Scavenger hunts are much loved by children. It is not greatly different from an Easter egg hunt! Moreover, you can also have scavenger hunts for adults, and they’ll be equally fun.
Scavenger hunts are easy to plan and execute – a very easy game to play. Plus, you may have plenty of Scavenger Hunt Ideas to repeat without being bored. Once you learn how to plan for it and organize it, you’ll be able to do it again with much ease. Such hunts can be arranged in a variety of locations, too, although you will need to consider how safe the scavenger hunt items will be in the location.
With that out of the way, let us take a look at How To Make A Scavenger Hunt.
First And Foremost, The Location For the Scavenger Hunt
Parks, neighbourhoods, gardens, and homes are great places to host scavenger hunts.
Keep in mind the age of the players when you plan the hunt. Parks are too large and unsafe for younger kids, and a backyard will be much better. If you’re unsure about the weather, see if you can arrange the hunt in your home or other indoor spaces. Besides this, you should also see how many participants you’ll have to participate in the hunt.
Here are some location ideas for you to consider:
- Your home is a great place to hold scavenger hunts, especially if it is your first time. You will be much more comfortable planning and arranging everything. You can use many areas of your home in a scavenger hunt. At the same time, remember to lock and secure all private areas where you don’t want the players to be entering and searching.
- The garden or backyard of your home is another place for a multitude of Scavenger Hunt Ideas. You can use it like you would for an easter egg hunt. It is also great if you are going to have a large party over for the game. Among your plants and pots, under the pile of leaves are great places, and you can also dig to hide the items and leave a marker or a clue for the scavenger to hunt.
- A park is ideal for an even larger group of older kids and adults. It might take a little more planning as you’ll want to plan what to do if someone outside your group comes across any of the items.
- The neighbourhood or block is a wonderful place to plan a hunt with neighbours, the local community, and other groups.
Next On The Agenda – The Items!
Deciding on the items is a very crucial part of the game. You will need to make sure they fall under a theme and are similar in some way or another. In addition, if you want to leave clues for your party, you will need to make sure that the clues make sense in the grand theme of things and regarding the item itself. Be sure to have a list of the items saved.
Here is a guide to the items part of How To Make A Scavenger Hunt:
- Make a list of items you will use. Secondly, keep a record of where you’ve hidden the items.
- Provide all the players with the list or have it visible in a prominent place. If you’re going to use clues instead of a simple search and find, hand out the clues or tell them how to find them.
- When you’re not providing a list, ensure the items fall under a theme, so the scavengers are not lost.
- If you’re entertaining the neighbourhood kids, consider bringing in the neighbours to hide things so they can interact with them to get the items.
- Other than this, you can make clues and have the players take pictures of the items. For instance, you can give clues or characteristics of different types of trees or plants found in a park and have them take a picture of it. Or you can have them look for items and snap a pic at a museum. This can be educational and fun all at once.
Rewards and Encouragement
Make sure to plan at least the initial stages of the hunt to be easy so everyone can take part and find something. When playing with young kids and children, it might be best to divide them into teams so everyone can perform well.
Some children may be more sensitive to losing than others, so reward everyone who participates.
- DO make considerations for children with special needs and neurodivergent kids. They may not play or fall into the same mould as the other kids. It is best to plan with them in mind, so they don’t feel left out or not good enough.
- DO set prizes for everyone to win. While the first, second and third-place winners get a prize, if there are more teams, ensure they’re rewarded too. This applies especially to little kids.
- Make sure to have everyone participate. As a host, it is important to make sure that none feels left out. Make considerations ahead of time so that if someone fails to appear or extra guests fill in, they can feel welcome too.
- Set a time limit according to the age of the kids. Young children get bored and distracted easily, so keep it below half hour.
The Takeaway
Scavenger hunts are versatile, and you can find plenty of ideas on How To Make A Scavenger Hunt. Before making any plans, consider who will play and plan according to their age group, abilities, etc. Be sure to inform the players of the rules, items, timing, and factors that need to be informed.
If puzzles are to be solved, let them know and ensure it’s not too intense. Set a theme and plan accordingly. After all, despite the effort, a scavenger hunt is all about the fun!
