Scavenger Hunt Play-By-Play

Article: Rachel Hardage Barrett

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!

1 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

The Setup

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

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2 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Getting Pumped

Dressed in team T-shirts, guests watch a video of last year's highlights.
3 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

The Gear

Official walkie-talkie distribution...
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4 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Let the Games Begin!

Participants race to grab their first clue. Smack talk ensues.
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5 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

High Speed Chase

Cars whip up dust, despite the 25 mph speed limit.
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6 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Got a Clue?

Sela takes a stab at one of her husband's mind-baffling clues.
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7 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Getting Close

The brown team (in war paint!) is close behind the lead.
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8 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

The Winners?

The pink team optimistically claims victory.
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9 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Compiling the Clues

Not so fast! Teams must piece together clues.
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10 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Almost There!

Still piecing it together...
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11 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

And the Winner Is...

Could it be...a tie? Howard controls the chaos via his megaphone.
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12 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Scavenger Hunt Winners

It's a tie! Decorated members of the blue and purple teams strike a pose.
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13 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Victory Lap

Winning teams hop on the pontoon for a victory lap set to "We Are the Champions."
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14 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Going All In

The losing teams jump in to playfully dampen their spirits.
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15 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

All Smiles

Sela's daughter, Anabella (right); cousin Anne Tyler (left); and friend Anne Morgan
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16 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Time to Chow Down

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

 

 

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17 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Nighttime Ride

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

 

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18 of 18 Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Host Your Own Scavenger Hunt!

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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