A virtual scavenger hunt is a fun idea to connect kids stuck at home, a Zoom scavenger hunt, or online sleepover. This is also one of those family activities and fun team-building activities you can file away for a snow day / indoor winter hunt ideas, rainy day treasure hunt, or other indoor activities. Grab our free printable virtual hunt list for Zoom activities for kids!
Online Scavenger Hunt For Kids
Have you ever considered a virtual scavenger hunt (or an indoor scavenger hunt for kids.. except using online connections like Zoom)?
It’s a fun activity that works for homeschooling groups, virtual hunt for students and teachers, family activities, teen church groups, and other groups!
If you’re worried about how to make scavenger hunt, don’t miss our FREE virtual hunt list at the bottom of the post. KEEP SCROLLING!
Before we get to the free printable template, let’s cover some basic questions that people have about kids’ activities like this.
Scavenger Hunt Definition
What is a scavenger hunt?
A scavenger hunt is a list of items that individuals or teams “hunt” to find while competing against each other. Some hunts have a theme (like nature hunts), while others may just be a general list of items you must find. It’s like a treasure hunt!
What are virtual scavenger hunts?
Virtual scavenger hunts are online competitions where kids (or even adults or teams) compete to find a list of items. Competitors are connected via an online program (like a Zoom call, FaceTime, Skype, or a scavenger phone app) and race to be the first person or team to complete the list of items.
How do you do a scavenger hunt on Zoom for kids?
For a Zoom scavenger hunt (or other online platform), set up a Zoom time and date and send out the invite. Come up with Zoom ideas for random things, fun things, or even make a theme. Have an adult as a moderator that releases one clue at time. Be clear about your virtual meeting rules with kids (like no running!). Keep score on who retrieves the items.
You can also make virtual hunt questions or virtual hunt riddles that the kids decode for the item, or just make it a list of items.
This will quickly become one of your favorite Zoom activities with kids or for fun Zoom activities for students.
How do you make a scavenger hunt?
A scavenger hunt is anything that you want to “hunt” in any location — online or in a physical location. To make a hunt, simply come up with a list of items that individuals or teams must hunt and find in that location. It can me at home, in a museum, out in nature, or even in a city! Some hunts are even online using platforms like a Zoom video call.
Scavenger Hunt Ideas Kids
Here are some fun scavenger hunt places for kids:
- Home
- Birthday party
- Backyard
- Park
- Museum
- Zoo
- Family/friend’s house/yard
- Hiking trail
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Mall scavenger hunts
- Online with each other (in your own houses) — get our free printable below!
- Virtual field trip destinations (online)
How To Do a Virtual Scavenger Hunt
How do you make a virtual scavenger hunt?
- Decide on a platform you want to use where everyone can connect (like Zoom, FaceTime, scavenger hunts app etc.).
- Decide if there will be a theme or if it will be a general list of items.
- Make clear rules.
- Determine if you want to work as individuals or teams.
- Decide if you want to award prizes or if it is just for fun.
- Make a timeframe for the hunt. (Will it be 30 minutes? More?)
- Have someone not involved in the hunt come up with a list of items and moderate the online meetup.
- Distribute the list of items to everyone (online) at the same time or have the moderator release one item at a time that must be found before the players move on.
- Go! First person or team to return with the item or items wins.
You can also make a virtual hunts where you have students visit a specific online destination with a virtual field trip and have them find the items from that field trip.
For our printable, we are encouraging kids to connect in their homes and find specific items in their homes.
However, you can easily make your own list of items or scavenger clues for any place you want your kids to find things online!
You can also do hunts for different ages and stages. Maybe with preschoolers you work on colors and shapes with lists like find something brown, find something with an yellow circle, etc.
You don’t always have to come up with riddles! They can just be a straight list of items and kids will still have fun with funny hunt ideas! (Don’t be afraid to make them silly or crazy!)
(By the way, you can use these same tips and ideas for adults!)
Free Scavenger Hunt Printable
We’ve compiled a digital scavenger hunt list to get you started. It’s a perfect for kids activities at home!
To grab your fun hunt ideas, just click here or on the image below!
