Treasure Hunts

Are some of the tried and true treasure hunts becoming old around your house? Want to do something fun with some of the kids in the neighborhood this summer? How about using your pool for an underwater treasure hunt?
If you don’t have a pool at home, I know that the YMCA close to my house, it costs next to nothing to rent out the pool for an hour or two (ten bucks, maybe). Get the parents to come along and bring some of the toys that junior doesn’t play with anymore.
Scratch that. Don’t have them bring the toys to the party; have them bring them all to your house a few days BEFORE the hunt. That way, you can scatter all the toys in the pool before everyone starts showing up. Make an actual “treasure hunt” out of it; if anyone finds a toy, they get to KEEP it, with an agreed upon maximum.
I always tell people to invite the adults along, but especially in this case: you don’t want the responsibility of watching a ton of children swimming in a pool. Remember, you’re not only going to have to play lifeguard, but you’re going to have to be mom or dad for the hunt, too. If the other adults are there, that takes a lot of the pressure off YOU.
I think this whole idea a great way to get rid of some of the silly toys your son or daughter doesn’t play with anymore, yet another child can benefit from it.
Just remember not to throw electronics into the pool.
And if your kid doesn’t play with the cat much anymore, that doesn’t count, either.

Everyone has seen the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I know I saw them because Johnny Depp was in them, but my kids saw them for the treasure hunts and action scenes. Now Iím watching the movies again for party theme ideas. This is the perfect theme for a party and all the kids LOVE it.   For a fun day with the kids and their friends we planned a Pirates of the Caribbean treasure hunt day. All the clues and hints came right from the movie. Everybody dresses up and talks in the accent and everything. Itís so entertaining just to hear 10 ñyear-olds pretend theyíre some type of British pirate. I started by making a map on an old newspaper. I stained it with coffee and burned the edges. I then wrote on it with a thick black sharpie so you can clearly see over the newsprint and stain. It makes the map look old and the kids really get a kick out of it.   The next steps are really up to you. Make the map of your house or your neighborhood or the park down the street. Be sure to use pirate words and sayings. Your car outside might be the ìBlack Pearlî for example.   This is a really fun and cost friendly party. You should be able to find all the supplies right in your own house. The hardest part is picking a date to have the treasure hunt. The rest is all fun and games!

Treasure hunts are a blast, we all know that, right?  Theyíre a great way to have fun with our kids.  But how about getting the neighbors involved and helping you and your children develop new relationships and stronger ties in the community?  Letís talk a little about ways to do this through treasure hunts

Pass out a few fliers in your neighborhood.  Even if you know your neighbors well enough, it helps to have something on paper that they can look at; easier to remember that way.  Going door-to-door is probably the best route.  Talk to them and see if they want to get involved with some of the planning.  From my experience, Iíve always been surprised to find that many neighbors actually DO want to get involved in community activities; they just need someone to lead the way, it seems.  You may find a few really creative friends on your street that will astonish you.

So the fliers are out and you have parents and neighbors involved.  Invite them over to your house on a nice summer night and just hang out with a piece of paper, soda, wine, and beer.  Just have a good time with them and watch the ideas flow.  Some of them probably played games like this when they were kids as well, so thinking of ideas may come naturally to them.  Try to get everyone involved doing at least SOMEthing, if itís clear that you are to be the leader of the endeavor.

If it works and the parents and kids have fun, do it again.  Use the entire neighborhood and make it seem like a sprawling landscape of mystery for your children.  Theyíll love it!

The year my daughter turned eight was a magical year for us.  She was finally old enough to have sleepovers, and I finally got to know the other parents enough to build strong relationships in the community.  But Iím not sure anybody was ready for the Birthday Party To End All Birthday Parties.

I wanted to do something different, something that hadnít been done before; I donít mean ever, but at least in recent times, or at least in our community.

We loved Seattle, and we loved the sea.  How could I take advantage of the lovely city?  Then I had it.I sent out invitations to all the kids and parents (my daughter helped, of course), and the day came.  I should probably tell you that I used a very peculiar writing style within the invitations.Well, there at the meeting place ñ the local park – , was a big, beautifully ugly, run-down pirate ship that had previously been the site of tours, but had recently been reduced to simply part of the park.  My daughter and I handed out eye patches, hats, and swords, and we were ìunderwayî!

Before everyone got there, and while my daughter was distracted by mom, I hid ìtreasureî all over the park, with directions to said treasure on maps; the maps were also hidden INSIDE the pirate ship, amidst friends and certain parents.  What were they doing?  They were inside the ship, in full costume, acting like real pirates.

The kids had a blast, and they felt like they were part of something magical, just like in the old pirate movies.  And the parents had a great time getting to know each other better, creating even stronger bonds.  What a day, matey!

Cool thread!  I’ve been doing scavenger hunts since I was a kid.  That custom was passed on to my younger sisters, and now Iím doing them with MY daughter.  Iíve always found that doing them for birthdays ñ with the final clue leading to her present (the “treasure”) is the most fun time to arrange them.

The one that I remember the clearest was when my sister turned 14.  She got home from school, and all that was waiting for her was an index card on the door with the words ìI am full of dirt.  What should I do?î written on it.  She didnít get it at first, and I certainly wasnít about to give her ANY hints.  None.  Ever.  That may have been a bit harsh, but to me, thatís one of the highlights of scavenger hunts that make them so appealing: frustration leading to realization and success!

Anyway, she finally caught on that when youíre full of dirt, you might want to take a shower.  Well, there waiting in the shower was Clue #2 with the word ìBarkî on it.  So, like any normal person, she checked all the trees in the frontÖnothing.  In the backÖnothing still.  I donít remember if it was my other sister who thought of it or one of my brothers, but I think someone mentioned the word ìhomonymî, which she knew.  You see, a dog barks.  I had strapped an index card to the dog!

I wonít go through every clue (maybe in a future article!), and I should probably make a point here soon, and it is this:  BE CREATIVE.  BREAK RULES.  And make them work for it: theyíll remember the time spent together.