Let’s Play...

Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt can be played as individuals or teams competing for time. It's fun to play either inside or outside. The goal of the game is to lead the seekers through a set of clues that takes them from place to place to find a treasure. The “seekers” need to read each clue they find and figure out the next location.

To start:

A game organizer must create and hide the clues to set up the game for the “seekers.”

Cut small squares of paper for the clues. 

• For children who can’t read – make a drawing of where they are to look.
• For children who can read, write out the clue location.
• For older children (or even adults), challenge them with riddles or trivia questions to find the clue location.
• Keep the clues a distance apart, making sure the location of your final clue accommodates the size of the treasure.

Hiding the clues:

The best way to hide the clues is to read the first clue, put it in a starting place (we use the kitchen) and hide the next clue in the location written on the clue you just read.  Follow the same path the kids will when they search.  Read each clue before folding and hiding it, so that you know where to go to next. 

Playing the game:

Players are handed the starter clue.  It tells them the location to hunt for the next clue on their way to the treasure.  As many or as few clues can be prepared and hid.  The final clue leads to the treasure.

Treasures can be whatever you want - anything from treats and toys to special prizes and promises.  We put things in plastic baggies for each of the kids on the hunt.

Hints:

• Keep the clues from your treasure hunt for next time.  You can just mix up the order and hide the note in a new spot at each location.
• The older the kids and the more times they have played, the tougher the hiding spots.
• Or let the older kids split into teams and create each other’s clue locations.