What Are Scavenger Hunts (And Why Your Team Needs Them!)
Scavenger hunts are team-building activities focused on problem solving, teamwork, and discovery. The goal is always to tackle challenges and solve riddles in order to find certain items. Alternatively, the purpose can be to uncover what challenge comes next, which can be a group photo or even a dance battle.
Scavenger hunts have become powerful team-building boosters over the years, offering multiple benefits for workplace engagement and productivity.
According to a study by Future Workplace, employees with few workplace friends reported feeling lonely and disengaged. Plus, over 70% of employees say friends at work are the most crucial element to a happy working life. Scavenger hunts can help address this by:
- Strengthening bonds between cross-functional teams
- Facilitating connections between employees who don't typically interact
- Creating experiences that build lasting relationships
With employee isolation leading up to a 21% drop in productivity, according to Gallup's research, investing in team building activities becomes more and more a priority.
As reported by McKinsey & Company, 43% of employees fear reduced collaboration in remote work settings. Scavenger hunts contribute to problem-solving skills and collaboration, even virtually. Additionally, these activities can have a positive impact on employee retention. By strengthening workplace relationships, scavenger hunts may help reduce turnover rates.
Our List of 25 Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Explore four game-changing scavenger hunt styles that will transform your team’s experience. Explore our TeamOut suggestions for Indoor, Outdoor, Virtual, and Educational hunt ideas that promise to make team building unforgettable.
15 Indoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Scavenger hunts don’t necessarily demand thorough planning, tons of materials, and outdoor space. In fact, they can take place right in your office with minimal investment (or none at all)! Check out our top suggestions of Indoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas:
1. Storage Room Scavenger Hunt
The majority of storage rooms - in the office or at home - are filled with hidden treasures and relics. This hunt will take your team from a boring space into an exciting exploration zone. In this activity, participants are challenged to discover forgotten artifacts and share their stories.
Storage Room Hunt Ideas include:
- Find the oldest newspaper or magazine and take a photo of a news article that grabs your attention;
- Locate items with an unusual vintage design (it can be anything from lamp shades to book holders);
- Discover objects from manufacturing dates from before employees were born, like typewriters or old telephones;
- Find objects that represent technological evolution in a specific category;
- Identify items that could be repurposed or upcycled in creative ways;
Group size: 4-15 participants
Why it works for teams: Encourages creative thinking, storytelling, and collaborative problem-solving.
2. Office Scavenger Hunt
Looking for ways to elevate your team building game without having to leave the office? Then an Office Scavenger Hunt is a game-changer for you and your employees. Transform your workplace into an exploration ground where teamwork and observation skills are put to the test.
Office Hunt Ideas include:
- Locate and photograph office decorations or personal touches, like photos, plants, or candles;
- Take a photo or a video of the newest employees in the team;
- Take a selfie in your favorite room/space/balcony;
- Take a photo of the person who drinks the most coffee;
- Ask three colleagues to make a video where they say three things they like about you (each);
- Find an employee who has worked in the company for more than five years;
Group size: 10-30 participants
Why it works for teams: Breaks workplace routine and promotes unexpected interactions.
3. Stream Scavenger Hunt
This scavenger hunt works as an effective icebreaker for employees to get to know each other. This activity basically consists of watching a TV show with your team members. The first step is to find a show that most participants have not watched. From time to time, stop the show and get hunting!
Stream Hunt ideas include:
- Create a meme inspired by a scene from the show
- If your team was the cast of the show, who would play who?
- Predict plot twists before they happen
- Design a character's alternative costume
- Compose a short poem about the show's main theme
- Develop an alternative ending scenario
Group size: 5-20 participants
Why it works for teams: Enhances creative thinking and encourages playful interaction.
4. Museum Hack Scavenger Hunt
Museum Hack Scavenger Hunts are the ultimate hunt at world class museums! With an educational purpose but surprisingly fun and challenging, these scavenger hunts are specially designed for corporate team bonding. Activities include group photos, storytelling, and can be customized to your company’s industry.
