How to Make and Plan a Treasure Map

When you think of a treasure map- you generally imagine adventure and fun with some twists and turns. Children love treasure maps and it can be a fun and exciting adventure if you put some thoughts and imagination into it! This article will give you some pointers and tips to creating the perfect treasure map!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Map
• Location
• Children
• Fun
• Imagination
• Treasure

1. To begin: You should find a perfect location. It could be a park or even your back yard! You just need to find a large enough area where it could be a real adventure.

2. Once you have located a perfect spot, you should think about a safe and fun journey for the children to go on using your map. Considering the lay out of the area (look for big objects like trees or even a hill) contemplate what possible obstacles can be incorporated into the map and journey.

3. Once you have the location and have considered all the big obstacles in the area, you should sit down and draw the land.

4. Once that is completed, you have to work out the details of why the children are going in a certain direction, what will happen at each point of location, and how the journey should end.

5. At each location, something big should happen. Maybe in a flat grassy area, you could name it on the map: “Golden Fields”. In the field, you could spread out several nickels. The children would have to search out as many nickels as they can find. Make it even more fun by maybe only allowing the children to find the nickels when the “Leprechaun” has gone to sleep. (The “Leprechaun” can be another adult who roams the area for anyone who could take it’s gold. When the “Leprechaun” goes to sleep, the children can quickly grab as many nickels as possible).

6. At the next location, possibly by a tree or wooden area, you could have another adult host a store of sorts. At the store, the children will have to pool their nickels they found at the previous location, to buy certain objects that they think they may need along their journey. You could have toy shovels, pretty baskets, and any other miscellaneous nick-knacks.

7. You can create all the stops along the journey that you want. Maybe to get a “Statue” to tell them the right direction to the treasure, the children will have to bring enough objects to it in a basket. You can have the children find something the “Statue” lost in the woods or maybe they have to figure out a puzzle. The possibilities are endless if you put some thought into it.

8. Always remember that the treasure should be located in a difficult area that the children will need the map and all the characters along the way to help them locate it. Maybe you could bury the treasure in a sandy area and the children should have bought a shovel at the shop. If they don’t have money, they’ll have to go back and re-trace their steps. Either way, just have fun with it and let your imagination go wild!

Tips & Warnings

• To add some twists and turns into your treasure hunt, you can create fun out-door activities or sports in the map. Maybe the children have to run an obstacle course or solve the puzzle in a certain time for a path to open for them. Create some forks-in-the-roads so that if they take the wrong turn, it will lead them back to a spot they’ve already been at.
• If you need to bring in some more obstacles because the area doesn’t already have it- go for it!
• Your top priority should be the children and player’s safety. Always make sure the games and obstacles are kid friendly and non-dangerous.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 4/26/2009 This would go great with a Scavenger Hunt or Mystery Night. Thanks for the instructions on making ans planning a treasure map. I'm putting this in my favorites. 5*