Organizing a scavenger hunt is an engaging way to foster team cohesion and collaboration. Adequate preparation involves thorough consideration of timing, place, prizes, and other factors. Read below for tips on how far in advance you should start planning for your event.
What Is A Scavenger Hunt?
A scavenger hunt is a game in which participants compete to find hidden items or complete assigned tasks. The goal is to complete the highest number of tasks on the list within a specified time period.
Participants are often divided into teams to complete tasks together. Examples of tasks might include taking a picture near a popular landmark or acquiring certain items.
Scavenger hunts can help participants improve their creative problem-solving and collaborative decision-making skills.
How Far in Advance Should You Start Planning?
The amount of time you’ll need to plan a hunt depends on factors like your group size and location. To organize a hunt for a small group, you may only need a few days to a week. Organizing a larger-scale event with many participants will likely take longer.
You’ll need plenty of time to brainstorm and write out your list of tasks. It may also take time to secure materials like pencils, pens, paper, or other items corresponding to the task list.
To expedite the planning process, many scavenger hunt planners have turned to apps that can help keep the planner and participants organized during the hunt. Many apps allow for things like photo uploads and a communication system for participants.
A well-thought-out hunt takes time, but the reward of seeing the excitement of participants should be worth your effort. The earlier you start planning, the better the experience you can create for your participants.
4 Tips for Planning a Successful Scavenger Hunt
1. Pick a Theme
A scavenger hunt can be more than just a list of random tasks. Selecting a theme is a great way to make the game more fun and engaging.
Often locations can provide themes. You might coordinate a hunt that teaches people about the city you’re located in as they play.
2. Choose the Right Location
Because scavenger hunts involve running around and exploring with team members, the location can impact planning and how the game functions.
Suitable venues are easily navigable by several large groups and are safe for exploration. If you’re organizing an outdoor game, consider public parks or cities with plenty of space.
Urban locations are great for hunts that involve exploring shops, restaurants, and familiar landmarks.
You can also organize a virtual hunt which allows participants to explore wherever they are located using an app to assist you. Whatever you choose, the location should accommodate your expected number of players.
3. Set a Reasonable Time Limit
A time limit will give participants a sense of urgency and help them focus on completing the tasks in a timely manner. These limits help organize your participants, so you don’t have groups finishing too soon or taking too long to complete the task list.
You want participants to have enough time to complete the various tasks while also pushing them to work quickly to compete with other teams. Encouraging competition through a time limit can make the challenge more exciting and fun for participants.
You may consider seeking the help of an app or software that can help participants track how much time they have to complete tasks.
4. Award a Prize
Awarding prizes to the winning team or all participants can add excitement and a competitive edge to your scavenger hunt.
Whatever prize you choose, make sure to announce the award ahead of time, so teams know what they are competing for. The prize should be something that is worth the effort of completing all tasks in the game.
Get Started Planning Now
Organizing a scavenger hunt requires careful planning and diligence. With the proper guidelines, you can create an exciting event that your team will enjoy and learn from.
These hunts can be a great way to encourage team-building and collaboration for co-workers or to have a good time with family and friends. Consider exploring apps or services to help plan and organize your event. Get started planning your event today.
