Birthday Scavenger Hunt Ideas (SWH=2 Long. but Fun to Answer.
Updated on
May 20, 2014
L.M.
asks from
Nampa, ID
7
answers
Hello, everyone! I could look up ideas online, but I often find your ideas and suggestions to be so much better! :)
So... My daughter is turning 11 at the end of the month. We've decided to split her guests into groups and do a neighborhood scavenger hunt. I was just wondering what are some items I can put on their list to find? I want some harder things and some very simple things and the items that are more difficult would be worth more points.
So, any awesome ideas? (one of my favorite that I thought of was a 2003 penny (since it's her birth year)). I have: Paperclip, thumbtack, 15 pine needles, marshamallow, take-out menu, empty soda can, 1 tsp. pet food, etc....
Also, how many items should there be on the list and how long should be allowed for the game? I've never held one of these before, so any other tips would be great!
Well, after "research" & thought, I've got a plan. :) I wrote silly rhyming riddles & the answers are items both physical to collect & creative to think/write in the area general neighborhood, and door to door. Points for the correct answers & +points for the ACTION turns they choose/have to do. Here are a couple samples.. please, only kind words, this is my first attempt! lol (WARNING: Strong corny wording and poor rhyming skills ahead. Tread lightly)
Riddles' answers are objects/descriptions they need to collect & document: "We are needles, but do not sew. We are green, just so you know. Collect 15 & you'll see, we are not inside; we're on a tree" (pine needles)
ACTION: (which if all team members are heard and/or seen by the adults, there will be a point to each member, but if not, then only one point for the team): "Spot a stranger wearing red. Jump three times and pat your head".
Oh, and a special one for the birthday girl: "Our birthday girl was born in this year. Return with that penny for Emily dear" (2003)
So, anyway, you get the idea. There are 25 things for them to attempt with a 30 min. game time (may up it before all is said and done). They have only 4 mins. at each house, w/ a 2 item limit per house & are not allowed to share/show the list to those they ask.
As for prizes, I thought that each member of the winning team (should be about 4 per team) would get a little trophy and a special "thank you" bag upon leaving. Any thoughts on that? :) Oh, and all must participate and each has a job: Time Keeper, Fact Reporter (writes answers), Captain (decides where to go, which number to attempt) & of course there's Door Bell Ringer/Speaker.
And, sorry this is long, but here's two more ACTIONs, which I really thought was funny at 4:30 this a.m. in my groggy "come-up-with-ideas mind! hahha
"Now all in a row, run down the street. Flap both your arms and scream "TWEET:" TWEET" TWEET" hahsha and of course, they'll be very loud to get the extra points! hahaha
And then there's this:
"Ask to see the dog next door then bark real silly for points galore!"
and... to help our neighborhood park: "Paper was tossed onto the ground. throw it away please and don't make a sound. You gained 2 points for this nice deed - By good examples, you should always lead" (and if all come back with a piece of trash (in a separate collection bag), EACH member will gain 2 points for their total instead of One if only one bit of trash is collected. Our park isn't typically trashed, but who knows on a Sat. afternoon!
There are many more, and they are all (perhaps unfortunately) original rhymes! hahaha I'm suffering today from it but it was fun.
FINALLY: Number 25: The hunting's now over & the list is complete. Which team was the team that couldn't be beat? Get back to the house in plenty of time, as I REALLY am tired of making these rhyme!!! hahaha
ahem. yeah. Have a good evening, everyone and thanks for the suggestions I got and any that come. Thoughts on prizes? Additional items/actions to get points? I'm so excited over this!~ haha :D Oh, was thinking of making them wear mustaches or tie goofy inflated balloons to their shirts or something outrageously Hawaiian since that's the theme.... any thoughts there? Thanks again for the ideas and feedback!
L.
More Answers
S.T.
answers from
Washington DC
on
hm. not trying to tell you what to do here, but you might be setting them up for frustration, and possibly being neighborhood nuisances. one way to modify it slightly would be to turn it into a treasure hunt, with clues leading to each 'cache' which can have things like buttons and pine cones and paperclips set up in advance.
not sure how many marshmallows would be available in the wild, and we don't want any instances of someone's chow biting a kid trying to snaffle his food!
what a fun birthday party thing to do. have a blast!
:) khairete
S.
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J.S.
answers from
Richland
on
I will say what I have always said on these posts. Talk to your neighbors, find out which want to participate in this, restrict the kids to those homes. Sorry but it is very rude to assume your whole subdivision would be thrilled to entertain your kids. A lot more will be willing if you ask ahead of time. It deals with those that are like got all these kids knocking at my door, grumble, couldn't be bothered to call, people.
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M.B.
answers from
Austin
on
Are you intending for these items to be things they will find on the ground, or are they going to have to go to people's houses? Think about that list....
As an alternative, instead of a scavenger hunt, you can do a "photo" scavenger hunt..... have them take a selfie in front of different things in the neighborhood....
Or, a treasure hunt where one clue takes them to another clue, and so on and so on.....
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C.S.
answers from
Las Vegas
on
Someone did one for me, but it was more of a read the clues type scavenger hunt. They used all the hotels which most are named after a country/city/location.
So if you did it that way, they could pick something up there, or check in.
Is the party themed? You could play off of that.
Have fun!!!
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H.W.
answers from
Portland
on
You know, I like the idea of a photo scavenger hunt. It seems far less invasive, but only if digital cameras are available. If not, I do like a treasure hunt idea, or having the kids log the cross-streets/addresses of where they found any cool 'landmark' items (garden art/gnomes, certain sorts of unique trees in bloom or other identifiers, like the yard with a swing in the tree or an unusual sign, etc.) Some items you could have them collect like pinecones or extra bonus points for finding a real four-leaf clover.
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C.B.
answers from
San Francisco
on
That sounds wonderful! So much fun. The one thing that jumped out at me was the find the neighbor's dog and then bark galore. I would not encourage children to bark at a dog, especially one they don't know. You never know how a dog is going to react to a bunch of kids barking at it.
Other than that, sounds like so much fun. I had a scavenger hunt for my GD's 10th birthday; none of the neighbors minded being bothered at all. There were a few who didn't want to participate and simply said they weren't interested and the kids moved on. No harm, no foul.
Have a great party!
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J.B.
answers from
Spokane
on
since they are 11 they can roam a good mile or so from home. send them on separate blocks in opposite directions. maybe also have one parent go with each group.
as for things to find or accomplish i think maybe even to find a person walking/in their yard and take a picture with them.
what is the big prize for the winning team?
