Scavenger hunts can be a fun activity for people of all ages to get involved in, with more complex scavenger hunts being a great way to keep older kids and teenagers entertained for hours on end (and adults too!).
But how exactly do you go about planning out a scavenger hunt that is going to be enjoyable for teenagers?
In this article, we are going to be looking at a huge range of options for scavenger hunts that teens will love, as well as look at some prizes that are suitable for them. Let’s get started.
Nature Scavenger Hunt: Have teams of teenagers compete to find the most nature-based items on the list- such as different types of leaves, flowers, rocks, or animals- within a certain time limit.
Photo Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of specific things that teams of teenagers must take a photo of, such as a specific type of flower, a statue, or a historical landmark. The team that takes the most creative and unique photos wins.
City Scavenger Hunt: Get your teams of teenagers to find certain items in a certain city, such as a certain street, a certain store, or a specific type of food.
Movie Scavenger Hunt: This is a fun one for film buffs! Make a list of items, places, or actions that are featured in a specific movie, and have teams of teenagers compete to find or do the most items on the list.
Technology Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of websites, apps, or social media accounts that teams of teenagers must find and interact with in a certain way to find clues, such as a specific YouTube channel or Instagram account.
Trivia Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of trivia questions and have teams of teenagers compete to find the answers to the most questions within a certain time limit.
Time Travel Scavenger Hunt: Unfortunately, actual time travel isn’t available just yet so for this idea, think of some items, places, or actions that are related to different historical periods, such as Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, or the Roaring Twenties. Have teams of teenagers compete to find or do the most items on the list within a certain time limit.
Mystery Scavenger Hunt: Create a mystery or puzzle that teams of teenagers must solve by finding and piecing together different clues that are hidden in different locations.
Fitness Scavenger Hunt: Have your teens engage in various physical challenges that teams must complete, such as a certain number of push-ups, sit-ups, or jumping jacks. The team that completes the most challenges within a certain time limit wins.
DIY Scavenger Hunt: This idea revolves around getting as creative as you like to invent your own, unique experience for the teens. This can include certain challenges or objectives. The only limits here are your own imagination!
Mall Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items, stores, or actions that teams of teenagers must find or complete in a specific mall or shopping center.
Escape Room Scavenger Hunt: Create an escape room-style scavenger hunt where teams of teenagers must solve puzzles and find clues in order to escape a themed room or location.
Riddle-Themed Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of riddles that teams of teenagers must solve in order to find the location of the next clue or item on the list.
Treasure Scavenger Hunt: Create a treasure hunt-style scavenger hunt where teams of teenagers must follow a series of clues to find a hidden treasure or prize.
Adventure Scavenger Hunt: Takes teams of teenagers on an adventure through a specific location, such as a forest, a park, or a museum.
Art Scavenger Hunt: Focuses on art, such as finding specific works of art in a museum or gallery, or creating their own art using specific materials or techniques.
Food Scavenger Hunt: Finding specific foods in a grocery store, or trying new foods at different restaurants.
Musical Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt that focuses on music, such as finding specific songs, or answering trivia questions about famous musicians.
Game Night Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt where teams of teenagers must play specific games, such as board games, video games, or card games, and find certain things that happen in the game.
Social Media Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt where teams of teenagers must find and interact with specific social media accounts or hashtags. This one is similar to the technology idea, but you can place a stronger emphasis on the social media elements.
Ghost Town Scavenger Hunt: This one might be a little scary for some, so only go about it if your teens are old enough or if you are sure that they can be supervised whilst playing. This idea is focused on a scavenger hunt, where teams of teenagers must explore an abandoned town or village and find specific items or landmarks.
Survival Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt where teams of teenagers must collect specific items or complete specific tasks to survive in a wilderness or survival scenario. Again, this idea would be best if the kids were supervised so that it doesn’t turn into an actual survival scenario!
Geocaching Scavenger Hunt: Focuses on creating a set of GPS coordinates that teens must decipher to find hidden caches or treasure.
Charity Scavenger Hunt: Get your teams to collect specific items or complete specific tasks to raise money or awareness for a charity or nonprofit organization.
Culture-Themed Scavenger Hunts: Focuses on different cultures and customs, such as finding specific foods, festivals, or traditional clothing.
Environmental Scavenger Hunt: Your teenagers must find and collect specific items or complete specific tasks to learn about and protect the environment.
Selfie Scavenger Hunt: Focuses on taking specific selfies at certain locations.
Puzzle Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt where teams of teenagers must solve puzzles or riddles to find the location of the next clue or item on the list.
Debate Scavenger Hunt: For argumentative and vocal teenagers, this is a must! Have your teens research and present a debate on a specific topic, with the winner obtaining clues.
Secret Agent Scavenger Hunt: Have the teens complete tasks and solve puzzles to uncover a secret mission or objective.
Now that we have some ideas for the themes of the scavenger hunt, let’s now have a look at some potential items that can be used as clues or as items that need to be found by the teens.
Photo of a local landmark or statue
Ticket stub or program from a recent event
Menu from a local restaurant
Postcard or brochure from a local attraction
Map or brochure of a nearby park or hiking trail
Coin or bill from a foreign country
Business card from a local store or business
Keychain or magnet, from a local souvenir shop
A piece of local artwork or craft
Signature from a local celebrity or public figure.
Flag or pin of a local sports team
Sticker or button from a local political campaign or event
Toy or trinket from a local arcade or amusement park
Local newspaper or magazine
Sample of local food or drink
Small piece of jewelry or accessory
A piece of sea glass or other beach treasure.
A photo of street art or graffiti
Copy of a book by a local author or one that is set in the local area
Keychain or another souvenir from a local hotel or bed and breakfast
Sheet music or lyrics from a local band or musician
Piece of local pottery or ceramics
A recipe or cooking tip from a local chef or cook
Flag or pin from a local school or university
Badge or button from a local club or organization
You’ve got your scavenger hunt idea, and you’ve got your list of possible items to include, but what about prizes for your teenage participants? Let’s lastly take a look at some potential prizes that you could use.
Gift cards
Movie tickets
Music downloads or streaming service subscriptions
Video game
Sports equipment or gear
Adventure or outdoor activity
Science or technology-related prizes
Books or e-books
Art supplies
Cooking or baking set
Concert tickets
Theme park tickets
A camera
Photography equipment
Subscription box
Headphones
Speakers
A new phone
Final Thoughts
Scavenger hunts are a great way to engage and entertain teenagers as they offer an opportunity for teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity. These hunts can also be organized in a variety of settings, such as at home, at school, or in the community.
When planning a scavenger hunt for teenagers, it’s important to tailor the tasks and clues to their interests and abilities, whilst also considering the location and time of the event and taking into account any safety measures that might be necessary.
Don’t forget to ask the appropriate parties when it comes to conducting your hunt in certain areas or if you need to take photographs.
The prizes are also an important element to incentivize the participant and make the experience more fun. Make sure to get creative with your prizes to instill a fun sense of competition!
Hopefully, we have given you enough ideas to get you started when it comes to creating a fun and engaging scavenger hunt for teens.
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