. Be sure to discuss the rules of walking and good manners in public. We even once included that the adult leaders would deduct points if they observed "disorderly" behavior. LOL.
In the check-out line at Wal-Mart with a pack of gum
9The receipt for the pack of gum gets an extra point)
With a neighbor in front of their house
At the local park (must include the park sign with name if available)
On the swings
Going down the slide
(If you have more than one park in your town include them as well)
In front of a stop sign
In front of a doctor's office
In front of a dentist's office
In the library with a specific book (bonus points if a librarian is in the picture)
A picture of a team member inside a fast food restaurant asking for a condiment (Ex. In Chick-fil-A asking for a packet of mayo)
Inside McDonald's buying a drink
(Bringing back the cup will get you an extra point)
In front of a school
In front of a fire station
(Picture with a firefighter gets bonus points)
An orange car
An out-of-state license plate
A funny picture (like a cheerleader pyramid) in the BACK of the parking lot of
somewhere public (be sure to include that it must be the back of the parking lot to be safe. Also, say that you must be able to see the location in the background of the picture.
Barn
Tractor
Holding different animals or in the picture with them
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