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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Treasure hunt for first graders

Hello Nikki,

Yes we just had our treasure hunt this weekend for 12 boys age 7 (1st graders). they were divided into 4 teams (red, green, blue and white bandanas which they wore on their heads and doubled as blindfolds when needed ). it was a huge success. I appreciate the information you sent to us, it helped guide us to create our own treasure hunt.

We had 5 stations numbered (not using the cities, kids this age can't read well enough) with challenges; 1) a small obstacle course they had to do blindfolded 2) a top of a xerox box which we made a paper maze in which they had to blow a jawbreaker with a straw to homebase 3) a board that they had to attach 4 puzzle pieces with screws and bolts (holes were predrilled for large lag bolts) and 4) apple dunking (which the apples were too large so all they really did was get wet. #5 was the final area where they dug the treasures up. Each team was given a list of stations in the order they were supposed to go, so all they had to do was find #1, then #2, #3, etc. it was a shotgun start and they all went to different stations, no kids were at the same station at the same time but we would see each team coming and going as our team arrived and left...

At the successful conclusion of each station, they got 1/4 of a paper treasure map puzzle which told them all to go to #5. when they got to #5 (they all arrived about the same time) there were 4 clues on a fence each by color and they told them to walk 5 steps to the left or 10 fenceposts away etc where they had to dig. My husband and i had pre-buried about 1 foot into the ground 4 treasure boxes i found at hobby lobby ($4 each) spraypainted gold and filled with 3 cans of silly string, pirate paper money and coins)

I gave them hand shovels to dig up the treasures and after they did so they had a silly string battle. they loved it. We also had a treasure chest pinata ready in a nearby tree and they banged on that. we had chicken nuggets and tater tots and cake and ice cream and then they all left! phew.

Here is my advice. for this age group you have to remember they are just learning to read. clues and challenges were age appropriate and each team had an ADULT leader to help them understand the challenge if there was a problem and find the challenge on our property (we spread them out over 2 acres). We also had teenagers/adults at each challenge to adminster the challenge and hand out the treasure map puzzles. All adults wore name tags.

What you sent was certainly adjustable for any age or intelligence level. I made the treasure map puzzles, numbers for the stations and maps on a powerpoint program but i could have drawn them as well. You need to follow your schedule and it will be a hit. Thank you it was worth the money and i did have several people ask me the process.

I have attached the powerpoint stuff you can use it or disregard it. I packed up my treasure map table cloth, extra paper plates, napkins, cups and cake topper and am bringing it to the resale shop with a little instructions to reuse if they want to have a treasure chest party for their child.

thank you very much

Karen Rowan, Colorado, 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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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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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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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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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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Wonderful painted treasure box

Hi Nikki;

I love your "customer service"---except that its more than customer service! It's personal and warm and I feel like I have a friend instead of a business transaction.

Now the burial place! We are fortunate in that we have many options. We walked the property again this morning and will probably choose a place next to a creek bed---(dry at the moment as

we have had no rain--- under a huge Oak tree--- and behind a hedge of evergreen fir. We like this place because the losers will be able to watch the retrieval activities from solid stable ground ---not on a hill and no rocks.

I was very excited to find a wonderful Treasure Box---perfect size & shape (just like you expect a treasure chest to look)--It was unpainted so I stained it brown--and best of all the treasures I purchased fit into it perfectly.

We still have to work on the puzzle part and plan the stations. Time is getting short so we are under pressure with all the other tasks for the big week end.

Thanks for keeping in touch.

Lou Wilson, California, 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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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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Western theme treasure hunt for family reunion

Nikki-

I planned our treasure hunt for our Family Reunion. Our reunion this year had a Western Theme, so our Treasure Hunt was based on a train robbery. Each team had a "gang" name . We had 6 teams of five The Dalton Gang, the Hole in the Wall Gang etc... I had everyone pick their team then they all had to draw different colored bandannas out of an over sized novelty cowboy hat. What ever color bandanna they got was what gang they were in. I thought the idea of a family reunion was to get to know your entire family and this way we just didn't stay with the cousins we were familiar with, it was a neat "trick" and very funny! Each station was a train depot and they all had Western town names, Laredo, Death Valley, Dodge City etc..

