95 Scavenger hunt ideas for out-of-this-world experiences.

Holding a scavenger hunt is almost always a good idea. That’s because it’s such a versatile activity that you can customize to fit any setting, audience, or purpose. From providing entertainment during holiday celebrations to nurturing teamwork in the office, these scavenger hunt ideas will give you hours of fun and excitement.

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Scavenger hunt ideas worth trying out.

Whether you’re looking for new creative learning tools or unique icebreakers, these scavenger hunt ideas have got you covered. To make your scavenger hunt experiences unforgettable, use Adobe Express to make special mementos or even props that will instantly switch up your game.

Christmas scavenger hunt ideas.

When the entire family is gathered indoors, what better way to make new memories (and have fun doing so) than by having a Christmas scavenger hunt? To make sure that everyone is safe while having fun, make guidelines and let each player know the rules. Then, up the ante by offering a unique prize.

Build a mini obstacle course.

For each obstacle or challenge, ask players to complete a Christmas-related task like hanging Christmas tree décor, singing their favorite Christmas carol, or reenacting a scene from their favorite Christmas movie.

Christmas-related clues.

This will require the host to make a set of clues that will make the Christmas scavenger hunt more fun and challenging. For example, ask players to find their prize in an object that’s shiny and round (snow globe). To make it even more exciting, try to come up with rhymes or riddles.

Use common Christmas-related objects.

Think “ugly” Christmas sweaters, baubles, stockings, and Santa hats. Come up with witty riddles or rhymes and ask players to find these items.

Go around the neighborhood.

Go on a holiday adventure around your neighborhood and look for things like the most unique décor, the cutest wreath, or the biggest snowman.

An extra challenge.

Opening gifts is something that everyone looks forward to, right? Why not add a surprising twist to this and make your celebrations more exciting by hiding a few gifts and then handing out clues to players?

Scavenger hunt ideas for kids.

Want to keep kids entertained while exercising their motor skills and honing their critical thinking skills? These scavenger hunt ideas for kids will be something that your little ones will look forward to during their free time.

Backyard wonders.

Ask kids to look for things that can be found in your backyard. For example, make a card or hand out flyers with pictures of insects, animals, or plants they should look for.

Puzzle box.

Purchase or make a puzzle box. Players will then have to get it open before getting the next clue.

Fun with riddles.

Come up with riddles that lead players to the next clue. You can do this indoors or outdoors.

A mini treasure hunt.

In this fun outdoor activity, the host can hide small prizes or treats with every clue. It’s a great way to keep kids engaged while encouraging them to continue searching for clues that will lead them to the prize.

Number games.

Prepare an activity sheet where kids can find objects that come solo, in pairs, in groups of three, and so on.

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Scavenger hunt ideas for adults to get in on the action.

These scavenger hunt ideas for adults seamlessly blend fun and challenge. They’re designed to test participants’ problem-solving skills and help them interact with each other or with new people.

Bask in nostalgia.

Reminisce about the good old days by searching for items from decades past, like cassettes, flip phones, VHS players, or patterns from the 80s or 90s.

Do a selfie challenge.

Ask players to take selfies with a specific person or item or in pre-determined locations.

Be inspired by life experiences.

This scavenger hunt idea for adults is perfect for when you want to spark conversations and interact with participants. For example, ask them to take photos of players born in different generations or present foreign currency (bills or coins).

Go the distance.

This requires participants to go outside and take photos or videos of them reenacting famous scenes, find interesting objects, and visit well-loved local joints.

The Amazing Race—with a twist.

This takes a fair amount of planning and prep, but it’ll be worth it. Inspired by The Amazing Race, players will have to go through different legs and solve puzzles or complete scavenger hunt challenges to move on to the next round.

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Scavenger hunt ideas for teens.

These scavenger hunt ideas for teens let players strengthen their bond while testing their teamwork and communication skills. Consider trying these out when you want to give your teens an engaging, fun, and educational activity they can do on the weekends or during breaks.

Meme hunt.

Look for memes that best describe things like your feelings, your tasks, or what your pet is up to.

Go digital.

For this scavenger hunt idea, participants can use their phones, tablets, or laptops. Ask them to share things that can be found on their devices, like their favorite app, an app they installed but don’t use, or the oldest photo on their device.

Word search.

