A scavenger hunt is an active and enjoyable team activity that is based on a list of questions to be answered and photos to be taken. Some tasks can be completed at specific locations, others can be done at various locations. The questions are in random order, requiring the teams to determine their route and which tasks they will try to accomplish in the allocated time. Each team selects a unique route which means that teams don’t follow each other, however they frequently see each other along the way.
A treasure hunt is a series of clues that lead a group along a set route to a final destination. Generally, the first team to reach the finish is the winning team. Because scavenger hunts are more of a problem-solving activity, the winning team is not the one that is most physically fit, but rather the one with the strongest team skills such as creativity, problem-solving, leadership and communication. That is why we feel this is a better option for a team building program than a treasure hunt format.
Our scavenger hunt has similar features to The Amazing Race, without being a fitness challenge. During the scavenger hunt, teams check in at various checkpoints. At these checkpoints they must complete a challenge task, such as solving a riddle, to earn a password. But again, our program is not a race – we don’t want to favour those participants that are more physically fit than others. We would rather challenge your participants’ business skills.
Our industry-leading Scavenger Hunt Anywhere smart phone app gives our programs a high coolness factor! Participants use their own phones to navigate the hunt area, answer questions and take pictures and videos. Results are available immediately after the hunt and photos are available for download.
Each team downloads the Scavenger Hunt Anywhere App onto their smart phone(s). A minimum of one smart phone per team is required, however more than one person per team can have the app on their phone if they wish. This can be an iPhone or Android phone.
There are 6 types of tasks, however each pricing package has different tasks available.
DIY HUNTS
– Multiple choice questions
– Photo tasks
STANDARD HUNTS
– Multiple choice questions
– Photo tasks
– Staffed checkpoints
ENHANCED HUNTS
– Multiple choice questions
– Photo tasks
– Staffed checkpoints with activities
– Video tasks (optional)
– Quiz tasks (optional)
– Voting tasks (optional)
We know that every group is different and so we have made the duration flexible. A good amount of time for a team building scavenger hunt is anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Our team of team building experts will help you identify the ideal duration for your scavenger hunt based on location, time of day, group demographic and your agenda. Contact us to learn more.
Let us take the burden of planning off of your back! One of our primary goals is to minimize the amount of work required at your end. Once you have made your booking, we will require less than 30 minutes of your precious time. All we really need to know from you is the date, time and location. We handle the rest. We also suggest that our clients divide the group up into teams.
Usually people ask us this when timelines are very short. We have put together many highly successful events for our clients with less than a week’s notice. Generally, more time is better. But if you need help in a hurry, contact us and we’ll help you out.
We can run a scavenger hunt anytime, anywhere. We have provided scavenger hunts in over 200 locations across North America. If we have never run a hunt in your desired location, we will do a scouting visit and design a flawless scavenger hunt for your group. Click on locations to learn more. We also service many countries overseas.
Yes. Although your event will be planned centrally, you can count on us to provide staff who are knowledgeable about the local area for the design and execution of your event. This is one of the things that makes us amazing! Your event will be planned by someone who plans 100+ scavenger hunts per year and delivered by a qualified local hunt leader. Sometimes you CAN have your cake and eat it too!
Absolutely! Because of our training and development background and also because our scavenger hunts are a great challenge of your group’s team skills, it is a natural next step for us to turn your event into a productive learning experience. A skilled facilitator helps participants identify the business skills used in the hunt and how these skills can be used in the daily operation of your business.
Anywhere in or near the scavenger hunt area is suitable. Most groups start and finish at a meeting room or restaurant, however if you don’t have a venue, we can recommend a good location. Our event staff can help you by providing more information on where the hunt area is in your desired location.
Our hunts run rain or shine (or snow!). As long as your group dresses for the weather they will have fun. Some cities have underground or above-ground shopping concourses that are ideal weather-protection for your group (examples: Calgary, Houston, Montreal, Minneapolis, Toronto). You may also purchase our Event Weather Insurance. For a small additional cost, you can book a backup date or alternatively our hunt leader can come equipped with backup indoor activities so your event is guaranteed not to be affected by rain! If you need more details about this, please ask.
Any size at all. If you have 2000+ people, let’s break the world record together! We have a few tricks up our sleeves to handle larger groups.
That is up to each team. Some tasks in our hunts require more walking and other tasks require less walking. If a team is energetic, they may choose to cover a greater distance. If a team wants to minimize walking, then they may focus on completing tasks that are in a smaller area. Either way, wear comfortable shoes!
At our checkpoints we usually have participants engage in a fun activity for extra points. Activities vary by group and can include: human sculptures, solving a riddle, human knot, sing-song, rebus puzzles and more. Usually each group has 1-2 checkpoints in the scavenger hunt depending on hunt timing.
Yes, we can easily customize your hunt for you. In the past we’ve added in custom themes, custom content and custom features. So please just ask. Examples of custom themes that we’ve done in the past include: health and wellness, hallowe’en, James Bond, Indiana Jones, Christmas, 35th anniversary and also product specific themes.
If you have questions about your company or some other type of content that you’d like to see included in your hunt, please let us know.
Custom features are also possible. We’ve added a customer service challenge to a scavenger hunt, just as an example.
The most important thing to tell them is that they will be doing some light outdoor activity. The scavenger hunt is not strenuous but it does involve walking around outside. Make sure people have appropriate clothing – especially footwear.
We will give you additional instructions after you confirm your booking.
Well, it is possible but not advisable for two reasons. One, people may bring inappropriate footwear. Two, people may show up with partially-charged phones and so that could cause a problem for them later in the hunt if they run out of batteries!
That would be you. Every group likes to do something different for prizes, so we allow our clients to handle this. We recommend gift cards or credit card vouchers for the winning team. They are the most flexible and most portable. Local wine is also a popular prize.
Here is another idea: one client gave the winning team members an additional day of vacation, then see how competitive they get!
The timing is very flexible. We recommend 2-3 hours, but shorter or longer scavenger hunts are possible. Here is an agenda showing you how the event is run:
START OF HUNT
• Group assembles with Scavenger Hunt Anywhere staff (or your staff for Bronze hunts) at starting location
• Participants get into their teams.
• Announcements by Event Leader.
• Waivers signed (can also be done in advance). Not required for Bronze hunts.
• Start of hunt.
DURING THE HUNT
• Teams take pictures and answer questions.
• Teams check in at various checkpoints performing additional tasks such as solving a riddle. (Silver/Gold packages only)
• Teams find their way to the finish location at the prearranged time.
AFTER THE HUNT
• Announcement of results by Scavenger Hunt Anywhere
• Photos made available to client for download/display.
For an agenda showing times, please contact our sales staff.
The main differences are:
In the Standard Package, you get an event leader from our company who acts as host/facilitator for the event. That person will:
• Help people get into their teams.
• Give out app login info.
• Log into the system to start the game.
• Set up checkpoints – teams find our staff person at certain locations and get assigned additional challenges like solving riddles.
• Greet the teams at the finish location.
• Retrieve the results from our system and makes the results announcement.
With the DIY Package, we do not supply an event leader. On the event date, someone from your group would need to perform the above tasks, with the exception of checkpoints – these are not part of the DIY package. We provide instructions on how to do this and that admin person would still be able to participate in the hunt.