-
Step 1
I have found that adults are most reluctant to deal with some of the more embarrassing aspects of their list – while younger crowds find those the most fun. Why not create a more controlled scavenger hunt…one that could even last throughout the entire party/event?
-
Step 2
Begin by giving every team/person a list of items that they must find. This could be given out when guests first arrive (if the game will be extended throughout the duration of the party) or at a specific time when you have everyone’s attention. Explain that items have been placed throughout the facility, house, wherever (although give EXPLICIT details as to the playing areas where they are permitted to search) that are on their list. For some of the items there might only be one (a severed hand, crystal ball, etc.) and others might have a whole supply (a pile of spider rings). The only rule to really nail down is that if they find more than one of the item, to only take ONE – leaving the rest for others. ANY DUPLICATE ITEMS WILL WORK AGAINST THEM! This will ensure that others will have just as much chance of finding all the items.
-
Step 3
Set a time beforehand that all lists must be turned in. Use either bags, pillow cases, boxes, large kitchen bowls, whatever you have for teams/players to put their items in at the end. This way, while you tally each team/player’s list, other teams will not be able to keep searching for more items. They will have already turned in their collection, not able to add any more to it.
-
Step 4
When making the list, have fun coming up with different items for the list. Be sure to put point values next to each item (the items where there is only one offer more points than for those items where there are several). Theme each item. Don’t call it merely a plastic skull, but rather ‘the skull of a shipwrecked pirate.’ This will call for more thinking on behalf of the players and make it a lot more fun to search for.
-
Step 5
As an added twist, put small clues around the house/facility/yard that give hints as to where to find certain harder to find items. Perhaps some items cannot be found (just too difficult of a place) without first finding a clue somewhere.
-
Step 6
Finally, and in my opinion the greatest addition is LIVE CHARACTERS. What if one of those objects to find was a skeleton ring…and that ring was on the finger of a monster guest that was roaming around the party. He could have several in his pocket, replacing them as teams figured out that he has one. I did this and it worked fantastic. Once teams found the ring, they began to think outside the box for the rest of the items. It made it that much more fun! However, some of the items could be actions, as well. For instance, I had a friend dressed as a dirty pirate trapped in dungeon stalks hidden on the property. One of the items on the list was to FREE A PIRATE. Once they found the pirate, he explained that he was hit over the head from behind and when he came to, the only thing he remembered seeing was an Asian pirate laughing in front of him. Teams then began looking for an Asian pirate, found him and took his key. They then returned to the first pirate, unlocked his stalks wherein the pirate gave them a gold coin (plastic toy coin) as a token for freeing him. He then got back in the stalks and waited for the next team to free him. This, again, worked fantastic…the highlight of the scavenger hunt.
