Scavenger Hunt
Race to collect a checklist of objects, sights or challenges — from photographing landmarks to obtaining odd items — before your rivals do.
What is Scavenger Hunt?
Scavenger hunts are team-based race games popularised by American socialite Elsa Maxwell in 1930s New York. Teams receive a checklist of items to collect, sights to photograph, tasks to complete or people to meet within a time limit. Points are awarded by items or challenges completed. University orientation weeks (the University of Chicago 'Scav Hunt' is the world's largest), city-tour operators, cruise ships and children's parties all run modern variants.
Quick facts
Category
Escape & Immersive
Type
Team sport
Players
4–200
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
1930s New York — Elsa Maxwell's celebrity society-party invention; university tradition since
Olympic
No
Popularity
global