How to Host an Epic Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts for kids have became a wildly popular birthday trend. And after experiencing the  joy of kids scrambling around to solve a shared challenge, I can personally attest that scavenger hunts are the perfect party activity. Here’s why and how to plan an epic one:

• They don’t require professional help. A scavenger hunt usually requires zero professional help to be successful. Even the most epic ones don’t require a lot of time! You can design, prepare, and host a scavenger hunt totally on your own.
• They provide a full day of low-cost entertainment. Not only do scavenger hunts tend to be low-cost, but they also provide the main entertainment for the day.
• They can take place anywhere. You can have a scavenger hunt inside your home, at a park, or even virtually through Zoom.
• Scavenger hunts require teamwork. This is especially helpful when the invite list includes friends from different parts of life. It offers an easy ice-breaker for kids to meet each other, and at this point in my parenting, I’ll always choose a cooperative game over a competitive one.

Now that you’re hooked on the idea, here is your foolproof plan for hosting an epic hunt for the next party, playdate, or school auction item! 

• Choose a theme. This will be your creative roadmap for all the fun details ahead, starting with some pre-hunt fun. 
• Write the clues. Traditionally, scavenger hunts provide a list of items or places to locate with no particular order in mind. But I prefer what I call the “detective” route, where you provide clues that must be solved to reveal the next destination and the next clue. This route builds more suspense and excitement, but you’ll need to write the clues ahead of time.
• Stock the stops. If you’re hosting inside a home, in a backyard, or virtually, you can pre-plant the clues, along with items for kids to snack on, trinkets for them to keep, and even mini crafts or activities to complete. If you’re hosting in a public space, like a park, simply hand out clues and treats at each stop as the hunt unfolds — or you can even invite generous neighbors and local shop owners to participate.
• Plan the grand finale. Make the finish line simple with the cake and candles and maybe some party poppers for flare. Or, finish with a bang (and a pinata!). Include whatever final prize you want here: more party favors, sweets, or something homemade like ribbons or certificates of completion. 

Chances are your child has a theme in mind already, but here are a few ideas:

Kick off the party with a dress-up station. Help kids get into character with costumes, whether eye patches or other seaworthy gear you purchased, or items from your closet. Turn the clues into a treasure map! (If you need help, look to Etsy for amazing customizable clue templates.) And finish the hunt with a hidden treasure chest filled with themed prizes, like chocolate doubloons or Pirate’s Booty.

Get creative with cute treats and activities around puppies: Set the mood with puppy ears; make dog bones (aka: bone-shaped cookies) for snacks, and have the kids make their own “dog collar” necklaces. At the final location, tiny puppy plushies make a fun favor — or you could go all out with actual puppies, although this requires bringing in professional.

For an older crew, choose a theme that allows you to add a level of difficulty by using riddles, math problems, or geolocation. If it’s Space Explorers, the kids must solve a word jumble to name all of the planets. Or they have to build and launch a rocket. Or pretend to be Saturn and hula hoop for ten seconds. You get the idea.

If you’re having a hard time motivating your crew for an afternoon out or to run errands, don’t forget the power of the hunt! Even if you’re going to the same park or the doctor’s office, a scavenger hunt turns the mundane into something magical.

For younger explorers, try taking  “Letter Walks.” Before leaving your home, print out a sheet with the alphabet. Then search for matching letters on street signs, posters, and license plates. Or, if you have plastic Easter eggs on hand, try this sight word hunt or this word family hunt.

Another one of my favorite low-effort activities is to hide puzzle pieces throughout the house. The kids run around to find them, sort them out, and then piece the puzzle back together. When they’re done, I start all over again with a new puzzle. This usually guarantees at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted play without screen time or bribes. Parenting win!