Ask players to find letters and use them to create words. Alternatively, give them descriptive words and ask them to find the object that the word is referring to.

Educational riddles.

Use this as an opportunity to teach your teens new things about science, math, or the arts. Note that you’ll need to spend a fair amount of time preparing the riddles, though, but these are guaranteed to make the game exciting and meaningful for the players.

Nature scavenger hunt.

Prepare a list of clues that’ll require the players to scour the entire area. This will give them a good time, and they’ll get to learn a bunch of interesting things. Then, visit a local park or go on a day hike with your teens. Make sure that every player is familiar with the ground rules, such as not venturing into restricted areas to stay safe.

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Fun scavenger hunt ideas.

Whether you’re in a casual gathering or on a spontaneous adventure, these fun scavenger hunt ideas will keep you entertained and add a dose of light-hearted fun to any activity.

Random Acts of Kindness.

This lets players go out, solve challenges, spread positivity, and do good deeds while they’re at it. Some unconventional scavenger hunt ideas include cleaning up a local park, helping someone find their way, or making a list of what they love about their colleagues or family members.

Video clues.

Prepare clues where players are required to watch short clips to find the next clue. Alternatively, ask them to capture a video of them completing a task before they can get the next clue.

Funny finds.

Create a bingo card with all the tasks or items that players need to find. For example, ask players to find a hilarious poster or snap a picture of an animal doing something funny.

Test your survival skills.

This scavenger hunt idea ups the ante by asking players to identify edible plants, follow animal tracks, and build a shelter. This is perfect for when you want to teach kids valuable lessons about the environment and their individual capabilities.

Historical who’s who.

Use this opportunity to help participants learn more about history. Come up with clues that describe a notable person or a significant moment in history. To stay on theme, the prize should be something inspired by history too.

Photo scavenger hunt ideas.

With these photo scavenger hunt ideas, you’ll surely end up with a lot of pictures. What better way to make your memories last than by picking your favorite snaps and using them to make a beautiful photo collage? With Adobe Express, making a custom photo collage is as easy as picking a collage layout, uploading your photos, and customizing your collage your way.

Inspired by nature.

Go on a short hike and ask players to look for objects, plants, or animals that have unique colors, interesting shapes, or an uncommon feature.

Find unique architecture.

Go around your neighborhood to take snaps of buildings or structures with unique designs or features.

Outdoor artwork.

Ask players to find and take photos of outdoor artwork like murals or graffiti. Prior to that, make a list of categories like an outdoor artwork that only uses one color, something that has animals in it, or something abstract.

Landmarks.

Let players take photos of unique landmarks found in your locale.

Culinary delights.

Take photos of delightful treats that can only be found in your neighborhood. Photograph a dessert that only your grandmother can make. Snap a picture of a meal that people would line up for.

Easter scavenger hunt ideas.

Switch up your Easter celebrations with the help of these Easter scavenger hunt ideas. What’s great about these scavenger hunt ideas is that they’re something you can do at home or in large spaces like public parks.

Easter-related riddles.

Switch up the complexity of your riddles to make your scavenger hunt more stimulating and exciting.

Switch up your Easter egg hunt.

Ask participants to dress up according to your Easter scavenger hunt theme, then add an interesting twist, like making sure they only look for anything green, like green eggs, to get their clue. Or add small treats or prizes to each egg to keep them engaged. Or make them wear blindfolds.

Stay organized.

Make a list of your clues and organize them in the order that you want the players to find them. This makes it easier for you to keep track of everyone’s progress while ensuring that the players are on the right track.

Glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt.

Paint objects like eggs and other knick-knacks using safe glow-in-the-dark paint. This is a fun and simple way to make scavenger hunts more interesting.

Set a limit.

A time limit, to be more specific. This adds another challenging layer to your scavenger hunt.

Scavenger hunt ideas at home.

Make staying in more exciting—and challenging—for the whole family with these scavenger hunt ideas that you can do at home. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your bond, keep kids entertained, or just do something fun, these scavenger hunt ideas at home will fit the bill.

Think of a theme.

This sets the tone for the scavenger hunt and helps you narrow down the things or challenges that players need to find or complete.

Past trips or travels.

Love traveling? Ask participants to share photos of their travels. Then, hand out a list of the things they need to find from the photos, such as an exotic animal, a creepy street, or an interesting artwork.

