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Treasure Hunt Hints & Tips

There are many ways to hold a successful treasure hunt. The treasure and the way it is hunted depends on the age of the participants. For a short evening indoors with eight year old children, scramble a sentence detailing where the treasure is and allow the children to unscramble it. Treasure hunts can be as simple or detailed as desired. Holding a treasure hunt and participating in one is exciting for all ages.

The Clues
- Asking participants to take photos of prove clues are big hits.
  
  The clues are the center of any successful treasure hunt. The clues need to be challenging without being too easy. There are four main types of clues. Hunt long clues are clues that are given at an marked location on the map. Location clues indicate the place and detail of the clue. Taking clear, close-up photos of the clues they will hunt for is an example of a location clue. Navigation clues move the participant from one location to the next. Another type of fun clue is the prove clue. Prove clues are used when participants must prove they were at the location they were intended to be. Participants must have a liaison person sign a notebook or take a picture themselves, as proof that they were actually at that location.
The Treasure
- In adult treasure hunts, it is fun to have a huge treasure in a tiny treasure box.
  
  The treasure is what everyone is hoping to find, so even if you build the treasure around a theme, place extra goodies within the treasure for the finder or the winning team. For example, if you are hosting a child's birthday party and the theme is "princesses." You could do a treasure theme upon missing princess jewels. The jewels could actually have been the table centerpiece that are now missing with some added treats mixed in. Treasure ideas for adults can be anything you can imagine. Consider ideas such as spa treatments, gift certificates to restaurants, tickets to sports games and cash.
The Time
- Hide a treasure under a hat or in another inconspicuous fashion.
  
  Give participants a deadline to find the treasure. Asking adults to synchronize their watches and to return by a certain time or ringing a bell for the children to return to a specific room, will help you to gather everyone back around at a normal stopping point. Consider giving participants an added bonus if they find the treasure before the time runs out. Having a specific time limit adds to the race.

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