Ideas for Planning a Scavenger Hunt

Make sure your scavenger hunts are age appropriate.

Kids, teenagers and adults all enjoy scavenger hunts. Incorporate a scavenger hunt into your sleepover, birthday party, holiday party, bachelor/bachelorette party, school/club event or fraternity/sorority initiation. Simply pick a theme for your scavenger hunt, devise of list, split your party into groups, set a time limit and send them on their way. The participants might have to gather items, take pictures of things or videotape themselves performing an action.

Out-on-the-Town Scavenger Hunt

Out-on-the-town scavenger hunts are not only fun but help people new to the area get to know the town and maybe even make new friends. When writing your list of things to scavenge for, customize it to your hometown; for instance, if the local park has a particular monument, have each team get a picture of the statue. Ideas for items to find include a disposable coffee cup signed by an employee, a Chinese take-out menu or a business card from a gynecologist. You can also have your teams take pictures of someone walking his dog, a person playing a guitar on a street corner for spare change or a public bathroom with graffiti.

Video Scavenger Hunt

Instead of sending the teams out to collect items and take pictures, have them record a specific action using a camcorder or a video recording on a cell phone. Examples include a team helping a motorist wash her windows at a gas station, being sung happy birthday to by restaurant employees or kissing a statue. Not only will everyone enjoy participating in the scavenger hunting but they will have fun watching the hilarious videos afterward.

Mall Scavenger Hunt

Teenagers love mall scavenger hunts. Plus, the mall is a safe place for the kids to roam about unsupervised. You can send the kids on the hunt for general items such as a red toe ring, purple barrette or orange scarf. Or the teenagers can gather specific information such as what movie is playing on screen three at the movie theater or what's the daily special at the mall's sit-down restaurant. Send the kids off with money to buy the items on the list and at least one cell phone per team so they can contact an adult in case of an emergency.

Door-to-Door Scavenger Hunt

Door-to-door scavenger hunts should only take place in safe and familiar neighborhoods where all team players feel comfortable. Remind the players to be polite and courteous to the neighbors and inform them that they won't get their stuff back. Items to collect could include a movie ticket stub, a cookie recipe, a sock with a hole in it, a package of ketchup from a fast food restaurant, a plastic fork, an old Christmas card and a cereal prize.

References

• Diva Girl Parties and Stuff: Around Town Scavenger Hunt
• Reason to Party: Scavenger Hunt Party Ideas!
• Diva Girl Parties and Stuff: Door-to-Door Scavenger Hunt

Resources

• Scavenger Hunt Fun: Scavenger Hunt List Ideas Create Your Own Unique Scavenger Hunt