The Thrill of the Hunt 🕵️ A Guide to Scavenger Hunting

Jan 23

Secret Boston has become pretty well known for hosting great scavenger hunts. We have done everything from World Tour concert tickets to facials to lots in between. (we actually have a scavenger hunt going on right now for 50 Cent tickets!) And we’re not stuck on just one or two hot spots in Boston to hide clues. Nope, we will go everywhere: Back Bay, Fenway, Dorchester, JP, Hyde Park, etc etc etc. Since we have Scavenger Hunts on the brains so much we figured we’d write a blog post dedicated to hunts in general… the history, themes, and even a quick guide on how to host your own!

here goes…

Scavenger hunts have been an iconic form of entertainment for generations. They combine exploration, problem-solving, teamwork, and competition into a package of great fun. Let's dive deep into the history of scavenger hunts, their best practices, and a step-by-step guide on how to execute one, along with some historical examples of well-executed hunts.

A Brief History of Scavenger Hunts

While the origins of scavenger hunts are somewhat shrouded in history, they've existed in various forms across different cultures. The concept of a quest or a search for specific items or completing particular tasks is universal and timeless. But the modern form of scavenger hunts as we understand them today began to take shape in the early 20th century.

One of the earliest known scavenger hunts was organized in the 1930s by Elsa Maxwell, an American socialite, for her high-society friends in the heart of New York City. The game required participants to collect a list of random items from around the city.

The 1980s witnessed a significant shift in scavenger hunts with the invention of home video games. Atari's 1982 release "Swordquest" included a series of games that led players through complex puzzles both in the game and in accompanying comic books. The contest offered a total of $150,000 in prizes, including a $50,000 sword.

A more recent example includes the 2013 MIT Mystery Hunt in Boston. This event is an annual puzzle hunt competition and is one of the oldest and largest of its kind. In 2013, the Coinheist themed hunt had teams solving puzzles which eventually pointed them towards the 'coin' location. It was a brilliantly executed hunt which cleverly employed the entire MIT campus as its playing field.

Best Practices for Scavenger Hunts

Theme it up: Themes make scavenger hunts more engaging. They provide a storyline and make the event more memorable.
Age Appropriate: Consider the age and abilities of your participants when creating your hunt. For younger participants, simpler clues and closer locations may be best, whereas, for older participants, more complex clues and a larger area might be more challenging and exciting.
Safety First: Ensure that all locations and tasks are safe. Make sure participants are aware of safety rules and guidelines.
Time Management: Keep the duration of the hunt in mind. It shouldn't be too short to finish quickly or too long to cause fatigue.
Clear Instructions: Clarity is key. Make sure the rules, boundaries, and objectives are clear to all participants.

How to Organize a Scavenger Hunt:
A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Choose a Location
Your backyard, a local park, or your entire town - the scale of your scavenger hunt is up to you.
Step 2: Choose a Theme
Decide on a theme that would be engaging for your participants. This could be based on a book, a movie, a historical event, or anything else that sparks creativity.
Step 3: Create a List of Items/Tasks
The list should include items to find or tasks to complete. Be creative, align it with your theme, and make sure it's appropriate for the participants' ages.
Step 4: Design the Clues
Clues can be direct, rhymed, or even encoded for added complexity. They can be hidden or handed out sequentially.
Step 5: Set the Rules
Decide whether participants will work individually or in teams, whether they have to stick to a particular order or are free to complete the tasks in any order, and whether there's a time limit.
Step 6: Prepare the Ground
Visit the location, hide the clues or items, ensure everything is safe and ready for the hunt.
Step 7: Day of the Hunt
Explain the rules, distribute the first clue or the list of items/tasks, and let the fun begin!
Step 8: Celebrate the End
Make sure to have a small celebration at the end. Congratulate the winners and also celebrate everyone's participation.