At each station the tasks also stayed within our theme. We had hoppy balls that looked like horseys, there was a course they had to bounce along (it was so funny!), stick horse races, one station they had to apply a brand tattoo and wear a cowboy hat, it was all simple, fast and FUN. The final clue was placed on a swing at the campsite and the swing was shaped like a horse (that wasn't planned, it just happened!). The treasure wasn't buried, but hidden under a HUGE bush so the winning team had to actually burrow under the foliage to find the chest. The chest was a replica of a train chest, complete with a big ole rusty padlock.

The winning gang had to return to the shelter house to open the chest after we had gathered all the teams back. The treasure was play money, gold nugget gum, bubble gum foil coins and foil chocolate coins. I also had suckers shaped like stars, and cactus and cowboy boots, and mardigras beads. I curled metallic ribbon and when they opened the chest there were a lot of oohhh's and ahhh's. This game was a BLAST and everyone was talking about it, I can't wait to see the pictures! It was a lot of prep time, but it was SO worth it. My cousin and I are talking about doing a version for Homecoming this fall!

Thanks so much.

Debbie Leaming, Oklahoma, 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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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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Western theme treasure hunt for family reunion

Nikki-

I planned our treasure hunt for our Family Reunion. Our reunion this year had a Western Theme, so our Treasure Hunt was based on a train robbery. Each team had a "gang" name . We had 6 teams of five The Dalton Gang, the Hole in the Wall Gang etc... I had everyone pick their team then they all had to draw different colored bandannas out of an over sized novelty cowboy hat. What ever color bandanna they got was what gang they were in. I thought the idea of a family reunion was to get to know your entire family and this way we just didn't stay with the cousins we were familiar with, it was a neat "trick" and very funny! Each station was a train depot and they all had Western town names, Laredo, Death Valley, Dodge City etc..

At each station the tasks also stayed within our theme. We had hoppy balls that looked like horseys, there was a course they had to bounce along (it was so funny!), stick horse races, one station they had to apply a brand tattoo and wear a cowboy hat, it was all simple, fast and FUN. The final clue was placed on a swing at the campsite and the swing was shaped like a horse (that wasn't planned, it just happened!). The treasure wasn't buried, but hidden under a HUGE bush so the winning team had to actually burrow under the foliage to find the chest. The chest was a replica of a train chest, complete with a big ole rusty padlock.

The winning gang had to return to the shelter house to open the chest after we had gathered all the teams back. The treasure was play money, gold nugget gum, bubble gum foil coins and foil chocolate coins. I also had suckers shaped like stars, and cactus and cowboy boots, and mardigras beads. I curled metallic ribbon and when they opened the chest there were a lot of oohhh's and ahhh's. This game was a BLAST and everyone was talking about it, I can't wait to see the pictures! It was a lot of prep time, but it was SO worth it. My cousin and I are talking about doing a version for Homecoming this fall!

Thanks so much.

Debbie Leaming, Oklahoma, 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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Surprise 16th treasure hunt party starts with a kidnap!

I am planning a surprise 16th birthday party with a pirate theme for my daughter. The pirate treasure hunt will take place in a park in Yucaipa, CA. The party is for girls around my daughter's age. I have planned a treasure hunt around the park, enlisted some helpers and plan to 'bury' the treasure in a painted styrofoam chest filled with gifts from the .99 cent store under some bushes. We will begin by kidnapping my daughter from a local ice cream shop and proceed to the park for the treasure hunt. I think it will be great fun and I hope the girls will dress up in pirate garb. If not, I have some props for them. I'll let you know how it went after Friday.

RobAnne Burns, California 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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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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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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