Scavenger Hunt!
School has started and the leaves are falling. Harvest time is wrapping up and autumn colors are everywhere. Here in North Dakota, when fall kicks in, people get outside and enjoy it. Mild temperatures during the day; sweater time at night. Knowing that first cold winter blast won't stay away forever, each and every autumn day is one to make the most of.
On a couple of occasions, a small group of friends have combined their creative juices and developed scavenger hunts for youth/young adult groups at our church. Its a lot of fun creating a different clues for hunters to scavenge and its a great excuse to share in some fun and fellowship with others. Best of all, when the prep time is over, activity.
Following are some tips/ideas to make your next scavenger hunt a great event:
When your small group gets together to organize the event, make sure someone is responsible for announcing the event and inviting participants well in advance. Encourage those you invite to bring friends. We have found that our scavenger hunts are not as "threatening" to an unchurched friend as many other church events.
Scavenger hunts don't have to be just bring back a hard-boiled egg, a cup from McDonald's, a blue straw, and other hard and not so hard to find items. Have participants do things as well as find things. In the past, we have asked teams to go to the mall and sing "Amazing Grace" (we made sure we videotaped this part so we could show it to all the teams when the hunt had concluded), count the windows of a local furniture store, or get the signature of a famous local resident. Some of the clues have been in the form of a riddle. Solve the riddle, then you know what to do or get!
When you first assemble all participants, divide them into teams that can fit into one vehicle. Make sure you are clear on time constraints. We have set a two to three hour limit in the past and that has worked well. If you want to video "singing at the mall", consider limiting that portion to a specific half hour of the evening. Teams will then bump into each other and your video person doesn't have to spend the whole evening waiting for all teams to arrive.
Provide a container for each to gather the goods so each team can easily return hunted items to the judges at the completion of the hunt.
Provide refreshments when all have returned; show the video, and announce the winners at the appropriate time. There are many stories to tell when all hunters have reassembled. The rest of the evening sort of takes care of itself.
Happy Hunting!
Below are a couple examples of clues from previous scavenger hunts:
Here's a hint to help your group, hey, no need for thanks.
Top-right corner, leftmost group, on this clue you can bank.
Find this very secret brand, it rests upon a wall.
The cowboy bank is where to look, no more clues -- that's all!!!
(A picture of a cemetary accompanied this clue.)
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Upon these words you should ponder
They tell you where to start to look
And where to start to wander.
Between the columned entrance
There runs a well trod road
Walk this path from east to west
To find the proper stone.
Count three trees on the right
A fork in the road you will find
Turn south and pass two more trees
Peer into the setting sun,
And write the name on the gray upright stone.
Alpha and omega are J and R.
Singing at the Mall clue:
Now it's out to the plaza,
Or should we say "Square"
A fun place to shop
To find new clothes to wear.
You must find the stage
Near the store that's a coin
"One saved is one earned"
An appropriate line
Once up on the stage
Take the shape of a choir
(A camera will watch you
No points for a liar!)
Then sing out with gusto
Ignore your red face
One "Amazing Grace" verse
There's no time to waste!!!
About the Author:
Barry Holmen is a Christian educator and familyman from Minot, ND. He enjoys running and golf and playing with his two young boys. Barry also serves as webmaster of Immanuel Online.