Diff: How should I set up a treasure hunt for a large group of young children in a library and parking lot?
I’ll be setting up a treasure hunt to start off a party at my local library. In past years, around 50 or more children have come to the party so I should expect the same number (maybe even more). The children range in age from 5 up to 10 (although I was planning that the really young children would get help from their parents). The hunt will be set up in the library parking lot (which is pretty big) and in the children’s section of the library. The only problem is, I’m not really sure how to set it up! Should the children work in groups or should they work alone? Should they have to carry a sheet and maybe pick up a sticker at each clue to make sure they go to each clue? Should a library volunteer be at each clue to read the clue to the children or should the children read the clues themselves?
Any ideas or help would be amazing 🙂
Answers and Views:
Answer by choccy_002
Well, first of all, make sure the parking lot is closed to cars!
If you are going to have people showing up at different times, maybe you should consider just a generic hunt instead of a treasure hunt? Hide a bunch of little themed toys… like little dinosaurs or even cards with pictures. Tell them they can redeem 3 for a prize and send them off as they come in.
If you would like to go with the treasure hunt, maybe divide it between the little ones that can’t read and the older ones that can. For the younger ones give them a “map” with a picture story and a picture of the location of the first clue. At that clue have another part of the story and a picture of the 2nd place they need to go… etc… We did this with the 4-6 crowd and it was a hit… no “reading” required and they are doing it themselves. At the end they would tell us the ‘story’- either as individuals or group (go with the flow for this group) and it would connect to the theme and what comes next.
For the older ones regular written clues should work fine.
I don’t know that you really need to do the sticker at each clue so much as at the end. You’ll know at the end when they “tell” you the story… but it’s all about fun, so as long as they are trying I wouldn’t really worry if they miss one or just send them back to try again. If you do it this way, you will have to have some sort of props around the parking lot to send them around. I would also have the volunteers just float- some kids they may need to walk around with but most they can just sort of watch out for as they reach the stations.
Good luck 🙂
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