scavenger hunt

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2010)

A scavenger hunt is a game in which the organizers prepare a list defining specific items, using which the participants — individuals or teams — seek to gather all items on the list — usually without purchasing them — or perform tasks or take photographs of the items, as specified.^[1] The goal is usually to be the first to complete the list, although in a variation on the game players can also be challenged to complete the tasks on the list in the most creative manner.

Notable scavenger hunts include GISHWHES, the University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt, the annual Tricadecathlonomania, a 24-hour worldwide event that began in Northfield, MN,^[2] and the Monroe NY annual scavenger hunt. Some scavenger hunts are held online, where players have to find particular information on the web. Scavenger hunts can easily be played either outdoors (around town, parks, back yards, etc.) or indoors (malls, houses, shops, etc.) and they're a great way to teach kids about nature.^[3]

Online Treasure Hunts are another form of scavenger hunts where participants follow clues and visit different websites (or even physical locations) to solve riddles. Participants can win prizes such as cash for being the first to correctly solve the puzzles and win the treasure hunt.

Printable Scavenger Hunts: There are also printable scavenger hunts that involve printing out and hiding specially themed clues, pictures, or riddles. These are often a good alternative to scavenger list. Printable scavenger hunts are perfect for back yard hunts and in home birthday parties.

One of the newer forms of scavenger hunts are those that use smartphones as the centrepiece of the game. Much like Online Treasure Hunts, participants can often win prizes for correctly completing the most tasks or challenges in a certain amount of time. Examples of smartphone scavenger hunts are GooseChase and The Go Game.

Popular Scavenger Hunts:

- GooseChase

- The Go Game

- Mall Scavenger Hunt - Very popular for teens!

- Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt

- Nature Hunt

- Magazine Hunt

- Bigger or Better

- ABC Scavenger : Players must find an object that begins with each letter of the alphabet.

- Color Scavenger: Players must find as many items of a certain color as they can.

- Photo Scavenger Hunt: Players must take picture of the objects on their list.

- Jigsaw Puzzle Hunt

-Movie Hunt : create a list of items to look for while your watching a movie.

Sources credit gossip columnist Elsa Maxwell for inventing scavenger hunts for 1930s parties.^{[4][5][6] [7]}

References

1. ^ Great big book of children's games: over 450 indoor and outdoor games for kids. McGraw-Hill Professional. 2003. pp. 158. ISBN 0071422463. 
2. ^ "Games - Tricadecathlonomania". ebay.com. http://listing-index.ebay.com/games/Tricadecathlonomania.html. Retrieved 11 April 2010. 
3. ^ "Nature Scavenger Hunt: All Kids— From Toddlers to Teens — Can Become Nature Detectives" from National Wildlife Magazine, 2/2/2010
4. ^ Time Magazine, The Press: Elsa at War. Nov. 7, 1944.
5. ^ LIFE Magazine (Time, Inc.) 9 (25): 53. Dec 16, 1940. ISSN 0024-3019. 
6. ^ "Elsa Maxwell, The Hostess with the Mostest". Clan Maxwell Society of the USA. http://www.clanmaxwellusa.com/elsa.htm. Retrieved 11 April 2010. 
7. ^ "Team Scavenger Hunt Comparison Chart". http://corporateteams.com/compare-team-building-scavenger-hunts/. Retrieved 21 October 2010. 

This game-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v d e