Museum Hack Scavenger Hunt includes:
- 1.5 hour-experience led by a professional guide in a world class museum of your choice
- Unknown (and juicy!) stories about art pieces and artists
- Trivia games and group photo challenges
- Treasure hunt to find specific items at the museum
Group size: 8-25 participants
Why it works for teams: Stimulates creativity and encourages critical thinking.
5. Culinary Detective Hunt
Gather your team and start investigating where cooking meets mystery. This indoor scavenger hunt takes place in a kitchen, which can be the office kitchen if it is equipped for the effect. Participants are challenged to become culinary detectives, using their knowledge and creativity to solve food-related puzzles. Employees will have to find ingredients and search for cooking techniques while competing in a series of challenges that test their teamwork.
Culinary Detective Hunt ideas include:
- Identify mysterious ingredients through sensory clues (use a blindfold and use your smell to find the best seasonings, for example);
- Work as a team and follow clues that lead to a hidden recipe;
- Recreate a recipe using only items found in the kitchen;
- Solve cooking technique puzzles;
- Trace the global origin of spices and ingredients;
- Create a dish using only items with specific color or shape;
Group size: 4-12 participants
Why it works for teams: Promotes creativity, culinary skills, and collaborative problem-solving.
6. Alphabet Hunt
Alphabet Hunt is a scavenger hunt that transforms any environment into a discovery. In this hunt, participants capture the world around them through the lens of the alphabet. Teams must use their creativity and observation skills to photograph objects, places, or people that represent each letter from A to Z.
Alphabet Hunt Ideas:
- Capture creative interpretations for challenging letters like Q, X, and Z;
- Find objects that spell out words when their first letters are combined;
- Photograph items that represent your company or team values for each letter;
- Create a story using the objects found for each letter;
- Challenge teams to find items within specific categories (e.g. nature, technology, travel);
Group size: 6-40 participants
Why it works for teams: Enhances creativity, observation skills, and encourages out-of-the-box thinking.
7. Selfie Safari
Embark on a selfie adventure with the Selfie Safari! Inspired by the classic scavenger hunt, in this exercise participants become explorers, armed with nothing but their smartphones. The goal is to capture the most outrageous, creative, and memorable selfies possible within the office environment. Find interesting objects to add fun to the hunt and work as small teams for extra enjoyment.
Selfie Safari Challenges include:
- Find the weirdest object in your vicinity and take a selfie with it;
- Take a selfie with someone wearing the same color outfit as you;
- Take a selfie with the person that makes you laugh the most in the office;
- Take a selfie with your work “ride or die”;
- Take a group selfie where everyone is mid-jump;
- Take a selfie that shows one of your hidden talents;
Group size: 5-30 participants
Why it works for teams: Promotes creativity, self-expression, and breaks down social barriers.
8. Nostalgia From Decades Past Scavenger Hunt
Step into a time machine with your team members and relive the glory of the golden days with this Nostalgia From Decades Past Scavenger Hunt. This hunt brings teams together through the universal language of pop culture. From baby boomers to millennials, participants will find themselves bonding over moments from the past.
Nostalgia Hunt Challenges:
- “Grease Lightning” - Recreate the dance scene from Grease (extra points if you are wearing leather jackets);
- “Godfather Respect” - Perform a dramatic scene where one team member makes an “offer they can't refuse” while petting a cat;
- “Interstellar” - Create a dramatic scene mimicking the rocket launch, with emotional goodbyes and Hans Zimmer-inspired background music;
- “I'll Be There For You” - Film your team on a couch singing the Friends theme. Don’t forget to sing and clap;
- “I'm Flying!” - Reenact the famous Titanic scene in an unexpected office location;
Group size: 4-20 participants
Why it works for teams: Promotes intergenerational bonding and sparks creativity.
9. QR Code Mystery Hunt
Your office can be the ultimate interactive puzzle playground using simply QR codes. During this hunt, employees must find and scan strategically hidden codes that reveal clues, riddles, and next steps in their scavenger hunt adventure.
QR Code Hunt Challenges:
- Hide QR codes in unexpected locations around the space;
- Create multi-step puzzles that require decoding multiple codes;
- Include industry-related riddles that must be solved to unlock the next QR code;
- Design codes that lead to specific team challenges;
Group size: 4-20 participants
Why it works for teams: Encourages problem-solving and teamwork/collaboration.
