National Scavenger Hunt Day is on Monday, May 24, 2027, and it falls on May 24 every year. It’s a day to make a list, form teams and race to find, photograph or collect everything on it. Scavenger hunts work for birthday parties, classrooms, offices and family days out.
When Is National Scavenger Hunt Day?
It’s always May 24. It’s an unofficial day, and late May weather is often perfect for an outdoor hunt.
Who Started National Scavenger Hunt Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
Background: Elsa Maxwell’s party game
Gossip columnist and society hostess Elsa Maxwell is credited with introducing modern scavenger hunts. She first held them at her parties in Paris in 1927, the University of Chicago Library notes. She popularized them in New York in the 1930s.
Her hunts were famously chaotic. Smithsonian Magazine recounts that one list included a music-hall star’s shoe and a black swan from a Paris park. The star reportedly had to perform barefoot.
The world’s most famous hunt
The University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt began in 1987 and is held every May. Its lists are legendary. In 1999, one team reportedly built a small working nuclear reactor in a dorm room for 500 points.
Why Celebrate Scavenger Hunts?
They get people moving, thinking and working together. Kids practice observation and reading, while adults get a team-building break from screens.
They’re also endlessly flexible. A hunt can be five items in the backyard or a citywide puzzle with clues and photos.
How to Celebrate National Scavenger Hunt Day
- Nature hunt: list a feather, a smooth rock, a Y-shaped stick, something yellow and a bird.
- Photo hunt: teams take photos instead of collecting things, so nothing gets disturbed.
- Clue trail: hide rhyming clues that each lead to the next spot.
- Color or alphabet hunt: find something for every color of the rainbow or letter of the alphabet.
- Neighborhood hunt: spot a red door, a mailbox shaped like an animal or a garden gnome.
- Office hunt: mix trivia, team photos and “find someone who” questions.
- Museum or library hunt: search for objects or book titles on a list.
- Set ground rules: stay on public paths, respect private property and never take things that belong to others.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many items should a kids’ scavenger hunt have?
For young children, 8 to 10 easy items is plenty. Older kids can handle 15 to 20, plus a few tricky clues.
How do you make a scavenger hunt fair for teams?
Give everyone the same list and time limit, set boundaries and award points for creativity as well as speed.
What’s the difference between a scavenger hunt and a treasure hunt?
A scavenger hunt has a list of many items to find. A treasure hunt follows clues to one prize.