Scavenger hunts are still very popular. It’s a fun way to entertain a large group together. Both young and old love it. There is a certain competitive spirit, such that everyone diligently searches for the hints and answers to the assignments. A special type of quests are the photo quests. This search does require some preparation, but the results are impressive. How do you get started and what are the options? A photo search is not just a scavenger hunt. There are different types of photo quests. You will certainly enjoy the preparation as much as the participants in the photo search itself.
Sort photos
The participants receive a number of photos that are mixed together and a route. The aim now is for the participants to return the photos to the meeting in the correct order.
Preparation
Someone goes out, takes a certain route and takes photos along the way. If the region is well known, it is best to take photos of unsightly details. Think of a tree with a special shape, a special house number, a date on an old house, a detail of a statue, etc. If the treasure hunt is in an unknown region, you can go for clearer photos: an entire house, a statue , a certain type of tree, a signpost, etc. Even if the treasure hunt is made for children, it is best not to go into too much detail. It is striking how little observant people are. Places that one passes by every day and yet some things one has never noticed! It is also important to draw a plan and indicate where the photos were taken. This is to avoid discussion later. Afterwards, one or more plans must be drawn, without indications of where the pictures were taken (for a difficult version) or with indications of where the pictures were taken (for an easier version or for children). Also provide a small prize for the winner: a book voucher, a bottle of wine, a bag of sweets, etc.
One group or multiple groups?
Both are possible. However, it is important that the group does not become too large, otherwise not everyone will have the opportunity to join the search. About five to six people per group is more than sufficient. If you have one group, you provide one set of photos and a plan. If you have multiple groups, you should provide as many sets of photos as there are groups and as many different plans as there are groups.
One group: progress of the search
Give the group a plan and a set of photos that are mixed together. Now send the group out with a plan. The idea is that they bring back the photos in the correct order. Do you want to make it more exciting? Specify a time limit. This means that candidates have to hurry more and the chance of mistakes increases. After all, you can’t just go back and check something.
Different groups: course of the search
Give each group a set of photos and a plan. The plan is the same in all cases, but the method of walking differs per plan. For example, group 1 can leave to the left and group 2 to the right. A third group will have to take a different street along the way, etc. Ultimately, all groups will take the same road, but in a different order. The element of tension lies in the fact that the groups have to come back first, with as many photos as possible in the correct order! Cheating a bit? Snap in a few photos that aren’t on the road!
Search for directions based on photos
As the title suggests, the idea here is to find your own way based on photos. So no plan this time!
Preparation
Take some photos on a completed route. It can also include people who show the road to follow at an intersection by means of their arms, for example. Arrange the photos in order. Provide a plan of the city or park that needs to be crossed. Also to take with you: a ballpoint pen or pencil.
Course of the treasure hunt
Give each group a stack of photos that are arranged in order. Have each group leave at least twenty minutes apart. The intention now is that each group uses the photos to find the right path and indicate it on the plan. They must also indicate where exactly the photos were taken. Each team receives a point for the correct path and each team also receives a point for each correctly marked photo. The team with the most points wins!
Take photos yourself
In this scavenger hunt, the intention is that the participants will take photos of certain landscape elements themselves using cryptic descriptions.
Preparation
Someone maps out a route. Along the way, this person looks for striking elements from the landscape. At home, this person will make cryptic descriptions of these elements and write them on numbered cards. A plan is also drawn of the route to be taken.
One group or multiple groups?
Both are possible here too. Either one works with one plan, or with different ones. In case of multiple groups, multiple cameras, multiple plans and multiple sets of maps must also be provided.
Course of the treasure hunt
The group(s) receive a plan and a set of cards. The route is walked based on the plan. Certain landscape elements must be found using the maps with cryptic descriptions. This could be a statue, a tree with a special shape, a house with a certain date on it, etc. A photo must be taken of this element.
How is the winner determined?
First we look at who has taken the most correct photos. In the event of an equal tie, it will be determined who was back at the finish line the fastest.
Puzzle
The aim is to find all the puzzle pieces as quickly as possible and complete the picture again. More something for a children’s party or a scout activity with young children.
Preparation
Choose a nice photo and have it enlarged four times. Cut two photos into pieces. Hide these pieces in the garden, in the house or in a park.
Progression of the puzzle quest
Divide the children present into two groups. Give each group an enlarged photo and tell them the number of pieces of photo to look for. Set the timer. The two groups now start looking for as many hidden puzzle pieces as possible. They use this to try to recreate the photo. If you have duplicate pieces, set them aside. When the time is up, we first look at who has found the most pieces. That’s good for a point. Now the duplicate pieces still need to be swapped. For this purpose, team 1 gives an assignment to team 2. Once the assignment has been completed, team 2 gets its piece. Then the groups switch. Continue this until each team has its pieces. Now see whose photo is the most complete. This scores another point. The team with the most points wins!
Puzzle a word together
The aim is to look for photos and use the letters found to puzzle together a word.
Preparation
Take a photo and enlarge it three times. Stick one photo on white paper and cut it into pieces. Add a letter to the back of each piece. The letters must together form a word or sentence. Now hide the pieces in a garden, in the house or in a park.
Course of the treasure hunt
Divide the attendees into groups. Each group receives an enlarged photo. They now have to look for the puzzle pieces. They now have to indicate on the enlarged photo which piece they have found and what the corresponding letter is. Then they hide the piece again. After a certain time, everyone has to puzzle together a word or sentence with the letters found. One point per letter found and one point for the correct word (the correct sentence). The winner is the team with the most points. It gets difficult here because the puzzle pieces keep changing places. You may find the same piece three times and not find another at all!
Theme quest
The aim is to use photos to solve questions around a specific theme. The team with the most correct answers wins.
Preparation
Find photos around a specific theme, for example Halloween, movies, monuments, food, etc. Stick the photos on a white sheet. Write assignments on the back. For example: who played the leading role in film X, what ingredients do you need to make dish Y, where is this monument located, etc. Plasticize these photos. Create a route and attach the photos to trees, fences, signposts, etc. Make a plan of the route to be taken. Indicate where photos can be found.
Course of the photo search with assignments
This can be done in a large group or in several small groups. When there are different groups, the groups leave approximately 10 minutes apart. Each group receives a plan and an answer sheet. The groups now find the photos and write down the answers to the questions associated with each photo. The team with the most correct answers wins.
It is of course possible to mix different elements of the different types of photo quests for even more fun. Good luck!
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