Scavenger Hunt Lists

Hosting a scavenger hunt is almost as fun as competing in one! Whether you’re a youth group leader, office manager, or just someone who loves to entertain, consider a scavenger hunt for your next event.

First, decide how you will divide teams. Or, you could choose to have individuals compete against one another.

Make or find a list of items the players must find. Try to include a range of items, some easy and some difficult. (Although sometimes the things that people assume will be easy to find end up being the hardest!) Keep in mind that the length and difficulty of the scavenger hunt list will help determine how long your players will be out searching, so set a time limit or be prepared for a long day or evening!

Decide on your rules. How many players do you want on each team? Will players be allowed to purchase items or must they find or borrow them? Be aware of trespassing laws and other issues. Be sure players return all borrowed items if promised.

Offer a prize! While some hunters will be satisfied with braggers’ rights, it’s nice to have a small or large prize of some kind. You could even offer a “booby prize” to the team that comes in last. You could also charge a small fee to enter the hunt, and let the winning team split the money.

Once you know what type of scavenger hunt you want to host, send off your invitations (at least a couple of weeks in advance).

When the guest show up, go over the rules and hand each group a list, pencil, and perhaps a bag in which to carry small items. Then, let the fun begin! Once the time is up, have everyone gather to compare notes and be awarded prizes.