Last Chanukah, my family had a blast playing this type of scavenger hunt. Gather up the cousins and laugh all night long.
The kids are on vacation from school and everyone is a family state of mind. This is the perfect time of year to spend the day doing something fun with all the cousins – but the weather just doesn’t cooperate. So, we came up with an activity that works for groups of 6 or more. And it’s available just about anywhere you live. Head over to your local Walmart or Target for a great big family scavenger hunt!
The basic idea is to split the family into two or more teams. Assign at least one adult to each team to keep things under control if the team members are young. Each team gets a list of items to find and a camera with which to take pictures of the items. The first team to find everything on the list is the winner. Optionally, set a “spending limit” for the full list. Make sure to have a judge verify that all the clues were satisfied!
Any other rules are flexible—just go with what works for your family. Good sense of humor? Award points for creativity. Very competitive? Have an official judging panel and some good prizes. Good at math? See who can come in with the lowest total of item prices. It’s up to you!
The most important rule is to make a kiddush HaShem. Keep the noise level down and be polite at all times.
The following are some sample scavenger hunt items, but it’s always fun to make up ones that are relevant to your particular family.
- Get a picture of an item that will represent your team’s mascot.
- Get a picture of everyone on your team staging a battle scene.
- Get a picture of a defective item.
- Get a picture of a book everyone in your group has read.
- Get a picture of every member of the team wearing the same article of clothing.
- Get a picture of an item that most people use every day.
- Get a picture of something off but strangely fitting. (Like a computer mouse in the cat toy section.)
- Get a stranger to take a picture of every member of your team sitting on the same piece of furniture.
- Get a picture of three things that can be used to lose weight.
- Get a picture of everyone in your group with a store employee.
- Find a toy that the majority of your group had as a child. (Can be a newer version.)
- Get a picture of a price check station after scanning a clearance item.
- Get a picture of something that “used to swim in water but now it doesn’t”.
- Get a picture of something that smells good when it burns.
- Get a picture of a tool that has multiple uses.
- Get a picture of something used only outdoors.
- Get a picture of a store employee cleaning something. Don’t make the mess so they have to clean!
- Get a picture of an item that would be a perfect gift for Bubby and Zeidy.
- Get a picture of an item that would make Pesach cleaning easier.
Now go out there and have fun! And if you see another family doing the same, ask them if they also saw it here on Between Carpools!
Sarah says
So cute! Love the clues. I think it’s a bit (actually a lot) risky to NOT make a chilul hashem. There’s gotta be at least a few overly excited kids or adults in the bunch to make a bad impression..: to me it just wouldn’t be worth the risk… I would take caution.. maybe a hunt in a house would be better?
Esti says
We’ve successfully hunted three times without making a chillul HaShem, b”H. It’s ok to seem excited and like you’re having fun, as long as you don’t inconvenience anyone or get wild. We make sure to purchase a few items while we’re there, too. The store employees were always happy to participate and seemed to enjoy our fun, too. But know your crowd, I guess…
PNJ says
We had such a great night out at Target. The employees loved participating and all my 5 kids stayed calm and made a kiddush Hashem. My kids are not all old enuf yet so we split up my husband with the boys and me with the girls and it worked wonderfully. We also purchased a few items when we were done.
Thank you!
SG says
I love these questions – so creative! We’ve done scavenger hunts in ikea and a huge outlet mall in Florida…had a blast and it was definity not a chilul Hashem. But like a PP said – you do need to know your crowd! Thanks ????
Dara says
Did this with a friend and her kids, this list has some great ideas. But please please change #9!!!