10. Sensory Exploration Hunt
A Sensory Exploration Hunt is an immersive indoor activity that challenges team members to utilize all five senses in discovering their environment. Unlike traditional scavenger hunts, this experience focuses on how your team perceives the world through sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
Sensory Challenge Ideas:
- Touch Challenge: Blindfolded, find objects with unique textures (smooth, rough, bumpy);
- Sound Challenge: Blindfolded, identify sounds without seeing their source;
- Smell Challenge: Blindfolded, guess mystery items through scent alone;
- Taste Challenge: Blindfolded taste testing of different foods;
- Sight Challenge: Identify objects with the same color and items with the same shape;
Group size: 6-16 participants
Why it works for teams: Develops sensory intelligence and collaborative problem-solving.
11. Technology Time Hunt
Make the most of the digital age with your team on this tech-focused indoor scavenger hunt! Employees explore the different breakout rooms and office facilities to discover and interact with technological items and gadgets from different decades, combining problem-solving skills with fun.
Technology Time Hunt Ideas:
- Create a “tech tower” sculpture using office electronics;
- Solve tech-related trivia questions;
- Identify the oldest office electronics and the most recent ones;
- Locate and document the office's tech hubs;
- Capture creative photos showcasing everyday tech in unusual ways;
Group size: 8-20 participants
Why it works for teams: Increases tech awareness, promotes creative problem-solving, and encourages exploration of workplace resources.
12. Creative Corner Hunt
Challenge your team's artistic side with this art-fueled scavenger hunt. Team members embark on a quest to discover the creative elements hidden within their office, from art pieces to photographs and paintings.
Creative Corner Hunt Ideas:
- Locate and document inspiring quotes or artwork in unexpected places;
- Recreate famous artworks using office supplies;
- Prepare a performance inspired by office life and your team’s routine/private jokes;
- Answer art and literature trivia questions;
- Create a collaborative art piece using recyclable objects;
Group size: 6-15 participants
Why it works for teams: Stimulates creative thinking and promotes team bonding through an artistic experience.
13. Time it Right Hunt
This high-energy indoor scavenger hunt adds some adrenaline and a slight pressure element to each challenge. Participants must race against the clock to solve puzzles, find items, and complete tasks, creating an atmosphere of excitement and urgency.
Time it Right Hunt Ideas:
- Solve riddles within strict time limits, like 2 or 5 minutes;
- Find specific objects in your office before the timer runs out (beware of the descriptions - it has to match the color/size/quantity in the instructions);
- Complete physical challenges against the clock, like tidying up your desk under 30 seconds, improvising a TikTok dance or showcasing your best yoga pose;
- Decode messages/memes/emoji instructions with countdown timers;
Group size: 6-20 participants
Why it works for teams: Promotes quick decision-making and teamwork.
14. Scavenger Hunt Bingo
Transform the traditional scavenger hunt into a game of chance and strategy with Scavenger Hunt Bingo. With its familiar format of bingo, your team members get custom bingo cards featuring office items or personal facts. The goal is to find items or people matching the descriptions on their cards.
Scavenger Hunt Bingo Ideas:
- Locate office supplies matching descriptions on the bingo card;
- Find colleagues with specific traits or experiences;
- Discover hidden items placed around the office;
- Answer trivia questions about the company or team members;
Group size: 5-30 participants
Why it works for teams: Promotes interpersonal connections, encourages exploration of the work environment, and adds a bit of healthy competition.
15. Seasonal Themed Hunt
This Seasonal Themed Hunt is the perfect team-building activity for a special occasion. Adapt it to suit the date: Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, 4th of July, Halloween, or Thanksgiving. Participants use smartphones to capture themed photos based on clues or prompts, encouraging visual storytelling and out-of-the-box thinking.
Seasonal Themed Hunt Ideas:
- Find hidden holiday-themed objects like pumpkins, a turkey decoration, or a pie during a Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt;
- Solve riddles related to the season's history or traditions;
- Complete themed tasks or mini-games;
- Create holiday-inspired art or decorations;
- Answer trivia questions about the specific holiday;
Group size: 8-25 participants
Why it works for teams: Boosts morale, encourages festive spirit, and promotes teamwork.
