How to Have a Photo Scavenger Hunt

In this day and age, you might thing twice about sending your kids out to knock on strangers' doors to ask for an odd assortment of objects. A photo scavenger hunt is a fun and safe alternative to the traditional scavenger hunt game. Participants compete to take pictures of an assortment of things from a pre-made list, each item worth a specified number of points. All you need are cameras and active imaginations!

Step One: Choose your weapon.

Most people prefer to use digital cameras for photo scavenger hunts, because you can see the pictures and verify the results instantly, and choose which (if any) of the pictures you want to print. You can even post the results on a blog or photo sharing website.

If you are arranging a photo scavenger hunt for kids, you might not want to send them all out with digital cameras. For a birthday party or other kid's group, you can distribute single-use cameras and develop the pictures at a one-hour photo place for the results.

Step Two: Make a list.

Every great scavenger hunt starts with a great list. Come up with a list of people, places and things to photograph (or have the kids photograph). List items can include very specific things like "person flying a kite" and very general things like "somewhere warm."

Each list item should be worth a number of points based on how difficult it may be to find that particular item. Bonus points can be awarded for photographing every item on the list or for winning certain categories like "most creative picture" and "funniest interpretation of a list item."

Step Three: Take photos in teams or individually.

For kids, it's best to divide them in teams so no one is out wandering alone to complete the photo scavenger hunt. For older folks or for people who are not working with a short time limit, every person for herself might work better.

Then, get out there and start looking! Take pictures of list items to score points for "finding" that thing. Everyone should meet up at a pre-determined time at the end of the game. For kids at a party, this could be within an hour. For adults, you could potentially have a month-long photo scavenger hunt.

Step Four: Tally the scores and pick a winner.

At the end of the photo scavenger hunt, a parent or neutral party should act as judge to tally the points. The team with the most points wins.

For adults who want to stretch out the fun, post photos on a blog and let friends vote for category winners.