How to Devise a Scavenger Hunt for Adults

Don't just have another boring old party, host a scavenger hunt! This is a great activity to do before a picnic or party ' hold the hunt before the event and have the guests end up at the final destination as the last thing on their lists.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bookstore/music Gift Certificates
• Maps
• Telephone Book
• Prizes
• Gift Certificates
• Pencils
• Pads Of Paper
• Pencils
• Pens
• Polaroid Cameras
• Polaroid Film
• Pencils
• Maps
• Pens

1. Divide the group into even teams. Give each team a phone book, a Polaroid camera, a notebook and pen, a local map (if needed) and a list of items to find or collect.

2. Assign each item a point value.

3. Dock teams for members being late to the beginning of the hunt.

4. Make it fun: Do you want them to hop in the car and get a photo with a frowning greeter at Wal-Mart? Pose by a coin-op washing machine? Climb into a grocery cart and go for a spin in the frozen-foods aisle? Bring back a car-wash token?

5. Give alternatives for some items. For example, a picture by a pay phone may be worth 1 point, but a Mickey Mouse phone could net them 5.

6. Stipulate that each team member must have his or her photo taken at least once.

7. Declare the team with the most points the winner. Be sure to get a group photo.

8. Award prizes - gift certificates, novelty gifts, money. If you charge a small amount to play, the money can go into a pool to cover film and the big prize.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, you can have more than two teams. Smaller teams are more fun.
• Have each team find different things or just some of the same items. They may run into each other on their quests.
• Be sure to provide enough film.

[rhuygens]

on 12/24/2008 Some really good ideas here. For a good set of plans for a mall photo scavenger hunt, check out www.chase-games.com

[Mayasdad]

on 2/12/2008 sounds like lots of fun

[AllanaBaroni]

on 2/11/2008 What a great idea! If the hunts are going to become a new family tradition, a great idea to keep them fresh would be to theme them. Have one set around the beach, the mall, sports, etc. and theme your clues. Maybe even have every one dress to match the theme and have a blast.

[queenB*]

on 2/26/2007 Can a scavenger hunt be used as a way to raise money for a non-profit organization?

on 7/6/2006 Give each group a digital camera. This way you can download the pictures on a computer and view them as a slide show. No one has to have them developed if they don't want to, and the results are immediate.