Re-enact special moments.

As part of the hunt’s challenge, ask players to recreate scenes from old photos or videos. To switch things up, create a collage to compare the “before” and “after” photos.

Movies.

Are the players cinephiles? Use scenes or dialogues from your favorite films as clues.

Reuse old muffin tins.

Take your old muffin tins or baking trays and give them to the players to hold the objects they found. This is a nifty way to keep things organized.

Scavenger hunt ideas outside for more fun and excitement.

These scavenger hunt ideas outside of your home or neighborhood will take you out of your comfort zone, but they promise you a lot of fun and adventure. Get to rediscover your locale and have a new-found appreciation for the outdoors.

Go on a search for the oldest _____ in your area.

Look for the oldest building, restaurant, sign, or landmark—take snaps of these locations or items to complete the challenge.

A campus-themed scavenger hunt.

Explore your school and have tons of fun doing so. Create a list that includes things or activities you can find on campus, like your mascot, the oldest building, or an interesting light fixture in the library. This scavenger hunt idea is perfect for students, teachers, and parents.

Hunt at the Museum.

Head to a local museum and find a sculpture or artwork that features an animal, a surrealist landscape, or something abstract.

Be one with nature.

Create a list of things you want to find or take snaps of for your outdoor scavenger hunt. Your list will depend on your venue, so it’s best to check your trail or park of choice to figure out what to include.

I Spy…

A great activity to do when you’re on the road. Make game cards to help players identify the items they need to spot during their travels, like an orange car or a ladder. Use Adobe Express to quickly and easily make custom cards that make travel scavenger hunts more fun and exciting.

Work scavenger hunt ideas because sometimes you just want to feel like a kid again.

Have a welcome break from monotonous office routines with the work scavenger hunt ideas. They’re perfect for team-building activities and encourage collaboration, communication, and problem-solving among colleagues.

Conference or workshop scavenger hunts.

Tasks include taking a photo of or with the guest speaker (make sure to ask permission first), a cute pin, or a funny presentation slide.

Company culture.

Use prompts that will help employees get to know your company better, like finding brochures for a company wellness program or looking up your website to find out who makes up your leadership team.

Special items.

Let players find uncommon items that may be lying around in your office, like an old typewriter, diskettes, or maybe even rotary phones.

Sustainability efforts.

Highlight your company’s sustainability efforts with this scavenger hunt idea. Ask players to find examples like recycling bins, solar panels, or compost piles.

All things branding.

Put the spotlight on your company’s visual identity with this scavenger hunt idea. Ask players to look for items that feature your brand colors, slogan, or logo.

Halloween scavenger hunt ideas.

Go beyond trick-or-treating this Halloween and be inspired by these Halloween scavenger hunt ideas. They’re a lot of fun too, for both kids and the young at heart.

Embrace the bizarre.

Ask players to find the most bizarre Halloween décor, the scariest costumes, or the spookiest impression of Monster Mash.

Creature feature.

Let players dress up in their most frightening Halloween costumes and have them complete a set of Halloween-themed challenges like a zombie apocalypse.

Challenge champion.

Create a set of challenges that participants have to tackle before getting their next creepy clue. At the end of the hunt, give a special reward to the player who has won the greatest number of challenges.

Haunted jaunts.

Live in an area that has a long, spooky history? Create a list of haunted sites and let participants visit each location. Make sure that they take photos as proof.

A spellbinding feast.

Get participants to look for ingredients needed to brew a witchy concoction or bake a delightfully sinful treat.

Bachelorette scavenger hunt ideas.

These bachelorette scavenger hunt ideas give you a creative way to celebrate while giving you plenty of moments to strengthen your bond with your squad.

Treasure hunt.

Let the bride’s group go on a quest. Leave clues in various locations to help them find the hidden treasure.

A costume party.

Make your bachelorette scavenger hunt more interesting by encouraging players to dress up.

Bingo.

Prep bingo cards with a list of items or activities that players need to take photos or videos of.

Bar crawl.

If bar crawls aren’t your thing, then opt for a café crawl instead. Hand out cute cards or flyers with the challenges or games that players need to complete in order to win.

Creative challenges.

These challenges are guaranteed to make your bachelorette scavenger hunt one for the books. For example, ask players to perform a skit from their favorite TV show or sing a song for the bride-to-be in a public place.