5 Outdoor Adventure Ideas
If you’re planning on gathering your team for a scavenger hunt and need a break from the office, why not hold it in an inspiring location? Your team members will be thrilled to have a change of scenery and that itself can be a booster for innovation and teamwork. These are our favorite Outdoor Adventure Ideas:
16. Beach Scavenger Hunt
Every team loves a beach day, but you’re about to make it an exciting adventure of discovery and team bonding. This outdoor activity combines seaside exploration with team challenges. Provide a list of what your team members must look for at the beach and have them photograph their findings for evidence. Fun and teamwork are guaranteed!
Beach Hunt Ideas:
- Identify, photograph, and share a fun fact about a water animal;
- Find beach treasures like heart-shaped rocks and perfectly shaped seashells;
- Hold a sandcastle competition as part of your list of challenges;
- Set the timer for 10 minutes and see how many different animals and plants your teams can photograph;
Group size: 6-20 participants
Why it works for teams: Promotes environmental awareness and encourages outdoor exploration.
17. Travel Scavenger Hunt
Turn your team outings into an engaging exploration game where participants observe their surroundings in a new location and document their discoveries during the journey.
Travel Hunt Ideas:
- Spot unusual roadside attractions;
- Photograph local landmarks;
- Identify different transportation methods;
- Document architectural curiosities;
- Capture unexpected moments during travel;
Group size: 4-15 participants
Why it works for teams: Builds observational skills, promotes mindful traveling, and creates storytelling opportunities.
18. GPS Scavenger Hunt
Time to explore your own city on an outstanding GPS-guided scavenger hunt. This is an interactive digital adventure that uses smartphone technology and geographic challenges.
GPS Hunt Ideas:
- Navigate to specific locations using GPS coordinates;
- Discover local attractions and landmarks and provide proof of your discoveries (photos/videos);
- Complete location-based tasks like ordering coffee from a specific coffee shop or photographing the oldest bookstore in town;
- Share interesting facts about discovered sites;
- Recreate famous monuments or take group photos next to the landmarks;
Group size: 5-18 participants
Why it works for teams: Develops navigation skills, encourages exploration, and promotes technological literacy.
19. Zoo Scavenger Hunt
A Zoo Scavenger Hunt can be an educational and entertaining adventure where your team members have the opportunity to combine animal observation with challenges and learning opportunities. Make some research beforehand to get to know the species you’ll find at the zoo and prepare the challenges accordingly.
Zoo Hunt Ideas:
- Identify endangered species;
- Capture animal behavior videos;
- Learn fascinating animal facts;
- Complete wildlife-related tasks;
- Play Zoo Scavenger Hunt Bingo and find the hidden animals at the zoo;
Group size: 8-25 participants
Why it works for teams: Promotes environmental education and encourages teamwork.
20. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Immerse your employees in outdoor exploration and get familiar with nature. Connect with natural environments through sensory and investigative challenges. Choose your location beforehand and make sure it’s a park or forest nearby and easily accessible.
Nature Hunt Ideas:
- Identify local plant and animal species and take photos (no flash!);
- Collect natural objects like pinecones or leaves;
- Create environmental art with the items you’ve collected;
- Document ecosystem diversity through art or a light presentation;
Group size: 6-20 participants
Why it works for teams: Develops environmental awareness, encourages outdoor skills, and promotes ecological understanding.
3 Best Virtual Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Remote teams are eager to participate in thrilling challenges and team bonding exercises, and scavenger hunts are no exception! Gather your team on a video conferencing platform and get hunting! These are our top ideas for Virtual Scavenger Hunts:
21. Virtual Office Scavenger Hunt
Virtual Office Scavenger Hunts make remote work environments turn into team-building arenas with this digital twist on the classic scavenger hunt. In this activity, participants search their home offices and living spaces to find specific items and share their discoveries via video conferencing platforms.
Virtual Office Hunt Ideas:
- Showcase your own home office setup;
- Share personal items with interesting stories;
- Capture creative “work from home” moments;
- Present unexpected home office views or backgrounds;
Group size: 5-20 participants
Why it works for teams: Bridges physical distance and promotes personal connections.
