The activity is the Scavenge Hunt. This can be done in three
different ways and I will describe them below:
1)
The Stay Seated Scavenger Hunt
v
Ask audience to bring in items they think will
be asked for. Encourage them to fill their purses, pockets, bags, etc. and
bring it to the event
v
Make a list of items that they could bring with
them
v
Include items that would be funny, that might
have a story to go with them, or that people would be surprised someone would
actually have. (Green Stamps anyone?)
v
Cut the list into pieces and place them into a
basket
v
Ask people to draw the item out of the basket.
(This gets more people involved, even if they never have an item on your list,
they are participating…..)
v
Use the resident’s names as often as possible.
v
Teams can be seated at a table or divide your auditorium
or meeting room into sections
v
After reading the item out loud, give people
time to find the item – but not much time. Keep it moving!
v
Count all the items and record them. I had an
assistant help with this buy using a dry erase board.
v
Prizes or no prizes…. It’s up to you.
2)
The Semi-Seated Scavenger Hunt
v
Same as above, but have each team bring the item
back to the team’s table, which is at the front of the room
v
You can do this with a captain who gets it from
his team, or do not have a captain and each person brings their own item up to
the table
v
Make sure that all the items are returned after
the program is over
3)
A Serious Scavenger Hunt
v
Look around your community and make a list of
items that are unique to your community
v
Include items on the list that are specific so
that there is no confusion
v
Gather the participants and give them the list
of items that you want them to find
v
Give participants a deadline to return the items
to you
v
This event can be done over a few days, or in a
few hours
v
Bringing back the items can mean taking a
picture of them on your smart phone or tablet (with or without the resident in
the photo with it), a note on the list of where they located the item, or asking
them to return a sticker that is next to the item on the list.
v
Make the prize something special so that people
are more serious about playing the game independently.
v
This game can be played individually or as a
team
v
Items can be inside or outside.
Here are a few websites that have Scavenger Hunt ideas that
take you beyond what I’ve used with seniors before:
And here are some books from Amazon:
