Christian Youth Camp - Conducting Scavenger Hunts

Christian Youth Camp - Conducting
Scavenger Hunts
Use these guidelines for conducting a
scavenger hunt with your youth.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
www.CreativeScavengerHunts.com

Purpose
The primary goal of a scavenger hunt is to send
participants out with a list of things to find, obtain,
photograph, videotape, audio record, etc. The hope is
that while they are working together as a team,
relationships will be developed

Publicity Opportunity
Make invitations to your church, business, or organization and give
them to everyone who participates or that interacts with the
groups in some way. Or create a small thank you card with your
contact information. Participants can give a thank you card to
everyone who helps them. Even better, invite them to a party or
slideshow where the results will be displayed

Preparing Item Lists
Lists can be as creative and wild as you want them to be. Design
your list around a theme or concept:
Ecological, Bible Objects, Occupations, Food, Canned Goods, Prices
of items, Animal Tracks, footprints, Photos at History Locations,
People, sounds, clothing, church members, Camp Supplies, Items for
the needy, recycled materials, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter,
New Year, Halloween, Noah’s Ark Party, old family photos, fruits,
vegetables, widgets, Posed Photos, Video, etc.

Protecting Participants
1. Don’t let any youth drive – put adults in charge and
don’t allow horseplay on the roads like “Chinese fire
drills”. Make sure everyone wears seatbelts or take
major points away if they are caught on film without
them on. You could also conduct the scavenger hunt on
foot. You don’t want a participant killed while speeding
during your scavenger hunts.

2. Participants must obey all laws and instructions from
sponsors
3. Limit the play area and place people at strategic
locations if needed to insure the safety of
participants.
4. Make sure each group has a mobile phone and
contact numbers for emergency.

Points
1. Set a specific point value for each item on the list.
2. Have a point penalty for each minute late to the
final destination or to report back with the items.

3. For Video or photo scavenger hunts, give extra points to
groups for having a company, organization, or church logo in
every picture. You could also require a Bible, a mascot, or
some other object in each picture. Some groups have even
been known to have to carry a large teddy bear or other
object ( a couch) around to be in each picture.
4. Award extra points for having everyone in the group as part
of the photo or video.

Planning the Scavenger Hunt – 10 Steps
1. PURPOSE: What is the purpose of your scavenger hunt.
(Is it an icebreaker? For team building? Just for fun?)
2. TYPE: What type of scavenger hunt is it?
(Is it to collect objects? a photo scavenger hunt? A video
scavenger hunt? A sound scavenger hunt? Others?)
3. THEME: What is the theme?
(Is it a Pirate’s Treasure Hunt? a Superhero Hunt? Aladin’s
Magic Carpet Hunt? Others?)

4. LOCATION: Where will the hunt take place? What are the
boundaries?
(Is it limited to a school or church building? The downtown
area? Walking distance? Reconnoiter the location to determine
potential problems. Get permission in advance from affected
businesses and individuals.)
5. ITEM LIST: What items do participants need to collect?
(Based on your purpose, type of hunt, and theme, make a list of
items that can be found in the specified boundaries. Are
substitutions allowed?)

6. SCORING: How will points be allocated?
(Are some items worth more than others? Are there points for
creativity and quality?)
7. INVITATIONS: Who will be invited to the join in the Scavenger
Hunt?
(What do they need to bring? What do they need to wear? Tailor
the invitations to your theme.)
8. TEAMS: How will participants be divided into teams?

9. RULES: What are the rules?
(Take into consideration the safety of participants as
well as minimizing potential problems.)
10. AWARDS: Determine the location and the time for the
awards party.
(How will teams present their items to the judges?)

Hints
1. For a photo or video scavenger hunt, do it early
enough in the day so you can see the videotape or
photos on the screen (if you don’t all you’ll see is a
dark screen and hear them)
2. Give points to the most creative group per category
with a prize at the end

3. Give youth enough time to go out and do these
things. You can get great footage if they have
enough time and aren’t rushed and you could make
an end of the year video with some of the shots.
4. Have fun and reward all of the participants at the
end.

Bible Studies based on the book of Jonah
Only. This youth camp curriculum was
designed to teach the basic truths
of obedience in addition to evangelism in the
context of a Biblical character. The advantage
of going through a book and looking at one
man's story is that we see not only the
teaching but the example. It becomes much
more real!
Camp Curriculum - Whale of a Tale
-> Tell me about “Whale of a Tale”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/resources/order5.html

Creative Youth Ideas
Camp Bible Study Series
“Who Do You Say that I AM?”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/resources/whodoyousay.html
-> Tell me about “Who Do You Say that I AM?”
Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do others
say that I am?" It was easy to answer
because it required no conviction, no
commitment, and no risk. But then he
follows that question with another, "Who
do YOU say that I am?"

Live the Fruitful, Abundant Life
Jesus Promised. Great for youth camps or
weekly Youth Bible Study. There are 7
Primary Bible study Sessions in the series.
www.creativeyouthideas.com/resources/fruitofthespirit.html
-> Tell me about “Fruit Of the Spirit”
Creative Youth Ideas
Youth Camp Bible Study Series
“Fruit Of the Spirit”

"The Great Adventure" is western
themed Bible study series loosely based
around the song of the same name by
Steven Curtis Chapman. It was initially
written for a large Texas Church to use for
their Summer Youth Camp but has since
then proven popular around the world.
Camp Curriculum - The Great Adventure
www.creativeyouthideas.com/resources/order12.html
-> Tell me about “The Great Adventure”

Christian Youth Camp - Conducting Scavenger Hunts

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