How to Create a Scavenger Hunt

Creating a scavenger hunt can be a fun way to use your creativity and create a personalized experience for someone else. They can involve anything which means it is really flexible and can be used / created multiple times. But sometimes it can be difficult to get that creativity started. Here is a process / set of questions that can be used to help you create a scavenger hunt for someone else.

Identify the End Goal

Think about the end goal of the scavenger hunt. Is it for the individual to get to a specific destination, such as a restaurant or a park. Is the end step for them to find out where a gift is? Or is it the end goal for them to do an activity that could be either relaxing or exhilarating.

Where will it be held?

Do you want the scavenger hunt to be in a central location or will the individual need to travel to multiple locations? If it is multiple locations do they have the means to get to those locations?

Is There a Theme?

Creating a theme or knowing what it will be centered around can help to create the type of steps for the scavenger hunt. Is it mysterious, this can play in part to the techniques you use for the step? Is it based on things the individual likes to do or you like to do and think they will enjoy as well. Or is it to create a different way for them to explore some place?

What Techniques will you use?

More than likely multiple or all of the below techniques will be used, but how do you want the steps to be created and with what type of actions:

• Riddles

• • Create a riddle to find an item or go to a specific place

• Clues

• Draw arrows on the ground or use an item that can point a direction
• Use markings such as an ‘X’ to identify where you want them to be / what you want them to find

• Pictures

• Have the individual find an object or set of letters in a famous mural or structure
• Use a picture to show them what to find

• Timing

• Do you need them to be somewhere at a specific time or do you want them to only view a step in the scavenger hunt at a specific time?

• Questions

• Should the individual answer a question in order to proceed?
• Use a question in the form of a riddle

• Use Items such as:

• Hide-a-key
• Hollow book
• Magnetic Car Safe
• Actual safe
• Envelopes with codes, messages, or keys
• Keys to Lock open locks or lockboxes

How will you deliver the Scavenger Hunt and Steps to the Individual?

Will the scavenger hunt be delivered as a list of steps written down on a piece of paper? Will you text each step as they go through it? Both options are work and both may create the desired outcome. However, a piece of paper can be lost and the individual can skip ahead. Texting would keep the suspense but then you would need to be around your phone and ready to answer it at all times.

Alternative

There is a different option. One that will create suspense, pair techniques with different actions (require a code, response, or time delay) to steps. And create an ability for you to keep up to date on where they are without having to ask. This magic is done by creating an experience (if you would like to view how to create one checkout the how-to).