Scavenger Hunt Play-By-Play

By Rachel Hardage Barrett
June 11, 2012
Credit: Chris M. Rogers
Check out the day's photos of Sela Ward's annual scavenger hunt, and get tips on how to plan your own game this summer!
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The Setup

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Howard, Sela's husband and hunt mastermind, announces eight teams.

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Getting Pumped

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Dressed in team T-shirts, guests watch a video of last year's highlights.

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The Gear

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Official walkie-talkie distribution...

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Let the Games Begin!

Credit: Chris M. Rogers

Participants race to grab their first clue. Smack talk ensues.

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High Speed Chase

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Cars whip up dust, despite the 25 mph speed limit.

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Got a Clue?

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Sela takes a stab at one of her husband's mind-baffling clues.

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Getting Close

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

The brown team (in war paint!) is close behind the lead.

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The Winners?

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

The pink team optimistically claims victory.

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Compiling the Clues

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Not so fast! Teams must piece together clues.

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Almost There!

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Still piecing it together...

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And the Winner Is...

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Could it be...a tie? Howard controls the chaos via his megaphone.

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Scavenger Hunt Winners

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

It's a tie! Decorated members of the blue and purple teams strike a pose.

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Victory Lap

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Winning teams hop on the pontoon for a victory lap set to "We Are the Champions."

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Going All In

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

The losing teams jump in to playfully dampen their spirits.

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All Smiles

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Sela's daughter, Anabella (right); cousin Anne Tyler (left); and friend Anne Morgan

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Time to Chow Down

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

After much-needed showers, guests enjoy bragging rights and a BBQ feast by Randy Chapman and Ed Davis.

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Nighttime Ride

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

After dinner, a hayride takes guests back to the pond's beach for live music.

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Host Your Own Scavenger Hunt!

Credit: Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Howard puts down his megaphone to share his tips for pulling off a (smaller scale) hunt.

  • Establish a location. It can take place in your backyard or span an entire city. "Ideally, at least one person on each team should be familiar with the setting," he says.
  • Select teams. Nothing brings people together like a common enemy, so "feel free to form teams of semi-strangers and assorted ages," he says. Order T-shirts at customink.com.
  • Pinpoint destinations. Choose 10 or so places (fewer if you're gallivanting around a city) that will be relatively easy to identify via clues. If you're looking beyond the back-yard, assign each team a vehicle (bike, car, golf cart, you name it).
  • Create clues. Pose simple questions or get creative. "Take a photo of a location, print it out, and cut it into small pieces," says Howard. "Place the pieces in an envelope so that each team has to complete the puzzle to know where to go." Or create a playlist of songs and ask participants to identify the common thread, which will lead them to the next location.
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By Rachel Hardage Barrett