Virtual scavenger hunt ideas.

These virtual scavenger hunt ideas prove that you can still have tons of fun even when you’re not playing in person. Browse this list of virtual scavenger hunt ideas to inspire your next online or remote activities for students or colleagues.

Wikipedia.

Wikipedia is a treasure trove of information (and links to a bunch of pages). This makes it perfect for scavenger hunts. Ask players to go from your beginning page to your end page while only using links within the Wikipedia page they’re on. For instance, your beginning page could be Iron Man, and your end page could be Sanskrit epics.

Photos galore.

Create a list where players need to find things like the oldest photo on their phone, photos with more than 10 people, snaps of funny animals, and a photo of the biggest building or landmark.

Search your inbox.

Make a list of emails that participants have to scour their inboxes for to find answers, such as the oldest email, a meme or GIF, a unique email signature, or a scary chain email.

Your ABCs.

This scavenger hunt idea is perfect because it’s versatile, meaning you can do this indoors or outdoors. For a virtual version, use the alphabet to find things on your desk or at home. For example, your photo might be of an animal, or your Z photo might be of a zigzag pattern on a rug or framed artwork.

Virtual or home office things.

Take snaps of items within your home office, like the player being in a Zoom meeting, their desk set-up, their favorite house plant, their pets sleeping, or a framed artwork with an interesting backstory.

Romantic scavenger hunt ideas.

Turn ordinary celebrations into something special and unforgettable with these romantic scavenger ideas. These are designed to challenge you and your partner while reinforcing your bond and helping you learn more about each other in the process.

Your first date.

Feeling sentimental? This scavenger hunt idea takes you back to where it all began. Prepare a list of clues that will lead your partner to the place where you had your first date. Make it even fancier with beautifully designed clue cards and, of course, a sweet letter to go with each one.

Flashback Friday.

Or any day, really. The idea behind this is to use your milestones or memories as part of each scavenger hunt clue. This is also a great option if you’re looking to make new memories with your significant other.

Personalized touches.

Make your romantic scavenger hunt something that you and your partner will cherish for a long time. Adding personalized touches to each clue or item makes the hunt extra special. For example, make a personalized poster or banner and ask the player to find clues using that item.

Action + clue.

Ask your partner to complete a set of challenges like singing their favorite love song or reciting a poem by Pablo Neruda. For each challenge, give them a clue that will lead them to a sweet prize at the end.

What’s important.

Get inspiration from meaningful moments or experiences you shared with your partner. Use these to create unique clues that help you relive special moments or reflect on where you currently are in your relationship.

Funny scavenger hunt ideas.

Add a healthy dose of humor to any gathering with these funny scavenger hunt ideas. If you enjoy laughter and have a great sense of humor, these scavenger hunt ideas will definitely brighten your day.

Hilarious signs.

Ask players to look for funny signs and take photos of their finds.

Clothing swap.

Swap clothes with team members or someone from the competing team as part of the challenge.

Funny skits.

Ask players to recreate funny skits using random objects. Once done, give them the next clue.

Do everything backward.

Walk backward. Talk backwards. Wear your clothes backward. You get the idea.

Random dance-offs.

As part of your funny scavenger hunt, have players do random dance-off challenges like dancing with a mannequin or using an animal’s movements and turning it into a dance.

Office scavenger hunt ideas.

Customize these office scavenger hunt ideas to fit your unique company culture or environment. Best of all, these ideas are perfect for building stronger relationships and boosting everyone’s morale.

Your desk set-up.

Make a list of items that players can find on their desks or somewhere nearby, like a coffee machine, a stack of books, coupons, or work-issued things like water bottles, pens, or mugs.

Office essentials.

Ask players to take photos of office equipment or supplies they can’t live without.

I saw the sign.

Funny signs. The oldest sign. Signs in need of a redesign. Ask players to snap a picture of office signs.

Superlatives.

Find the tallest, shortest, oldest, newest, smallest, biggest, most breathtaking item or location within your office building.

Storage Wars office edition.

Ask players to look for interesting items from your office’s storage room, like old computers, magazine subscriptions, and fun office supplies. Just make sure to put everything back in its proper place.

Team scavenger hunt ideas to bolster camaraderie.

