Scavenger hunts can be a ton of fun for kids and adults alike! You can have a scavenger hunt with only a few people or with a huge group. If you want to create a scavenger hunt, remember to vary the clues available during the hunt so that it keeps things fresh and new. Here are some great ideas for scavenger hunt clues.
Ideas for Scavenger Hunt Clues
1. Picture Clues
Take a photograph of the place where the item is located. But make it tough by taking a picture of only a part of it. For instance, if the item is located in a tree, take a picture of one of the leaves. Want to make it even more difficult? Cut the picture up into a puzzle that they have to put together in order to figure out the clue.
2. Secret Code Clues
How about secret codes? This is easy to create but can be challenging to figure out. Assign a certain letter to a certain number, and then write the clues in number form. Your kids will then have to figure out which letters correspond to the numbers in order to get the clue. Be sure to have a list of the secret code handy!
3. Word-Search Clues
Using graph paper, write out the word that you want your kids to find, and then fill in the spaces around it with other letters. You are creating a classic word-search puzzle! Give them a clue to the word and let them try to find it in order to move forward in their scavenger hunt.
4. Letter Clues
Use letters to create your clue, but leave certain ones out. For instance, a great tip is to leave out the vowels of any clue. This means the kids have to figure out which vowels go into which dashes in order to create full sentences and words.
5. Mirror Clues
Write your clue backward – kids have to use a mirror to figure it out! Make it harder for older kids by mixing two or three sentences together or throwing in extra words that they then have to sort through in order to get the real clue.
6. Trivia Clues
Use trivia questions as scavenger hunt clues. These trivia questions, when answered, create a clue about the location that can then be sorted out and deciphered. You can make this easy for little kids or really difficult for teenagers and adults. Expect some groans of frustration with this one!
7. Riddle Clues
Create riddles that make your participants think hard about the answer. These riddle questions are a great way to test their knowledge and make the scavenger hunt more rewarding. Here are a few options to get you started:
Question: I’m always running, but I’m always cold.
Answer: Refrigerator.
Question: It has to be broken before you can use it.
Answer: An egg.
8. Treasure Map Clues
These clues are an awesome way to bring out the inner Indiana Jones! Draw out a map of the area where you are hunting for the scavenger items and put small X’s where the clues are. Also, draw a more detailed map from one clue to the next, and put a big X where the treasure lies. You can also cut up the map and put one piece in each of the clue areas, so kids have to go through all the clues to get to the treasure.
How to Play a Scavenger Hunt
Now that you know how to set up the clues, it’s time to play the game! There should be some guidelines, or those playing will get confused very quickly. Here are some tips to keep your scavenger hunt fun and safe for all ages.
- Make it clear where players will be searching. The backyard? The park?
- Choose the clues carefully so that the scavenger hunt isn’t over too soon. You want it to last for a long time to heighten the sense of accomplishment.
- Hide the items, making sure no one sees you.
- Set a timer to keep things moving along fast. Give little kids a shorter list of things to find, but give big kids a longer list.
- A small prize or treat goes to the person who finishes first.
Want to learn even more? This video on scavenger hunt clues can help you with more ideas: