Large scale church treasure hunt

Nikki,

Due to the size of our treasure hunt (140 participants) we found it difficult to use everything that was in the kits. We did use the pattern for the puzzle and made our own clues. We had to run two games at the same time. Both having 7 teams in each game with 10-14 players on each team. We used ciphers, cryptograms, Mad Gab clues, riddles, word searches you name it. We had the games travel all over our town. The games took about 2 1/2 hours to complete. At the end location, no matter where a team ended up, their last clue sent them on a final trek to gain the last puzzle piece. The timing worked out great. This was my greatest concern. Cars/buses you name it started rolling in one right after the other. Remember I told you weeks ago that our theme for the weekend was the Bailout.

Jesus Christ bailed us out. There was no way that any of us could pay the debt that we owe for our sins. He paid it for us.

Keeping with the theme, our last clue on a list they followed read like this. To "B" or not to "B" that is the question. Whether tis nobler to.... Oh forget it, I need a bailout! Go to the bucket and draw out your last clue. Once they climbed up into our "B" lettered bucket truck and gained the last piece, they were frantically taping them together. The first team from each game to read it to me out loud me got an envelope that declared them the winner of their game. They however needed to follow another map to the location to gain the treasure map. Cars were frantically driving everywhere. The energy was amazing. Everyone was having a great time, even when they didn't win. Once they got their respective treasure maps. The hunt was on. We buried two treasures with a backhoe and when they

finally found the right location, the digging began. The girls were able to pull their box out without a big mess. The guys team saw the lid and pulled it out letting all the dirt fall in on the treasure. The note in both boxes read. Jesus Christ died one for all and the treasure is to be shared by all.

There was a grand prize for the winning teams which was CDs from the Christian Band that was here for the weekend. There were thumbs up from everyone. Good game. My only fear now is that I know they are going to want another one.

Thanks for getting us started.

Karen Bowles, Alabama, USA

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Treasure hunt book sales have impeccable customer service

Thanks so much, I really appreciate all of your prompt attention. I recommend your game to everyone!! Also, your customer service is impeccable!!

Sincerely,

Nancy Franklin, New York, USA

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Treasure hunt book sales have impeccable customer service

Thanks so much, I really appreciate all of your prompt attention. I recommend your game to everyone!! Also, your customer service is impeccable!!

Sincerely,

Nancy Franklin, New York, USA

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Scavenger hunt for bible study group

Hello.

I read your book yesterday. I will being doing the Scavenger Hunt some time in July. I have until then to get it together. I am doing it for an age group of 12-17 both boys and girls. There should be approximately 6 girls and 6 boys. If invite another group it could potentially be more. For two years I had a neighborhood girls ministry. We use to do all kinds of things. That has been over for about 2 years. Recently I had a bible study for 12 year old boys in my home. That's been over for a month or so. Both groups have asked me to have 'something' for them this summer. They miss me, ahhhh. ha ha just kidding - they like being entertained. Anyway, both were bible study type deals in the past. The hunt doesn't have to do with the bible BUT I am sending them a paper with some short scripture fill in the blanks...that will be their ticket to come to the hunt. I'm thinking about having it in our downtown area - we live a small community. We can be at the park and they will have access to the city building, library, post office, tennis courts, river front, businesses, restaurants, etc... They can work for a while - break for lunch - and go again. I think it will be the boys against the girls. I have a lot of ideas running through my head. I'm going to need to go back through your book and write things down this time. I still need to think about what they have to do, why, what the prizes are etc... Lots to do yet.

Thanks for taking the time to help.

Michelle Green, Kentucky USA

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Time saved in treasure hunt planning

Hi Nikki,

I was in a bind for a party TODAY that I promised my daughter a scavenger hunt for. I was not able to focus on any ONE idea to get me started when I pulled your info up on the internet. I'm so excited because we are the "party home" of both my daughters' schools and now I feel I can do this by tonight. Thanks for sharing--and you're right...it's well worth the money in hours of time saved in planning alone. And all this is said before I've even gone through all your info. I can tell it's been well-planned though and that's huge to me.

Shelley Springhetti, Wisconsin, USA

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Scavenger hunt for bible study group

Hello.

I read your book yesterday. I will being doing the Scavenger Hunt some time in July. I have until then to get it together. I am doing it for an age group of 12-17 both boys and girls. There should be approximately 6 girls and 6 boys. If invite another group it could potentially be more. For two years I had a neighborhood girls ministry. We use to do all kinds of things. That has been over for about 2 years. Recently I had a bible study for 12 year old boys in my home. That's been over for a month or so. Both groups have asked me to have 'something' for them this summer. They miss me, ahhhh. ha ha just kidding - they like being entertained. Anyway, both were bible study type deals in the past. The hunt doesn't have to do with the bible BUT I am sending them a paper with some short scripture fill in the blanks...that will be their ticket to come to the hunt. I'm thinking about having it in our downtown area - we live a small community. We can be at the park and they will have access to the city building, library, post office, tennis courts, river front, businesses, restaurants, etc... They can work for a while - break for lunch - and go again. I think it will be the boys against the girls. I have a lot of ideas running through my head. I'm going to need to go back through your book and write things down this time. I still need to think about what they have to do, why, what the prizes are etc... Lots to do yet.

Thanks for taking the time to help.

Michelle Green, Kentucky USA

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A very satisfied customer with the Instant Treasure Hunt

Just wanted to let you know that my treasure hunts were great!. I made 2 because we never know about the weather, so we had one for inside & one for out. This was by far the best one I've ever had, thanks to you & your treasure hunt partygames. This is the first time I've been able to stump my son-in-law & the other adults so I got some personal satisfaction out of it too. The kids loved their hunt and made up another one for themselves afterward. I think we had people looking for clues all day long. Thank you again. I have plenty of ideas for next year too, so I am thrilled with your program. I just can't say thanks you enough ways. The kids enjoy the hunt so much that we may work it into other family events. A very satisfied customer, Mavis

Mavis Mercier, wisconsin, USA

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Church block party treasure hunt game

Dear Nikki,

We are planning a Block Party at our church and your ideas really started my creative juices flowing!! Here are some "stations" we are considering as a way to involve the whole family in some fun together. Thanks so much for your great ideas! The planning/organizing part was THE BEST!

(These are some ideas for station activities. The activities on the lists would be shuffled around so everyone does not head for the same station at the same time. A few simple prizes would be awarded using the completed papers for a drawing. Older children could help younger ones and families could do the activities together. Volunteers would place simple bug stickers on the papers to show that a station was completed. Some of the stations are easy enough for one person to handle two activities. Each station would be clearly marked with its name and directions on how to complete the activity. Nobody complained about the bug theme so I just ran with it!!)

Nothings Bugging Me!!

Family Activity Stations

Move to each station in the order listed on your paper. Complete the activity and receive a sticker from the "Pest Control Officer". Turn in your completed paper for our prize drawing.

Ladybug Station Make a bug cookie

Buzzing Bee Station Sing a bug related song

Exterminator Station Use a spray bottle(Pressurized) to knock over

the "bugs" (Empty bottles decorated like bugs)

Bug Infested Swamp Cross the "swamp" by walking on a

plank(a long board) and hopping over bugs

Bug Tattoo Station Choose your favorite bug for a tattoo

Fly Swatter Station Move (plastic)bugs to a bucket using a fly

swatter

Fill the Hive Use a paper cup to fill your "hive"(small bowl)

with "honey"(water)

Bug Search Find at least 5 plastic bugs hiding in

the church lawn

Pat Swanson, Minnesota, USA

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Teen treasure hunt party was a blast.

Nikki-

I wound up dividing the two groups and the party was an absolute blast!!!! I really appreciate you emailing me back. You have WONDERFUL follow up! It is good to know that in the future having a one group hunt is always an option.

I gathered many tips from your book and added, changed, revised, etc. It was an incredible layout for brainstorming. I can't thank you enough. I was unsure of my age group (15-16 yrs). They are at a really delicate age... but one of the boys from the party told my daughter that now all future parties are to be at our house!!!

Thanks again and God Bless!

Laura Veri, Missouri, USA

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Pirate treasure hunt and picnic

Hi Nikki,

The party is being held on Memorial day week-end, at a local park, for well over 100 people. We are planning to have 2 hunts going at the same time. Captain Dead Legs and Pirates of the Vernon.

After the hunt we are having a large picnic and will ask our guests to bring a blanket for their family's to eat on. It is going to be an introduction for our family and friends to meet the daughter my husband and are planning to adopt this summer. She is 12 but the ages of guests will run the gamut. Thank you for your interest.

June Paquette, Massachusetts USA

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Hi Nikki,

The treasure hunt was a success. Some of the kids were just a little confused in the beginning, either they were not listening to the instructions (typical teenagers) or my instructions were not clear. I should probably have shown samples of what they were supposed to look for like the station's names, next destination and the challenges.

But finally they got it and everybody had a great time. Thanks.

Catalina Alter, Hong Kong

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Birthday party treasure hunt

Hi,

We had a birthday party yesterday for nine 8-year old boys and girls. The theme was "Pirates Go Wild" and we took full advantage of the online Instant Treasure Hunt game. We made 6 different clues for each of the 3 teams (used colored armbands to identify the different "crews", labeled them "Blue Bandit Clue #2", etc.) and it went great!

I bought flags, blow-up swords, bandanas, pencils, stickers, "gold" coins, candy, and little clue sets at Diddams (see attached pictures).

The best part happened as each of the teams finished, then went to help the other teams before getting the last clue and shovels with little flags attached. (They had to find the apple tree and figure out that the big flag marked the spot to dig up the treasure box all together.) The kids then divided up the "loot" themselves as their party favors.

I loved the idea of the different puzzles and stations but didn't have other adult helpers and would definitely have needed them to make that work.

Nadja Jackson, California, USA

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Two scavenger hunts on consecutive nights

Nikki,

I have read through the game planner and it was helpful. I am having a 9th birthday party for my son this month and I have invited 13 other guests. It is a road rally scavenger hunt, so we will be driving around in teams. I am currently compiling the list. I've decided to set a time limit and have plenty of tasks that are each worth a point value. I hope this works well. I'm not sure how long to make the game, it's difficult to judge how long it will take to drive around and do each task. The list isn't meant to be completed. I am planning on having 3 teams of 4-5 boys each. I have purchased bandanas in 3 colors and will have the boys pick one out randomly from a bag to choose teams. We also plan on having them decorate the cars with glass paint and streamers. If the weather here in Chicago area is terrible the day of the party, we have a back-up plan to move the party to the mall. Because I am so insane, my 12 year old daughter is having her party the next ni ght and we are also doing a neighborhood scavenger hunt for that (15-18 boys and girls). Not as complicated, but we are trying to keep them occupied until the DJ arrives for a 2 hour dance party at our home. Wish me luck!

Cathy Wilson, USA

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A very satisfied customer with the Instant Treasure Hunt

Just wanted to let you know that my treasure hunts were great!. I made 2 because we never know about the weather, so we had one for inside & one for out. This was by far the best one I've ever had, thanks to you & your treasure hunt partygames. This is the first time I've been able to stump my son-in-law & the other adults so I got some personal satisfaction out of it too. The kids loved their hunt and made up another one for themselves afterward. I think we had people looking for clues all day long. Thank you again. I have plenty of ideas for next year too, so I am thrilled with your program. I just can't say thanks you enough ways. The kids enjoy the hunt so much that we may work it into other family events. A very satisfied customer, Mavis

Mavis Mercier, wisconsin, USA

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Family Photo Scavenger Hunt

Ms. Wilson,

I want to thank your for sending us the ebook on scavenger hunts. We are excited about having the first digital photo scavenger hunt in Brevard. This is geared toward families having fun time together and learning about their county.

I'll be happy to put a link to your website on our web pages and give you property acknowledgment.

Again, thank you so much

Sherry Meaders, Brevard, Florida

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Family activity treasure hunt

Hi Nikki:

Thanks for your help. I am responsible for a treasure hunt as a family activity for a country club. One Friday every month we have family fun night. I would like to include ages of all. We will have to have the hunt inside. I was thinking about making written clues with keys at the location. They take a key and at the last clue is the treasure box with a lock on it and they try their keys. Only one key will work. Or I could have multiple treasure boxes so more than one family win.

Thanks again

Cathy Nemec, Ohio, USA

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Nancy Drew themed treasure hunt is a success

Hi Nikki!

Our treasure hunts were lots of fun! We modified the plan for our daughter to have a treasure hunt based on a Nancy Drew theme. I renamed the stations with titles for Nancy Drew Mysteries and named the teams different desserts based on the Nancy Drew movie that came out last summer. We used your party idea for developing two person teams by letting them pick and shoe andshoestring, spoon and fork, etc. All of the girls ages 10-11 seemed to really enjoy all of what we did. They were even very excited to find the treasure under our porch at twilight which our son had hidden. We also used some of your ideas for our son's party. He had an Indiana Jones themed party and only three friends so we really couldn't form teams, we just let them move through kind of an obstacle hunt to find their treasure.

Thank you for all of your great ideas! They really helped to make our children's parties an exciting success!

Most grateful,

Amy Brown, North Carolina, USA

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Well organized treasure hunt

Nikki,

Just wanted you to know that our 4th grade treasure hunt was a great success. The kids had a ton fun and requested that we have another one later in the year. Thanks for putting together such a well organized party.

Kim Licken, Ohio, USA

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Treasure hunt guidelines were awesome

Hi Nikki,

Our treasure hunt was just great. Thank you very much. I was a bit nervous about my daughters 11th birthday. She wanted a Pirates of the Carribean party with boy and girls. But wow!!!!! It was awesome. Once they arrived, they had to choose themslelves a pirate name, that in itself was funny. I then made labels with these names and their photos to go on there mugs to drink out of throughout the party. Then it was onto the treasure hunt. I was a bit anxious that they would think it was a bit chidlish, but boy, did they get into it from the word go. We live on a tiny island in the Pacific where props are not easy to come by, but it is amazing what you can find or make. From silver clip on earrings to home made gold and silver loots bags, as well as a coconut palm plank.

We live in a compound and there was a lot of room for the kids. I had made a treasure map which was in 6 pieces, one for each child. They had to put it together to get through each of the challenges. It took about an hour and a quarter to get through the hunt. And they had a ball. The flag they made is still hanging on my daughter's wall. We made some island alterations which made it all the more fun. Your guidelines were awesome. I would advise anyone to use this. It was great. Took a lot of stress out of a fun day. Good luck to anyone else who wants a fun but stress free day. Once again thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!

Susan Lowry, Samoa

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Easter scavenger hunt around the house

Hi Nikki,

So, just to let you know, everything went well. Easter is a big deal at our house.....always has been. My husband and I don't have any kids, but my sisters do, and have been coming to our home for Easter brunch for years...probably 15 years or so. I have always made a game of some sort for the kids...there are 8 of them. When they were little we had yarn woven in, around, under, on top of etc furniture, and knick knacks within our bottom two rooms....family room and recreation room. Slightly hidden along the trail where gifts/chocolate etc for the kids. As the kids got bigger it became more challenging. I've done Kim's games with them, word quizzes....oh many things....just can't think of them off the top of my head. I keep kidding the kids, that they are getting too old for this...the game...the gifts...the treats. But of course, they don't think so :) So, each year, it takes me awhile to come up with something a little different. Basically, what I'm looking at are 8 kids, each of whom is getting about 10 gifts (my Mum and sisters drop off their gifts to me to be included). This works out to 60 "places" within our home that I need to identify as the prize location somehow.

I don't know if this is making much sense to you, as I'm writing it. So I'd thought of a scavenger hunt of some sort for some time. So, I bought yours this year....and I was able to use the ideas. I took suggestions from the "Scavenger Hunt - Around the Home" and the "Memory Hunt". The kids

range in ages from 10 to 18. The oldest 2 brought their boy friends this year! I came up with 60 questions (5 questions per kid) ranging in difficulty eg. "How many holes are in the air tub?", "What brand name toaster oven is in the kitchen?" to "What was tested on November 13, 1996?". The answer to the last one is "the gas regulation pressure test". There is a tag that hangs off the gas pipe in the laundry room. Another one that had one of them stumped for awhile was, "Where do you find the number 39615119?". The answer is the "water meter". The kids like the challenge...they won't give up. I also had them each find 5 particular items in the house. For example....everyone had to find a tea light. These are normally around the house, but by the time eight kids have picked one up, kids #9 and 10 are having more difficulty finding one. I had a couple of other things for them to do as well.

So, it went well. I think they'll be 30 years old and I'll still be doing it. I'll read through your material again next year and come up with something else for them to do.

Thanks for the hunt/games and your emails. As I said, it went very well.

Tracey Stamp, Ontario, Canada

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Hi Nikki,

Thanks so much for your info! We had a beach party for 3 graduates with all ages attending and had a great time.

Since we weren't in a familiar area, I made a list of "Something (with) ______." The small kids had a wonderful time and felt very included.

With appreciation,

Gail Fletcher, USA

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Fun putting treasure hunt together

Nikki, just wanted to let you know that my son's birthday party went really well. I had a lot of fun putting the treasure hunt together and the boys enjoyed all the challenges and especially digging up the treasure! All the instructions and the question puzzle were a bit challenging for them even though I modified some of the questions (they were 8 year olds) but they had fun! I used your 'matching items' game to pair up the boys before the treasure hunt started, which worked out well. Thanks for the ideas and putting it all out on 'paper' for me. I will definitely use it for other parties.

Deanne Benetz, California USA

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New Year's eve scavenger hunt

Nikki- The scavenger hunt is tonight. we are so excited. We are hosting a New Years Eve Party for our oldest daughters soccer team and their parents. Each family will be a team and will have two hours to complete the hunt through our town. The last item on the hunt requires each family to visit their favorite pizza place and bring back a large pizza to share with every one. My husband and I complied a list on 36 items that need to be gathered, made or have a picture taken of it. Most of things have to pertain to things that relate to the soccer team. I will let you know how it goes. Thank you for all your helpful information.

Tanya Stoney, North Carolina, USA

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Time saved in treasure hunt planning

Hi Nikki,

I was in a bind for a party TODAY that I promised my daughter a scavenger hunt for. I was not able to focus on any ONE idea to get me started when I pulled your info up on the internet. I'm so excited because we are the "party home" of both my daughters' schools and now I feel I can do this by tonight. Thanks for sharing--and you're right...it's well worth the money in hours of time saved in planning alone. And all this is said before I've even gone through all your info. I can tell it's been well-planned though and that's huge to me.

Shelley Springhetti, Wisconsin, USA

More details on a great Scavenger Hunt Party Game here

Nancy Drew themed treasure hunt is a success

Hi Nikki!

Our treasure hunts were lots of fun! We modified the plan for our daughter to have a treasure hunt based on a Nancy Drew theme. I renamed the stations with titles for Nancy Drew Mysteries and named the teams different desserts based on the Nancy Drew movie that came out last summer. We used your party idea for developing two person teams by letting them pick and shoe andshoestring, spoon and fork, etc. All of the girls ages 10-11 seemed to really enjoy all of what we did. They were even very excited to find the treasure under our porch at twilight which our son had hidden. We also used some of your ideas for our son's party. He had an Indiana Jones themed party and only three friends so we really couldn't form teams, we just let them move through kind of an obstacle hunt to find their treasure.

Thank you for all of your great ideas! They really helped to make our children's parties an exciting success!

Most grateful,

Amy Brown, North Carolina, USA

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Previous treasure hunts were a lot of work

Hi Nikki,

Yes, I have downloaded the Treasure Hunt Party game Planner and bonus gifts. I actually downloaded them right after I ordered the product. It was great. Very fast and very easy. I have briefly read thru the Planner and I think it will make my next Treasure Hunt Party MUCH easier. I am planning one for my daughter's birthday which is not until February so I have plenty of time. I have done a couple of treasure hunts prior to this and they were ALOT of work. The first two I did were like yours where there were stations to go to and some kind of challenge to perform. The last one I did was for my daughter's birthday this past February. It was a Harry Potter Treasure Hunt party and I did not have a lot of time so I just did riddles/cryptograms that led them to another clue in the house and eventually to the treasure.

I like the idea of stations and challenges, however. I think the party in Feb 09 will be much better than the one I did last year. My daughter will be turning 11 in February just to give you an idea of the age group. Last year I found the girls to be quite sharp which is why I purchased the adults/any age group planner. They all really love treasure hunts so this may become an annual event.

Saroja Raman, Maryland, USA

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Treasure hunt is best party ever!

Hi - We had a great party last night!  We decided to have four stations with four groups of two boys (ages 11 and 12).  This was for a sleepover so when the kids sat down for dinner they each had either a red, green, orange, or blue flashlight with them.  Their flashlight determined the teams.  Also, each team had it's own had unique treasure maps so they would all win the same treasure eventually.  Armed with the map pieces and a clue on the back, they all found their treasure of nerf guns and then spent at least an hour outside playing after the treasure hunt.  The boys had a great time and the structure your documents provided for the treasure hunt was really helpful.  After the boys traisped through the woods and found their treasure, one boy shouted "This is the best party ever!".  I was thrilled and my son had a great time.  Thanks for your help!

Alison McLaughlin, Massachusetts, USA

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Enjoyable treasure hunt party

The party was on Sunday and everyone enjoyed it. Thanks.

Ingrid Kunze, Texas, USA

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Yard improvement treasure hunt reward

Thanks Nikki,

Yes, I was able to download it and printed it off yesterday. My party is going to be on Sunday, the 3rd of July. I've already started planning the treasure hunt. I live in San Jose, California and my husband and I are throwing a b-b-q for some people that were very involved with the relandscaping of our yard.

It was a huge undertaking and we wanted to give them all a big thank you. So, it'll pretty much be all adults, with the exception of a few little ones (3 and under). We're changing the station names and officers to things that apply to yard work and landscaping. The treasure will be gift certificates for the winners to a local home improvement store.

Please, please, if you have any ideas for me on this theme, let me know . . .

Thanks,

Mona Boomer, California USA

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Previous treasure hunts were a lot of work

Hi Nikki,

Yes, I have downloaded the Treasure Hunt Party game Planner and bonus gifts. I actually downloaded them right after I ordered the product. It was great. Very fast and very easy. I have briefly read thru the Planner and I think it will make my next Treasure Hunt Party MUCH easier. I am planning one for my daughter's birthday which is not until February so I have plenty of time. I have done a couple of treasure hunts prior to this and they were ALOT of work. The first two I did were like yours where there were stations to go to and some kind of challenge to perform. The last one I did was for my daughter's birthday this past February. It was a Harry Potter Treasure Hunt party and I did not have a lot of time so I just did riddles/cryptograms that led them to another clue in the house and eventually to the treasure.

I like the idea of stations and challenges, however. I think the party in Feb 09 will be much better than the one I did last year. My daughter will be turning 11 in February just to give you an idea of the age group. Last year I found the girls to be quite sharp which is why I purchased the adults/any age group planner. They all really love treasure hunts so this may become an annual event.

Saroja Raman, Maryland, USA

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Style of business is appreciated

Dear Nikki:

Really appreciated your style of doing business, I sure will check out the other resources you are offering, as now I owe you one ;-)

Best wishes to you and may your business continue to prosper!

Regards,

Robert Tang, USA

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Treasure hunt almost ready to go

Nikki,

I have been working on the Treasure Hunt all week, and I'm finishing the final touches on the map tonight.

I am going to have 18 children ages 5-10 years. We are having the hunt at our farm around a creek. I will set up the stations tomorrow. I am excited about using the mummy challenge. My son wanted to have all physical challenges so I put all the younger children in a group, all the girls in a group and split the boys into two groups. I think there will be less competition within the groups. Sometimes boys tend to get too competitive. I have chosen five other physical challenges including a multilegged race, a musical water glass, an egg race, a water balloon toss, the mummy challenge, and a water race.

I am going to hide a key for each team, which will open the treasure chest with their goody bags in them.

I have enough adults for each station. I think that will help.

The rest of the party includes a hotdog cookout, a hay ride, a hike in a really cool creek with caves, frogs, and lizards, and the treasure hunt, not to mention the cake and icecream and the presents. I hope it doesn't get dark before we're finished.

I used many good ideas from your ebook. I copied the station names onto yellow cardstock and laminated them. We will attach them to posts which are in place already.

Thanks for the great ideas.

Sincerely,

Shelley Grellner, Oklahoma USA

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Hi Nikki,

Thanks so much for your info! We had a beach party for 3 graduates with all ages attending and had a great time.

Since we weren't in a familiar area, I made a list of "Something (with) ______." The small kids had a wonderful time and felt very included.

With appreciation,

Gail Fletcher, USA

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Memorial day picnic with treasure hunt

Hey Nikki,

Thanks for your emails. I purchased and downloaded your Treasure Hunt Party Game Planner Sunday night and got right to work. You see, I needed a great Treasure Hunt for our Memorial Day church picnic and I only had one night and a morning to get it all done! Your material was a great help and made it both fun and substantive. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

Let me share one quick highlight: my son had a kid's "spy" safe with a changeable number-pad combination. This worked great for hiding the map in. Type in the wrong number and the thing alarms and flashes lights--and of course won't open! It was perfect. What was a blast at our Treasure Hunt was one team put all their clues together and raced to unlock the map. But they kept getting the combination wrong, so a second team ended up getting it. We really had a blast! Thanks so much!

Michael De Leon, pastor

Lighthouse Baptist Church

P.S. for others using your ideas, I was able to make it work with only me as a helper. I used a lot of puzzle type games which was easier for one person--me--to check off then watching people do stuff.

Michael De Leon, Ohio, USA

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Two scavenger hunts on consecutive nights

Nikki,

I have read through the game planner and it was helpful. I am having a 9th birthday party for my son this month and I have invited 13 other guests. It is a road rally scavenger hunt, so we will be driving around in teams. I am currently compiling the list. I've decided to set a time limit and have plenty of tasks that are each worth a point value. I hope this works well. I'm not sure how long to make the game, it's difficult to judge how long it will take to drive around and do each task. The list isn't meant to be completed. I am planning on having 3 teams of 4-5 boys each. I have purchased bandanas in 3 colors and will have the boys pick one out randomly from a bag to choose teams. We also plan on having them decorate the cars with glass paint and streamers. If the weather here in Chicago area is terrible the day of the party, we have a back-up plan to move the party to the mall. Because I am so insane, my 12 year old daughter is having her party the next ni ght and we are also doing a neighborhood scavenger hunt for that (15-18 boys and girls). Not as complicated, but we are trying to keep them occupied until the DJ arrives for a 2 hour dance party at our home. Wish me luck!

Cathy Wilson, USA

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Sleepover treasure hunt

Hi Nikki. Thanks for responding. The kids really enjoyed the treasure hunt and asked me to make up another one for them (which I did using the software, thank you!) It was a sleepover party, so we did one in the evening and one the next morning. They're still talking about it.

Thanks again,

Michelle Papka PhD, New Jersey, USA

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Treasure hunt is best party ever!

Hi - We had a great party last night!  We decided to have four stations with four groups of two boys (ages 11 and 12).  This was for a sleepover so when the kids sat down for dinner they each had either a red, green, orange, or blue flashlight with them.  Their flashlight determined the teams.  Also, each team had it's own had unique treasure maps so they would all win the same treasure eventually.  Armed with the map pieces and a clue on the back, they all found their treasure of nerf guns and then spent at least an hour outside playing after the treasure hunt.  The boys had a great time and the structure your documents provided for the treasure hunt was really helpful.  After the boys traisped through the woods and found their treasure, one boy shouted "This is the best party ever!".  I was thrilled and my son had a great time.  Thanks for your help!

Alison McLaughlin, Massachusetts, USA

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Scavenger hunt for bible study group

Hello.

I read your book yesterday. I will being doing the Scavenger Hunt some time in July. I have until then to get it together. I am doing it for an age group of 12-17 both boys and girls. There should be approximately 6 girls and 6 boys. If invite another group it could potentially be more. For two years I had a neighborhood girls ministry. We use to do all kinds of things. That has been over for about 2 years. Recently I had a bible study for 12 year old boys in my home. That's been over for a month or so. Both groups have asked me to have 'something' for them this summer. They miss me, ahhhh. ha ha just kidding - they like being entertained. Anyway, both were bible study type deals in the past. The hunt doesn't have to do with the bible BUT I am sending them a paper with some short scripture fill in the blanks...that will be their ticket to come to the hunt. I'm thinking about having it in our downtown area - we live a small community. We can be at the park and they will have access to the city building, library, post office, tennis courts, river front, businesses, restaurants, etc... They can work for a while - break for lunch - and go again. I think it will be the boys against the girls. I have a lot of ideas running through my head. I'm going to need to go back through your book and write things down this time. I still need to think about what they have to do, why, what the prizes are etc... Lots to do yet.

Thanks for taking the time to help.

Michelle Green, Kentucky USA

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Nancy Drew themed treasure hunt is a success

Hi Nikki!

Our treasure hunts were lots of fun! We modified the plan for our daughter to have a treasure hunt based on a Nancy Drew theme. I renamed the stations with titles for Nancy Drew Mysteries and named the teams different desserts based on the Nancy Drew movie that came out last summer. We used your party idea for developing two person teams by letting them pick and shoe andshoestring, spoon and fork, etc. All of the girls ages 10-11 seemed to really enjoy all of what we did. They were even very excited to find the treasure under our porch at twilight which our son had hidden. We also used some of your ideas for our son's party. He had an Indiana Jones themed party and only three friends so we really couldn't form teams, we just let them move through kind of an obstacle hunt to find their treasure.

Thank you for all of your great ideas! They really helped to make our children's parties an exciting success!

Most grateful,

Amy Brown, North Carolina, USA

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Birthday party treasure hunt

Hi,

We had a birthday party yesterday for nine 8-year old boys and girls. The theme was "Pirates Go Wild" and we took full advantage of the online Instant Treasure Hunt game. We made 6 different clues for each of the 3 teams (used colored armbands to identify the different "crews", labeled them "Blue Bandit Clue #2", etc.) and it went great!

I bought flags, blow-up swords, bandanas, pencils, stickers, "gold" coins, candy, and little clue sets at Diddams (see attached pictures).

The best part happened as each of the teams finished, then went to help the other teams before getting the last clue and shovels with little flags attached. (They had to find the apple tree and figure out that the big flag marked the spot to dig up the treasure box all together.) The kids then divided up the "loot" themselves as their party favors.

I loved the idea of the different puzzles and stations but didn't have other adult helpers and would definitely have needed them to make that work.

Nadja Jackson, California, USA

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Geo caching and scavenger hunting

Thanks for asking, our hunt was a little non traditional, but went well. It was a mixture of geo caching, orienteering, and scavenger.

We hid zip l6 locks that contained 13 items, scattered over our 15 acres. Nothing was buried or covered over. All the zip locks were identical. We had a map with X marks the spots where bags were hidden, and the list of the 13 items you needed to find and cross off.

There were 12 kids, all second graders. Each kid had to end up with the 13 different items in his bag, and he had 16 bags to make his cache. i.e.: You could only take one item from each zip lock you found. If you needed the whistle to cross off your list, and you went to three bags and no whistles, you needed to keep searching for a zip lock that contained one. That's where the strategy came in. We were afraid just finding them would be too easy. We also thought that having all whistles in one bag; all pencils, etc, would also be too easy. This kept the kids busy for 1 1/2 hours. Each kid had an adult tagging along, so I didn't need search and rescue! The kids loved it and I even had one little girl say, she LOVED having to find her goodie bag!

I had award gold medals to place around the necks as each kid finished. They then took a hayride to our campfire area where we ate, had cake, and opened presents. As we live in the Rockies in Colorado, the weather held out beautifully. It could have been a snow scavenger hunt and plan B.

Thanks for all the ideas,

Karen Lasher, Colorado, USA

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Hi Nikki,

The treasure hunt was a success. Some of the kids were just a little confused in the beginning, either they were not listening to the instructions (typical teenagers) or my instructions were not clear. I should probably have shown samples of what they were supposed to look for like the station's names, next destination and the challenges.

But finally they got it and everybody had a great time. Thanks.

Catalina Alter, Hong Kong

More details on a great Teen Treasure Hunt here

Geo caching and scavenger hunting

Thanks for asking, our hunt was a little non traditional, but went well. It was a mixture of geo caching, orienteering, and scavenger.

We hid zip l6 locks that contained 13 items, scattered over our 15 acres. Nothing was buried or covered over. All the zip locks were identical. We had a map with X marks the spots where bags were hidden, and the list of the 13 items you needed to find and cross off.

There were 12 kids, all second graders. Each kid had to end up with the 13 different items in his bag, and he had 16 bags to make his cache. i.e.: You could only take one item from each zip lock you found. If you needed the whistle to cross off your list, and you went to three bags and no whistles, you needed to keep searching for a zip lock that contained one. That's where the strategy came in. We were afraid just finding them would be too easy. We also thought that having all whistles in one bag; all pencils, etc, would also be too easy. This kept the kids busy for 1 1/2 hours. Each kid had an adult tagging along, so I didn't need search and rescue! The kids loved it and I even had one little girl say, she LOVED having to find her goodie bag!

I had award gold medals to place around the necks as each kid finished. They then took a hayride to our campfire area where we ate, had cake, and opened presents. As we live in the Rockies in Colorado, the weather held out beautifully. It could have been a snow scavenger hunt and plan B.

Thanks for all the ideas,

Karen Lasher, Colorado, USA

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So much fun with instant treasure hunt clues

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the instant treasure hunt game-it was a blast and so much fun! For next time, we will need to better prepared-my daughter wanted to do it all and selected 45 clue-too many for this party. She also wanted to have colored envelopes which I made from paper-that was fun but too time consuming. I am looking forward to using this again for my little one's 6th birthday in October. Or maybe we will try out the scavenger hunt.

Thanks so much!

Karen Kruidenier, Pennsylvania, USA

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Treasure hunt is success

We had the treasure hunt on Saturday. It was great! Thanks!

Erin :-)

Erin Kenneally, California, USA

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Baby shower treasure hunt

Hi Nikki,

We had our Treasure Hunt game yesterday & had loads of fun...... I had planned this treasure hunt for the baby shower of my sister & we had loads of fun & people really loved it....it was well planned, very simple & easy to use.

I really didn't have lots of time to sit down & make my own treasure hunt & wasting lot of time in planning the game.....but with this game it made my life easier & the party lovelier.....

Thank you for all the help.

Heena Kapdi, Bedfordshire, UK

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Teen treasure hunt party was a blast.

Nikki-

I wound up dividing the two groups and the party was an absolute blast!!!! I really appreciate you emailing me back. You have WONDERFUL follow up! It is good to know that in the future having a one group hunt is always an option.

I gathered many tips from your book and added, changed, revised, etc. It was an incredible layout for brainstorming. I can't thank you enough. I was unsure of my age group (15-16 yrs). They are at a really delicate age... but one of the boys from the party told my daughter that now all future parties are to be at our house!!!

Thanks again and God Bless!

Laura Veri, Missouri, USA

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Yard improvement treasure hunt reward

Thanks Nikki,

Yes, I was able to download it and printed it off yesterday. My party is going to be on Sunday, the 3rd of July. I've already started planning the treasure hunt. I live in San Jose, California and my husband and I are throwing a b-b-q for some people that were very involved with the relandscaping of our yard.

It was a huge undertaking and we wanted to give them all a big thank you. So, it'll pretty much be all adults, with the exception of a few little ones (3 and under). We're changing the station names and officers to things that apply to yard work and landscaping. The treasure will be gift certificates for the winners to a local home improvement store.

Please, please, if you have any ideas for me on this theme, let me know . . .

Thanks,

Mona Boomer, California USA

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Wonderful time for teenage treasure hunt game

It was a great success and the girls (18) HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. Couldn't have done it without your treasure hunt game/ideas.

A beautiful way to spend a fall evening in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Denise Cox, Alberta, Canada

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Memorial day picnic with treasure hunt

Hey Nikki,

Thanks for your emails. I purchased and downloaded your Treasure Hunt Party Game Planner Sunday night and got right to work. You see, I needed a great Treasure Hunt for our Memorial Day church picnic and I only had one night and a morning to get it all done! Your material was a great help and made it both fun and substantive. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

Let me share one quick highlight: my son had a kid's "spy" safe with a changeable number-pad combination. This worked great for hiding the map in. Type in the wrong number and the thing alarms and flashes lights--and of course won't open! It was perfect. What was a blast at our Treasure Hunt was one team put all their clues together and raced to unlock the map. But they kept getting the combination wrong, so a second team ended up getting it. We really had a blast! Thanks so much!

Michael De Leon, pastor

Lighthouse Baptist Church

P.S. for others using your ideas, I was able to make it work with only me as a helper. I used a lot of puzzle type games which was easier for one person--me--to check off then watching people do stuff.

Michael De Leon, Ohio, USA

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Pirate treasure hunt and picnic

Hi Nikki,

The party is being held on Memorial day week-end, at a local park, for well over 100 people. We are planning to have 2 hunts going at the same time. Captain Dead Legs and Pirates of the Vernon.

After the hunt we are having a large picnic and will ask our guests to bring a blanket for their family's to eat on. It is going to be an introduction for our family and friends to meet the daughter my husband and are planning to adopt this summer. She is 12 but the ages of guests will run the gamut. Thank you for your interest.

June Paquette, Massachusetts USA

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Treasure hunt is best party ever!

Hi - We had a great party last night!  We decided to have four stations with four groups of two boys (ages 11 and 12).  This was for a sleepover so when the kids sat down for dinner they each had either a red, green, orange, or blue flashlight with them.  Their flashlight determined the teams.  Also, each team had it's own had unique treasure maps so they would all win the same treasure eventually.  Armed with the map pieces and a clue on the back, they all found their treasure of nerf guns and then spent at least an hour outside playing after the treasure hunt.  The boys had a great time and the structure your documents provided for the treasure hunt was really helpful.  After the boys traisped through the woods and found their treasure, one boy shouted "This is the best party ever!".  I was thrilled and my son had a great time.  Thanks for your help!

Alison McLaughlin, Massachusetts, USA

Mo re details on a great Treasure Hunt Party Game here

School celebration treasure hunt

Dear Nikki,

Thanks for your email. Just to let you know, I am planning a treasure hunt for pupils at my school in Derby, England. We are celebrating 50 years in our current building and I am in charge of planning a party for girls aged 14-16 on the afternoon of February 8th. I am hoping that I will be able to use the ideas in your book, although I still need to think up my challenges! We have 85 girls in total, so our teams will be quite large, however I think that I will be able to adapt your ideas, so thanks!

Carole Riley, Derby, England

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Time saved in treasure hunt planning

Hi Nikki,

I was in a bind for a party TODAY that I promised my daughter a scavenger hunt for. I was not able to focus on any ONE idea to get me started when I pulled your info up on the internet. I'm so excited because we are the "party home" of both my daughters' schools and now I feel I can do this by tonight. Thanks for sharing--and you're right...it's well worth the money in hours of time saved in planning alone. And all this is said before I've even gone through all your info. I can tell it's been well-planned though and that's huge to me.

Shelley Springhetti, Wisconsin, USA

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Mall scavenger hunt is a blast

We had a Mall Scavenger Hunt for my daughters 12th birthday last Friday. It was a blast. I used some of your ideas and then added some of my own. They divided up into two teams by pulling a color out of a basket. Each team was given a gift bag with $2, a digital camera (we have keepsake photos), a pen and the list of items they needed to obtain. I gave them one hour. Some of the items were pictures of different things with the group. They were very cute and the girls had a blast. Each team came back with stories and as the evening went on at our home, the stories got funnier and funnier. Thanks for the help. It was a really good time. We are going away this weekend and there are 3 families traveling in 3 different cars. We are thinking of doing the interstate scavenger hunt. Just not sure if I will have the time to get it together before we leave.

LouEllen Michel, Maryland, USA

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Memorial day picnic with treasure hunt

Hey Nikki,

Thanks for your emails. I purchased and downloaded your Treasure Hunt Party Game Planner Sunday night and got right to work. You see, I needed a great Treasure Hunt for our Memorial Day church picnic and I only had one night and a morning to get it all done! Your material was a great help and made it both fun and substantive. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

Let me share one quick highlight: my son had a kid's "spy" safe with a changeable number-pad combination. This worked great for hiding the map in. Type in the wrong number and the thing alarms and flashes lights--and of course won't open! It was perfect. What was a blast at our Treasure Hunt was one team put all their clues together and raced to unlock the map. But they kept getting the combination wrong, so a second team ended up getting it. We really had a blast! Thanks so much!

Michael De Leon, pastor

Lighthouse Baptist Church

P.S. for others using your ideas, I was able to make it work with only me as a helper. I used a lot of puzzle type games which was easier for one person--me--to check off then watching people do stuff.

Michael De Leon, Ohio, USA

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Two scavenger hunts on consecutive nights

Nikki,

I have read through the game planner and it was helpful. I am having a 9th birthday party for my son this month and I have invited 13 other guests. It is a road rally scavenger hunt, so we will be driving around in teams. I am currently compiling the list. I've decided to set a time limit and have plenty of tasks that are each worth a point value. I hope this works well. I'm not sure how long to make the game, it's difficult to judge how long it will take to drive around and do each task. The list isn't meant to be completed. I am planning on having 3 teams of 4-5 boys each. I have purchased bandanas in 3 colors and will have the boys pick one out randomly from a bag to choose teams. We also plan on having them decorate the cars with glass paint and streamers. If the weather here in Chicago area is terrible the day of the party, we have a back-up plan to move the party to the mall. Because I am so insane, my 12 year old daughter is having her party the next ni ght and we are also doing a neighborhood scavenger hunt for that (15-18 boys and girls). Not as complicated, but we are trying to keep them occupied until the DJ arrives for a 2 hour dance party at our home. Wish me luck!

Cathy Wilson, USA

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Hi Nikki,

The treasure hunt was a success. Some of the kids were just a little confused in the beginning, either they were not listening to the instructions (typical teenagers) or my instructions were not clear. I should probably have shown samples of what they were supposed to look for like the station's names, next destination and the challenges.

But finally they got it and everybody had a great time. Thanks.

Catalina Alter, Hong Kong

More details on a great Teen Treasure Hunt here

Mall scavenger hunt is a blast

We had a Mall Scavenger Hunt for my daughters 12th birthday last Friday. It was a blast. I used some of your ideas and then added some of my own. They divided up into two teams by pulling a color out of a basket. Each team was given a gift bag with $2, a digital camera (we have keepsake photos), a pen and the list of items they needed to obtain. I gave them one hour. Some of the items were pictures of different things with the group. They were very cute and the girls had a blast. Each team came back with stories and as the evening went on at our home, the stories got funnier and funnier. Thanks for the help. It was a really good time. We are going away this weekend and there are 3 families traveling in 3 different cars. We are thinking of doing the interstate scavenger hunt. Just not sure if I will have the time to get it together before we leave.

LouEllen Michel, Maryland, USA

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Treasure hunt help is apprreciated

Nikki! You're the best! Thanks so much!

Rachel Lawry, Alabama, USA

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Hi Nikki,

We had our Easter theme Treasure Hunt at church and everyone including adults had a great time. I made a few changes to the stations making them all assocated with Biblical Easter, such as the Cross, the Road to Emmaus, Garden of Gethsemane, and so on.Our team names were the Angels, Roman Soldiers, and so on. As one of the kids put it. THIS IS AWSOME. Everyone is asking when the next one will be!!

Also for Easter I had a treasure hunt for my little ones that I babysit. They are 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 using pictures, a tree, a trampoline, and put the clues in Easter eggs. As soon as it was over the 3 1/2 year old started jumping up and down saying LETS DO IT AGAIN, LETS DO IT AGAIN.

Thank you again Nikki for all you do to bring joy and fun to peoples lives may you be as blessed as much as I have seen others blessed for the fun they have had doing THE TREASURE HUNTS.

Brenda Morgan, West Virginia, USA

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