How to Make a Treasure Map With Clues

Make your treasure map look authentic. CreativeKidsatHome.com suggests painting your piece of map paper on each side with a damp teabag and then crumpling the still-damp paper to create an aged look. Let the paper dry and fray the edges. Think of good locations for waypoints, or places where hunters will stop to decipher new clues or discover stashes of lesser treasure items. Use a black or brown marker to draw trails and symbols guiding people to the treasure.

Design clues for waypoints along your map. Clues could be in the form of a riddle guiding hunters to the next stash, or an item that indicates what the hunter should do next. For example, if the clue is a shovel, hunters will know they need to dig for a stash. Make different types of clues for each stash, like a message in a bottle at one location and a buried box of trinkets at another.

Think about your hunt participants when designing clues. If the map is for very small children, they may become frustrated with complicated clues, while adults may appreciate the puzzle. For clues, use landmarks that are familiar to the hunters, like local buildings, a favorite shade tree with a hollow in the trunk or a statue in the park. This will help your hunters decipher hints without requiring the clues to be too obvious.

Invent a story to explain why you have the treasure map or where it was found. Treasure Hunt Fan suggests spinning an entertaining pirate ghost story, in which you help a vagrant who disappears into thin air after handing you the map. Other stories could include finding the map in an unused corner of the attic or stumbling on it while outdoors. Find an old bottle or wooden box to stash your map in for added authenticity.