Group Scavenger Hunt
Objectives
Group contributions, resourcefulness, and creative thinking
Objectives of large group scavenger hunts can vary depending on the type of event to include: earning revenue, completing a certain number of challenges, and ensuring the balance of team dynamics and participation.
Group Size
Small Medium LargeLarge group scavenger hunt events typically are the most successful with teams that have at least 3 or more participants, and competing teams of at least 3 or more, preferably 5-15 groups.
Materials
Paper bag, scavenger hunt list
Set Up
Room for group to meet and end up in; fun area for scavenger hunt
Directions
After groups are formed, ask one representative to come up and get a paper bag with the scavenger hunt list in it. Ask the group not to open the bag until you say, “go”. Establish the boundaries, which are usually the room itself. Tell them to be creative in finding the items on the list and put them in the bag. As long as they can justify it, and can convince the audience it will work. Call time after ten minutes. Have each group explain their items. If you choose to score the activity, have the audience clap, or an “impartial judge” decides.
Suggested scavenger hunt items:
Generic list:
- 1. Paperclip
- 2. Pet leash
- 3. Ticket stub
- 4. Scissors
- 5. Pencil
- 6. Out of state license
- 7. Bingo marker
- 8. Pocket knife
- 9.The oldest penny
- 10. Baby picture
or
Creative List:
- 1. magic wand
- 2. portable phone
- 3. flower
- 4. an invention
- 5. hat
- 6. musical instrument
- 7. spider web
- 8. clock
- 9. binoculars
- 10. flea circus trapeeze
If you are trying to orient a group to a new space, consider adding items such as “date stamp from library” or “parking ticket from garage”, “count the number of stairmasters in the gym” or similar challenges to help them learn the physical layout of the new space. .
Also consider thematic lists: camping trips, holidays, etc.
Variation: Alphabet scavenger hunt: have each group find something on their bodies that begins with each letter of the alphabet, have them record the words on a sheet of paper.