Scavenger hunting is a popular game that has been played for a long time. It has an entertaining as well as a learning aspect; therefore, people prefer indulging themselves and their children in such an activity so that, besides enjoying their time, they could gain something good from it as well. Scavenger hunts could be of different types (which we will discuss later), and each type helps boost the thinking, decision-making, and overall cognitive abilities of the players. You can add quizzes, riddles, and puzzle-solving activities within this game to enhance the problem-solving and issue-resolving capabilities of the players.
SCAVENGER HUNT IS FOR ALL AGES:
This activity is not just for children, If you want a fun meet-and-greet session with your friends and family, this is the perfect game that everybody would love playing. Not only do many business leaders consider this game a nice team-building activity that helps people come together and boosts their morale, but their overall working efficiency also improves.
This game could be played with various methods, but the basic principle is that all the participants, either divided into teams or playing individually, would have to spot an item, which could be carried or photographed based on the instructions given by the organizer or the planner. Whoever succeeds in gathering the items first, wins. The winning team and individuals are awarded different prizes.
Scavenger hunts can be of two types: physical or virtual. We are going to discuss each type separately in this article.
PHYSICAL SCAVENGER HUNTING:
In this type of scavenger hunt, people need to be physically present at any decided location. They are provided with a list of hidden objects, and they go on the hunt either in teams or individually. This game is not only restricted to hidden objects, but you can also make it more difficult by giving certain clues to the participants. They would first have to decode the object before collecting it. The clues or hints could be decoded by solving a riddle, puzzle, or quiz.
You can plan the whole activity at a special location as well, based on your choice. It could be a mountainous region, a beach, a forest, or a simple park. You can even include your neighbors in the game. If the scavenger hunt is meant to be a team-building activity, you can make it a field trip, Your workers will feel refreshed, and they will get a chance to upskill themselves in various ways.
CUSTOMIZE THE GAME, THE WAY YOU WANT:
Segments could be customized according to the preferences of players or organizers. You can, for example, print out all the information, riddles, questions, or hidden objects and distribute them to every player if you prefer the conventional method. Alternatively, if you want to create a mystery game-like atmosphere, give them a map with clues about any object printed on it, and the player who guesses correctly gets the item. Following the path, they would have to collect all of the items in a series, and the player who finishes first will win.
VIRTUAL SCAVENGER HUNTING:
Virtual scavenger hunting is as fun as physical hunting. The only difference is that players or participants do not have to be physically present at a location. During tough times such as COVID-19, when everybody was confined to their houses, this activity proved to be beneficial as it not only helped people enjoy their time alone but also helped them interact with their long-distance friends and relatives. Virtual scavenger hunts are preferred by companies that operate in hybrid mode, where some employees work in physical mode while others work online from home. A scavenger hunt app is used, or a Zoom meeting is usually organized, so they can get to know one another and build teamwork.
SCAVENGER HUNTING APPLICATIONS:
There are many scavenger hunt apps available online for Android, iOS, and Windows; there are variations in the apps as well. Some applications provide you with the whole layout, some work like normal game apps, and others allow you to customize your hunt. The overall rules to play the game remain the same as the physical one, but in the case of a virtual hunt, you don’t need to go out in a vast area looking for things; rather, you roam around your house to locate the desired object. You can picture them or show them to the leaders who planned the game. The applications provide you with various puzzles, questionnaires, and quizzes, which you have to solve within the given time, and you have to submit your located objects on the app as well. In all cases, whoever completes the task first, wins.
Both children and adults need to participate in these activities because they develop various skills that are needed in day-to-day life.
