Home >> Games & Cards >> Party Games

Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Five People

Scavenger hunts can inject some old-school fun into any party, class or group gathering. Hunting in pairs or small groups is a riot, but some adventurous players might enjoy an individual quest. A group as small as five can have a great time working individually, in two teams or even as one big group for some cooperative fun! Hunt for objects, sounds or actions related to a chosen theme. Hold a service hunt to benefit a neighborhood agency or group. You are sure to hunt up the kind of fun that will be the talk of the town.

Individual Hunts vs. Group Hunts
- Give each team a digital camera to capture the things on the list. If you are collecting sounds, give each team a small tape recorder instead.
  
  If you are planning a scavenger hunt as a means of team building, have your five players work in uneven teams or as one big cooperative group. Individual hunts are not for the faint of heart, but they might be just the thing for a theater group or leadership conference. Individual hunts usually span a small area like a mall or park, while team or group hunts could encompass an entire town or city.
Choose a Theme
- Specify which tasks players must accomplish on the hunt and which strangers must do.
  
  Finding the perfect theme can be almost as fun as the hunt itself. Holiday items are always popular. Five people can work cooperatively to create photo ops of interesting actions such as slam dunks or building a human pyramid. Teams or individuals can take photos of words of letters on signs to spell out a given phrase. Competitors could record snippets of different types of songs heard in the park where you stage your hunt. At a zoo, each person could collect animal sounds. Choose a theme that suits your quintet.
What to Look For
- Give each team or individual a clipboard and complete list so they can keep track of their progress.
  
  Create your list before the event or let the group do it as part of the game. To create lists on the spot, have each player write down one to five items that go with the theme, then pick the items out of a hat. The trio could look for more items than the pair, or the entire group could work together. With only five people, you could create personalized lists for each individual or team that are geared toward their strengths and interests.
Scavenger Hunts With a Purpose
- Service-based scavenger hunts can be great options for church, school or scout groups.
  
  Your scavenger hunt can create more than good clean fun, it can also make the world a better place. Scavenge for canned food, baby items, unopened toiletries or new school supplies, and then donate them to a shelter or food bank. These hunts can be successful in any neighborhood by going door to door. If you need specific items, advertise the date and time of your hunt with community organizations so that residents can collect items to be ready and waiting. This type of hunt would be best in a group of five or two teams, as the items could get heavy for one person alone. If you want to split up your five players, round up some little red wagons to haul the loot.

Party Games