22. Meme Scavenger Hunt
Immerse your team members in digital culture with this modern, humor-focused hunt. Employees search for and share memes that match specific prompts, combining internet technology with self-expression.
Meme Hunt Ideas:
- Find memes that represent current work projects;
- Share memes depicting team dynamics and private jokes you might have with your team;
- Locate memes that humorously describe remote work life;
- Create original memes about company culture;
- Curate a meme collection that tells a story about the team's week;
Group size: 4-30 participants
Why it works for teams: Encourages digital literacy, promotes humor, and fosters a fun team environment.
23. Inbox Scavenger Hunt
Emails can be a real headache, so you better turn your inbox into a team-building experience. Encourage team members to search their inboxes for specific types of emails, combining productivity with play.
Inbox Hunt Ideas:
- Locate emails with unique or creative subject lines;
- Find the oldest unread email in the inbox;
- Identify emails with the most recipients;
- Discover emails with interesting file attachments;
- Locate emails from unexpected senders;
Group size: 6-20 participants
Why it works for teams: Combines productivity with fun, encourages email organization, and reveals interesting communication patterns.
2 Educational Hunt Ideas
Who said fun can’t be educational? Scavenger hunts can include a variety of physical and mental challenges that challenge your team’s problem-solving skills or even job-related qualities. Why not explore their professional competencies while still bonding with each other? Check out our top choices for Educational Hunt Ideas!
24. Skill-Based Challenge Hunt
This innovative indoor scavenger hunt is an interactive game focused on learning where employees participate in several skill-focused exercises. Teams move from station to station, and have to tackle challenges that test and develop specific professional competencies. The hunt operates like a professional obstacle course with real-world workplace scenarios. Participants must demonstrate technical skills and answer industry-specific trivia.
Skill-Based Challenge Ideas:
- Solve industry-specific puzzles or case studies;
- Complete mini-quizzes on organizational history and values;
- Demonstrate practical skills related to job roles, like making a Reels for Social Media or coming up with a new logo for a brand/product;
- Participate in collaborative problem-solving tasks as a team, like marketing strategies to present a new product, or contact a client about an emergency, etc;
Group size: 8-25 participants
Why it works for teams: Improves job-specific skills, reinforces organizational knowledge, and combines learning with team building.
25. Knowledge Expedition Hunt
Knowledge Expedition Hunt is an immersive and educational scavenger hunt where learning becomes an interactive adventure. Participants form teams and solve interdisciplinary challenges that connect different academic and professional disciplines. Create stations representing distinct knowledge areas and create challenges for each station. Incorporate multimedia learning resources and use progressive difficulty levels.
Knowledge Hunt Ideas:
- Solve a scientific problem using historical context;
- Decode a mathematical puzzle;
- Create a technological solution using ecological principles;
- Develop a business strategy using psychological insights;
- Translate a complex concept into multiple communication formats;
- Cross Science & History and recreate a historical scientific experiment;
- Cross Technology & Art and design an innovative solution like a book cover/magazine cover/website frontpage using creative principles;
Group size: 10-30 participants
Why it works for teams: Promotes interdisciplinary thinking, encourages collaborative learning, and develops critical problem-solving skills.
Wrapping Up
Scavenger hunts go beyond fun and games. They are tools that play a crucial role in team building and personal growth. It doesn’t matter where you are: our scavenger hunt ideas cater to in-person, hybrid, and remote teams.
Whether you’re exploring the great outdoors, uncovering the storage room in your office or even finding random objects at home and sharing them virtually, these adventures promote engagement and learning. Known for adding a pitch of healthy competition to your team bonding, scavenger hunts sharpen problem-solving skills, boost creativity, and foster collaboration.
From in-person challenges that get your heart racing to virtual quests that bridge geographical gaps, scavenger hunts adapt to any setting. Plus, they can have an educational purpose, making knowledge acquisition a thrilling journey rather than a chore.
Ready to level up your team's dynamics? Look no further than TeamOut! We're the experts of team events and corporate retreats, turning ordinary outings into extraordinary experiences. We make event planning seamless and stress-free, so don’t hesitate to schedule a free call today with one of our planners. Together, we can plan your dream team shindig!
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