Group Scavenger Hunt

Communication | Collaboration | Team Strategy

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.

Small Medium Large

Large 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 for large group scavenger hunt events can include: scavenger hunt lists and clues, backpacks, pencils, paper, compasses, cell phones, gps (geocaching), maps and more.

Room for group to meet and end up in; fun area for scavenger hunt

Typical scavenger hunt events for large groups will be facilitated outdoors, in a downtown, zoo, a theme park, or another fun and adventurous location.

Scavenger hunt locations for large groups often follow a theme such as mission impossible or clue based themes.

The following is one idea for a large group scavenger hunt event: 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.

Several external companies provide leadership and materials for unique scavenger hunt adventures, some with high-tech tools, and some that involve drinking.