This post was last updated on February 21, 2024
If you are looking for new games or virtual team-building activities that are fun and engaging, then don’t look any further: A Zoom scavenger hunt may be the perfect solution!
This blog post will teach you everything you need to know about hosting a virtual hunt and how to set it up for your work team, your friends, or your family.
We’ll also tell you why it’s such a great way to create a team-building exercise, give you some treasure hunt lists, theme ideas, free printable templates, and more.
So let’s get that quest started!
Table of Content
How to Organize Your Virtual Scavenger Hunt?
1. Create a list of items that other players will hunt for
2. Establish Virtual Scavenger Hunt Rules
General guidelines of the scavenger game to consider
3. Let the online hunt begin!
4. Name the winner
5. Discuss how did the search go, and relive the fun once more!
Organize a Private Zoom Scavenger Hunt with Friends or Family
Fun Scavenger hunt with Friends
Get on a Treasure Hunt with your family
Scavenger hunt for kids
How do you play an online scavenger hunt with kids?
Virtual Scavenger Hunt Games for a Fun Team building Activity
Team-Building Benefits of a Virtual Scavenger Hunt
How to Plan the Best Virtual Scavenger Hunt for your Work Team
Discuss the Scavenger Hunt afterward
int Lists
Virtual scavenger hunt items ideas
Ideas of Challenges to complete
Riddles to include in the scavenger hunt list
Photo Challenges hunt Hunt list
Original and Personal clues
Theme Zoom Scavenger Hunt Ideas (Plus Free Templates!)
Special dates & Holiday-themed Scavenger Hunts
Virtual Scavenger Hunt in Italy
Special World Event
Scavenger Hunt based on Remote Work
Travel Scavenger Hunt
FAQ: Virtual Scavenger Hunts
What is a virtual scavenger hunt?
How do you play scavenger hunt on Zoom?
Where to organize a virtual scavenger hunt?
How do you make a virtual scavenger hunt?
For which occasions could you organize a virtual scavenger hunt?
How long should you give for a Zoom scavenger hunt?
Organizing a Virtual Scavenger hunt
Are you planning to do a virtual scavenger hunt? Well, good choice!
That activity has the capacity to capture anyone’s attention and bring everyone closer together while on a fun adventure. But for it to be pure escalating fun, you better watch out for some details.
Here are some guidelines that should help you get started.
1. Create a list of items that other players will hunt for
To organize an engaging virtual scavenger hunt, begin by compiling virtual scavenger hunt lists, ranging from 10 to 20 items or challenges. These lists will serve as the backbone of your event, guiding participants through a series of discoveries and tasks. Tailor the list’s length and complexity to suit the number of players and the desired duration of your scavenger hunt, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all involved.
When creating your list, aim for accessibility, allowing every team member to fully participate in the hunt. Structure the items or challenges in a progression from simple to more complex, facilitating a smooth flow and gradually building excitement as the hunt advances.
You have two main strategies for listing items: direct naming or crafting clues for a more intriguing search. While directly naming items is straightforward and suitable for all ages, providing clues adds an element of mystery and engagement, making it particularly appealing for adult participants. This approach not only spices up the experience but also offers a fantastic opportunity to challenge and entertain coworkers and friends alike.
Incorporating virtual scavenger hunt lists with thoughtfully crafted clues can significantly enhance the fun and interactive aspect of the game, inviting players to think creatively and work collaboratively, regardless of their physical locations.
2. Establish Virtual Scavenger Hunt Rules
Before the game starts, clearly state the game rules so that everyone can play in a fair way.
We recommend that you send the rules beforehand if possible so that the group can have a look with a rested mind and have a perfect virtual scavenger hunt.
Think about the technical details of this fun scavenger hunt:
How many points are worth one found item or a completed challenge?
At what time will you start the timer?
What’s the time limit?
How many rounds will there be?
Will you group participants in teams or will they play the game solo?
Will the players keep their cameras turned on during the game?
Can players interact with the organizer or/and with the others during the game?
Shall the participants send all proofs at once or as the game goes?
Does only the first person to find a specific item win the point or do all participants who found it win a point?
What will be the prize for the winner?
General guidelines of the scavenger game to consider
Take a photo of any object found or a challenge made to give proof of what they check off their hunt list.
Send or post photos and videos before the end of the time limit.
An item can be used for one answer only.
All items need to be found inside the house.
3. Let the online hunt begin!
Gather your players, and make sure everyone is correctly connected and can hear you well.
Quote the rules and remind everyone of the time limit.
Start your timer and launch this online scavenger hunt game. On your marks, get set, hunt!
All participants will then go on this special quest, use clues to solve mysteries, find the said items and ultimately try to score the most points possible to win the game!
4. Name the winner
Once the scavenger activity is done, stop the timer and take some time to count the points of every individual or team participating.
Determine the winner of your fun virtual zoom hunt and proceed to the ceremony. Announce to everyone who won the game and what prize she/he won.
5. Discuss how did the search go, and relive the fun once more!
Don’t hang up just yet! Keep your video call on once the scavenger race is done and the winner is announced. This is where another fun moment comes in!
