The Great Adventure Birthday Party

Create a Course

For the scavenger hunt itself you’ll need to tailor the clues to your own home. Use the same parchment-style paper you used for the invitation to print out the clues of the scavenger hunt. Each clue will lead the children to the next location, where they will find another clue; try to be as creative as you can when writing the hints. To add interest, you can place pieces of equipment the adventurers might need at each locale, say a length of rope, a flashlight or a compass, or you can create an obstacle they must ford. Choose a location that is removed from the rest of the house, like the basement or a shed in the backyard, for the location of the final clue and the “treasure.”

Hide the Treasure

The party favors will be the “treasure” for your scavenger hunt. Opt for treats to match the quest like inexpensive flashlights and keychain carabineers. Flashlights (or treat bags) can be filled with small candies wrapped in gold foil to look like real treasure. If you have an old trunk or box, stash the favors inside for extra impact.

Laura Fenton is a Brooklyn-based writer and stylist whose work has appeared in many publications, including Country Living, Family Circle and Good Housekeeping. She is also a regular contributor to Shelterpop.com.