Rules for Holding a Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are endlessly adaptable to different ages, group sizes, interests and difficulty levels. If you have small children, you might hold a scavenger hunt in your backyard or even inside your home. Teens and adults might appreciate the challenge of roaming the neighborhood or even the entire city. You can theme the item list or simply provide a list of random items. Whatever type of scavenger hunt you choose, laying out basic rules in advance can maximize the fun while minimizing arguments.

  1. Teams

    • Scavenger hunts are usually played in teams of four to six. Create teams in advance to ensure a fair distribution of players, or allow guests to create their own teams when they arrive. Teams should stick together at all times rather than splitting up to find items. Consider instituting a 5- or 10-foot rule to ensure that teammates remain in close proximity. If one person stops for a bathroom or snack break, all players on that team must stop. Forbid teams from adding players once the game begins, and set a standard rule for what happens if one teammate must drop out.

    Boundaries

    • Whether the scavenger hunt takes place inside the house or across town, set an outer perimeter. This might be a road in each direction that teams may not cross, a subway stop past which they are not allowed to travel, or even the edges of your yard. Decide what forms of transportation players may use and which ones are off-limits.

    Items

    • Some scavenger hunts are based on a single theme, such as camping items or things found in nature. Others encompass a wide range of unconnected items. Person-hunts require players to find people who meet the criteria on a list, such as ̶0;someone wearing brown pants̶1; or ̶0;someone with an out-of-state driver̵7;s license.̶1; You might require a photo of the person or that person̵7;s signature on the item list. Some scavenger hunts are based entirely on taking photos of the items. Decide whether it is acceptable to borrow items from a stranger, a friend or someone on another team. If someone on a team already has the item, decide whether it counts.

    Scoring

    • Set clear guidelines for scoring the results. For some scavenger hunts, the team with the most items wins. Some scavenger hunts assign points to each item based on difficulty, and the team with the most points wins. Make all teams aware of the scoring system, as well as who will serve as final arbiter for the rules. Make it clear that the judge̵7;s decision is final.

    Safety and Courtesy

    • Scavenger hunts are often fiercely competitive, but that is no excuse for rude or dangerous behavior. Forbid fighting and horseplay. Require players to follow basic safety rules such as using seat belts in cars and respecting traffic lights. Do not allow players to annoy or harass people who do not have or are not willing to give up items. Forbid trespassing, stealing and other crimes. Set penalties, including disqualification, for teams who break the safety and courtesy rules.

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