Build teamwork and encourage collaboration with the help of these team scavenger hunt ideas. They’re suitable for sports teams, work groups, or classrooms and nurture the participants’ leadership and problem-solving skills, all while giving them a rocking good time.

Office- or work-related riddles.

If you’ll be organizing a scavenger hunt for company retreats or team-building exercises, consider making unique riddles focused on office or work-related themes.

That’s odd.

Create a list of “oddities” that players need to look for, like a broken statue, a flower with more than one color, or a leaf with unique patterns.

The alphabet.

Ask players to look for objects that start with each letter of the alphabet. Switch things up by introducing a theme.

Beachy scavenger hunt.

Make a list of items or activities that players need to find or complete, like novelty sunglasses, winning a beach volleyball game, or taking a photo of unique sea creatures.

A trip to the zoo.

This works for kids and adults. Zoos are perfect for scavenger hunts because there’s plenty to see and do. Just make sure to read the zoo’s guidelines to keep both the animals and players safe.

Birthday scavenger hunt ideas.

Add an entertaining and interactive element to any birthday celebration with these birthday scavenger hunt ideas. From simple tasks to complex challenges, these ideas will surely make birthday celebrations more memorable.

A bucket list.

Ask participants what they’ve always wanted to do and let them try out something new. Then, ask them to share photos or videos. Note that this scavenger hunt idea may take up more time compared to all the other ideas on this list. Some prompts or activities worth trying out include learning to play an instrument, baking a cake, or going skydiving.

Use a map.

Help players stay on track and find each item with a custom map.

Birthday treasure hunt.

Surprise players by hiding small gifts with your clues.

Prep your invites.

Make sure that your invitations match your theme. The free invitation maker from Adobe Express gives you a fun and easy way to make eye-catching invites. It’s as simple as choosing a template, customizing it, and printing out your invitations.

Go abstract.

You’ll ask participants to find objects that best represent prompts, like what they’re feeling now or what they think about topics like pop culture or emerging social media trends.

Thanksgiving scavenger hunt ideas.

Gather everyone around for some fun Thanksgiving scavenger hunt ideas. Whether you’re playing the game outdoors or indoors, these ideas will help you celebrate together and make new memories.

Thanksgiving bingo.

It’s bingo with a Thanksgiving twist. This means including Thanksgiving icons like pumpkins and turkeys in your bingo cards and asking players to look for these objects.

Embrace traditions.

Hide objects commonly associated with Thanksgiving and then use clues that highlight well-known Thanksgiving traditions.

Fun for all ages.

Tailor your clues and their difficulty levels according to the players’ ages and abilities.

Special rewards.

Rewards don’t always have to be material things. They can also include popular Thanksgiving treats like cookies or candy corn.

Focus on gratitude.

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude. Incorporate this in your scavenger hunt by including prompts like “What are you thankful for today?” or “What is something that makes you happy?”

Tips to take your scavenger hunt ideas to the next level.

Scavenger hunts are already fun, but these tips will help you step up your scavenger hunt game.

Careful planning is crucial to organizing a successful scavenger hunt. Think about your theme, when and where you’ll be doing the hunt, and who the participants are. Come up with a set of rules to avoid disputes after the game and to keep players safe.

This includes your clue cards or a list of items that players need to find treats or trinkets and the grand prize. You may also need to prepare markers or pens, extra sheets of paper, or even extra cameras (for video or photo challenges).

Vary the complexity of each clue or challenge to keep players engaged and not overwhelm them. Account for their age and abilities. For example, older participants incorporate complex and more demanding challenges, while younger ones can start with simple tasks that are designed to hone certain skills, like their critical thinking or observation skills.

When doing video or photo-related challenges, make sure that your participants know that they should ask permission from strangers first before taking their photos.

Prepare a bunch of prizes to reward the participants’ efforts. Prizes can be something practical like gift cards, or they could be related to the challenge, like a brand-new tent for winning an outdoor scavenger hunt.

Make your scavenger hunts more memorable with Adobe Express.

Well-designed flyers that generate buzz for your scavenger hunt. Dynamic posters that share helpful information about your activity. Beautiful clue cards that players will want to keep as mementos. You can make all these and more with Adobe Express. From beginner-friendly tools to customizable templates, everything you need to do impactful creative projects is right at your fingertips. Discover what you can make in just a few clicks with Adobe Express.

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