Scavenger Hunt Clues

Scavenger hunt clues are the most critical part of the game. They have to be clear and concise enough so that people can figure out where they are supposed to go next.

Being clever with them is okay as long as they are understandable. Here are some innovative ways to present the clues.

Photo Scavenger Hunt Clues

In this type of hunt, the clues are given using photos instead of having written clues. Before your guests arrive, take photos of items in your home or venue where you are going to hide each clue. These photos will direct people from one clue to the next.

For example, you can use a picture of a clock to show the players that the next clue is hidden under the clock. This is ideal for children's scavenger hunts because of the simplicity of the clue.

If you wish to increase the difficulty of the clue, you can take a picture of some identifying aspect of the object, like just one of the digits on the clock's face, provided the shape of the digit is unique in your home.

Puzzle Based Clues

Another idea for scavenger hunt clues is to combine them with other forms of games like puzzles. You can take a picture of the target destination and cut it into small pieces to make a puzzle out of it. The difficulty level can be managed by the number of puzzle pieces.

If you have time, take the photos to a place where photo gifts are made like Sam's Club or Target and have puzzles made of the photos rather than just cutting up images.

Each clue is revealed only after a puzzle is put together by the person or team. If you don't want to use photo puzzle pieces, you can also use words or riddles on torn up paper that they have to be assembled before the next clue is revealed.

Favorite Things Clues

If you are celebrating a special occasion like a birthday party, write scavenger hunt clues that incorporate the guest of honor's favorite things. For example, if they love Bud Light write a clue that leads the team to a can of Bud Light hidden under a bush and tape the next clue to the bottom of it.

The clue could say something like, "Find your next clue taped to the bottom of John's favorite beverage." If you are clever enough, say the same thing in a riddle.

To avoid everybody searching for the same item, have teams look for different favorite things. While one group is looking for a can of Bud Light, another group is looking for an object that is John's favorite color.

Speaking of favorite colors, another idea is to find objects around the house that are all in John's favorite color, say blue (a pair of blue socks, a blue coffee mug, a blue hat...). Then attach clues to the objects and use describe how John might use such an object.

For example "John uses these to keep his feet warm in the winter" the answer being blue socks and then when they get to the socks, attached to them will be the next clue that says something like "John drinks his coffee from one of these" the answer being a blue coffee mug.

You could do this for a baby shower (pick blue items if they know they are having a boy; pink for a girl) or for a graduation party (pick the colors of the school).

Organizing a game with creative scavenger hunt clues takes time but the end result will be a memorable event that your guests will be talking about for weeks.