A scavenger hunt is a fun way for teen girls and boys alike to celebrate a birthday with friends. The hunt offers an activity to fill the time that's normally set aside for birthday games.
Setting Up for a Scavenger Hunt
One of the first things to do before the party is to alert the neighbors. Involve some of them by asking if their houses can be the location of a set of clues.
Once the neighbors have been notified, look for landmarks and other unique features around the area. Maybe there's a picnic table or bench somewhere in the neighborhood. Even street signs can be targeted for clues. Locate about five good spots and work from there.
Making Up the Clues
The key to clue writing is to make them fun. Don't include directions that simply say "Look in the mailbox for your next clue." Instead, try a rhyming clue:
"Go outside and look around,
for a place where letters can be found."
There are also alternatives to written clues. One way is to take pictures of the various locations or items being hunted and give them to all the teams.
Another idea is to give the teams a list of items and provide them with disposable digital cameras. The proof that the teams actually find the items will be in the pictures they take. Plus, the pictures will provide fun memories of the party.
Starting the Scavenger Hunt
Prior to guests arriving, all clues should be placed around the neighborhood and a trial run made to insure all goes as planned. There's nothing worse than having the wrong clue in the wrong place.
Have party guests divide into equal teams and provide them with a color-coded envelope with the first clue. It's best if each team has a different first clue so they aren't all going to the same place.
At the signal, teams will go off in search of other clues.
The Finale of the Hunt
Where to end the scavenger hunt is an individual decision. Teams can end up at a park where cake and drinks are located or they can end up back at the starting point. A fun twist to the end is to add a final task, like dressing one of the team members in some pre-selected silly clothes. The first team to complete the hunt and "dress" out is the winner.
Safety First in Scavenger Hunts
Make sure when planning a scavenger hunt that safety comes first.
- Limit the area the teens will be travelling by making sure the kids stay within the confines of their neighborhood.
- Make sure adults are keeping an eye on the guests. Drive through the neighborhood when the hunt has started to provide supervision.
- Don't include any locations that could be dangerous such an abandoned house or a dock on a lake.
- Hold the scavenger hunt during daylight hours rather than after dark.
Scavenger hunts can provide a lot of fun for teen birthday parties and they are inexpensive to put together. Planning ahead of time with a visit to neighbors, a trial run of all the clues, and setting some safety rules will help insure the final clue adds up to success.
Related article: Kid's Birthday Parties: Parties that Don't Break the Bank
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