Scavenger Hunt: What It Is and How to Make Your Own
As the sunny weather settles in, the want to be outside grows stronger. Plus, with mask mandates lifting there’s more opportunity to interact with our friends and meet new people. What better way to celebrate this than with a scavenger hunt! In today’s blog, we’ll explain exactly what that is and how you can create your own!
What is a Scavenger Hunt?
A Scavenger Hunt is a game with a list defining specific items. Seeking to gather or complete these items, group of participants go out into the world to find them. The first team to complete the list are the winers.
Evolving from ancient folk games, scavenger hunts were popularised in 1930s New York. Exclusive parties were held where guests had to find hard-to-come-by items.
A Typical List
Check out what typical scavenger hunt looks like!
Pandemic Item Hunt
- Banana Bread
- Hand Sanitiser
- Face mask
- Washing Hands for 20 Seconds
- Board Game
- DVD Collection
- Bookshelf
- Recreate an Old Family Photo
- “I Got My Covid-Vaccine” Sticker
Types of Hunts
Scavenger Hunts come in all shapes and sizes. These are but a few!
- Letterboxing. Combining elements of orienteering, art, and problem-solving, this activity dates back to the 1950s. Placed in publicly accessible boxes, participants follow clues to find the destination.
- Geocaching. Using a global positioning system (GPS), participants seek small containers hidden in interesting locations.
- Armchair Treasure Hunt. Playable in an arm chair, these hunts use clouds hidden in a story to fine a real treasure somewhere in the physical world.
- Internet Scavenger Hunts. Visiting different websites, participants hunt websites for clues and solve puzzles to win a prize.
How to Make Your Own
Follow these steps for making your own Scavenger Hunt!
- Plan Your Route. Decide whether the only thing can be completed on foot. Or if the use of public transport/ a car will be needed. Make sure all participants will be able to take part.
- Scout Out Locations. Find interesting local landmarks to hide clues or to be the collectible items. Decide whether participants need to pick up clues/items. Or, whether they should document the spotting with a photograph.
- If you leave clues, put them in numbered envelopes. Taking the form of riddles, scrambled up letters, and puzzles, these give the participants guidance on where to go next.
- Give Yourself Time to Plan. Work out where the end point of the hunt is and plan backwards. Consider any possible issues you may run into.
- Make Sure Your Locations Are Publicly Accessible. Ensure that participants aren’t wondering onto private property or photographing items they don’t have permission to.
- Set It Up. Make sure you have enough time to place any clues in their locations. Remember to write them down elsewhere in case they get lost/misplaced.
- Prepare for Bad Weather. Have a back-up plan in case it rains or a location is closed.
- Establish Ground Rules. At the beginning of the hunt, make it clear what the rules are.
- Be at the End to Greet the Winners. Congratulate the players on a great hunt!
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