Have a chat about how the game went. You can open the discussion with simple questions like:
Did you enjoy participating in this zoom race?
What was your favorite part of it?
Did anything at all happen during your quest?
What was the most difficult object to find/challenge to do?
Who would like to play this team-building game again?
Reconnect with friends and co-workers on a Virtual Zoom Scavenger Hunt. Drinks and libations are highly recommended.
Organize a private Zoom Scavenger Hunt with friends or family
Fun Scavenger hunt with Friends
After some time, the excitement of digital parties starts to wear off, so we must find new and better ways to keep it fresh.
But we don’t have to let this happen! Organize an online scavenger hunt with your friends to give another dynamic to those calls.
Make sure to include some funny, surprising challenges and unusual search goals to spice up the game!
Be creative and enjoy yourselves because it’s all about having fun and reconnecting after all!
Go ahead and print this off for your next virtual team-building event!
Get on a Treasure Hunt with your family
One type of activity that is perfect for both young and old individuals and that will animate your birthday zoom party is to host a virtual scavenger hunt – treasure style.
They’re easy to organize and made virtual for long-distance families, so make sure to include everyone in your family with an internet connection!
Quick tip: When organizing a scavenger hunt with several family members from different genders, ages, and situations, you need to ensure that the objects stated in the hunt list could be found by anyone.
Also, you may want to create a theme around your treasure hunt. If so, keep scrolling and have a look at our themed-zoom scavenger hunt ideas and templates below!
Scavenger hunt for kids
A scavenger hunt for kids is totally possible – and even encouraged!
Whether they’re part of your family call or whether you are planning a special event for your little ones at home to connect with friends, trust us, they will definitely love participating in virtual scavenger hunts.
Our tip: It can make a great virtual birthday party for your kid!
How do you play an online scavenger hunt with kids?
If you organize a virtual scavenger hunt for kids, note that for it to run smoothly, it is important to make sure that they are independent enough to go around the house and search for treasures by themselves. We recommend a minimum age of 6 years old for this virtual scavenger hunt idea.
They would also need to be in presence of an available adult to help them connect to the zoom reunion, grab items they might be unable to grab, take pictures of their finds and send them to the leader by the end of the virtual hunt.
Virtual Scavenger Hunt games for a fun Team building activity
If you read our posts regularly, it’s nothing new to you: Work team-building activities are the key to achieving a healthy work environment and productive employees.
But did you know that a Zoom scavenger hunt is a great fun virtual team bonding activity? They are one of the best online activities out there to kick off a fun day with your remote staff. Let us tell you why.
What are the benefits of a team-building hunt?
Yes, virtual scavenger hunts offer more than just thrills and entertainment. They actually have many benefits for work-from-home teams, especially in this virtual world we are living in right now.
Digital scavenger hunts are an excellent way for people who work remotely to connect with their coworkers in a different and adventurous way.
Indeed, hunts are some great and unexpected team-building activities that provide a fun way for colleagues to bond with each other.
Virtual hunts get players to move around, be active, interact with others and compete. These shared adventures create a powerful impression of togetherness but also help them develop their problem-solving skills.
With these types of activities, attendees get to feel part of the team, to know each other better, and to have fun while doing it!
How to Plan the Best Virtual Scavenger Hunt for your Work Team?
When organizing a virtual hunt for a team-building meeting, it’s important to take into account the size of your team and what kind of activity you would like to create. You should also consider the personalities and environment of each member of your team.
The list should contain a few common everyday objects, but not so many that it becomes too easy.
Make sure the different team members have an equal opportunity at finding all items on the list before declaring winners!
You can also ask your teammates to keep their video and microphones on if they are open to the idea so that they can discuss or laugh together during the activity.
Discuss the Scavenger Hunt afterward
The main goal of this team-building game is obviously to bring your team together, so make sure that all your colleagues share their feelings and excitement at the end of the search.
What object was the hardest to find and why? Did you find an unexpected item in your house that you had forgotten about? Etc.
Those answers and after-session feelings are what will actually allow them to bond and communicate.
Virtual Scavenger Hunt Ideas & Hint Lists
We know inspiration can run short sometimes. But don’t worry, that’s why we are here!
We gathered below shortlists with items and riddles, for you to inspire your own:
Virtual scavenger hunt items ideas
Favorite snack
Hand sanitizer
Favorite Mug
School diploma
Grand-parents picture
Book you are reading right now
A piece of toilet paper
Ideas of Challenges to complete
Selfie in your sports outfit
Show us how you sleep
Have a hot drink
Selfie with your pet
Make yourself a face mask
Recreate an old family picture
Recreate a popular TikTok dance
Riddles to include in the hunt list
I’m made of rubber and I bounce. (Ball)
Which one of the chicken or me came first? (Egg)
I can be half full or half empty. (Glass)
I come in a yellow can and pop when I’m hot. (Corn)
I do have a spine, but I don’t have bones. (Book)
If you write me down then you will never forget me. (To-do list)
Bored? Play me! (Board Game)
Photo Challenges hunt list
Picture of your cat doing a nap
Selfie of you in PJ’s
Picture of yourself as a child
Picture of yourself dressed up for Halloween
Picture of yourself kayaking
Selfie with an unknown person
Picture of yourself on your vehicle
Looking for more ideas? Check out 121 of them right here.
Original and Personal clues
You can also add original items to your list such as “Imagine having 5 minutes to find your weapon of choice during an apocalypse”; “Getting a picture of a keepsake from the 90s”, or the “item you would use to be your “Wilson” if you were left on a deserted island”.
Those will make the teams struggle a bit more to first think of a good idea and then look for it!
Theme Zoom Scavenger hunt ideas
Pick a theme for your zoom scavenger hunt party to give it a special touch. To do so, make sure you think about a theme that will actually talk to your friends, family, and work team so that it remains an engaging activity for all!
Special dates & Holiday-themed Scavenger Hunts
Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Family, Wedding, or Easter are a few of the themes that you can zoom scavenger hunt with.
So if you want to level up your virtual holiday party this year, you might want to think about organizing something special. Why not a virtual treasure hunt?
Here is a free printable template for your Christmas virtual event. We included challenges, riddles and easy hints, so that if you feel this version is too complicated for a single call, you can also think about doing it during the whole December month, and calling everyone at the end of it to debrief and share their experience hunting for Christmas’ magic!
Virtual Scavenger Hunt in Italy
Spaghettis, mozzarella, parmigiano… Mamamia, do we have to go on? Honestly, who has never dreamt of visiting Italy?
Let us bring your private or professional virtual event to the next level, and scavenge the Italian way with us! Go get Italian items you have in your own home, get challenged on the Italian culture with a live local guide, and even learn some typical phrases you can use next time you want to show off ordering that milanesa alla napolitana!
Want to know more about that exciting experience? Click on the banner below, and watch a demo!
Special World Event
If you are organizing a major event watch party with your family, friends or co-workers, you could also make it a fun hunt!
Think about the Super Bowl or the opening ceremony of the Olympics for instance: Everyone watches the same show and has to take pictures of the specific actions and moments of the event or in your living room. You could also add it up some related challenges to complete the list!
To spare you the hassle, use our ideas below!
Travel Scavenger Hunt
Remote workers and digital nomads are usually heavy travelers. So, if your team is a fan of wandering around the world, make them go through their past vacation pictures.
Scavenger Hunt based on Remote Work
This theme will also allow your team to play with remote work-related actions and items. Get your event started today with our free printable template! You’ll thank us later!
FAQ: Virtual Scavenger Hunts
What is a virtual scavenger hunt?
Virtual scavenger hunts are based on traditional outdoor and indoor in-person scavenger hunt games that encourage players to find specific items, complete challenges, or solve riddles from their homes and share their quest through a video conferencing platform.
Did you know? The name “scavenger hunt” was inspired by animals, which sometimes search for food frantically.
How do you play scavenger hunt on Zoom?
Following its origins, the goal of a zoom scavenger hunt is to look for clues or objects listed by the organizer. During the call, players will go on their quest trying to get all of the items or complete all challenges they are asked to.
By the end of the indicated time, everyone needs to submit proof of their findings by sending pictures or videos of what was asked on the list directly on the Zoom chat or on any other group chat.
Where to organize a virtual scavenger hunt?
Virtual scavenger hunts can be organized from afar, and that’s the beauty of it!
To do so, you can use video conferencing software like Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype.
How do you make a virtual scavenger hunt?
All zoom scavenger hunts require at least one person to organize the game and make it as simple or complex as desired.
If you are the one that will host a virtual scavenger hunt… First, consider your audience. Then, write a list of objects to hunt or challenges to accomplish. Send e-vites to your virtual group with the list and instructions. And finally, get the party started!
How does a virtual scavenger hunt work?
At the beginning of the zoom call, participants are given a set of hints or actions they have to accomplish during a defined time. While the timer runs, the whole family, kids, or remote teams will then be searching in their own home for the correct items, each one scoring one point. Once the time runs out, the team or the participant with the highest score wins!
When would you organize a virtual scavenger hunt?
Fun to play and easy to adapt to a virtual setting, online scavenger hunts make wonderful team-building activities, birthday parties, retirement parties, and more.
With all the social distancing we are experiencing, they are a perfect activity to play with family, friends, school, or even coworkers.
Whatever the occasion, a virtual zoom scavenger hunt can bring out the fun in any remote team.
How long should you give for a Zoom scavenger hunt?
The host is the one that will determine the time limit. You can set a short deadline or make it last for hours, depending on the length of the list that people will have to hunt for.
At Woyago, we recommend that a virtual scavenger round lasts around 30 minutes as you still have to consider the after-activity debrief that should take some more time.
We hope this complete guide inspired you to create your own fun experience with your peers.
Whether you play this zoom game with your close ones or your coworkers, we are sure that you will have a great time. So get ready to talk and laugh while hunting for clues and completing challenges!
And please share with us if you ever participated in an outdoor, indoor, or online scavenger hunt, if you used one of our templates, and how it went. We would love to know!
Looking for other team-building activities ideas?
If you need inspiration for a virtual team-building activity, make sure to contact us, we will help you find a unique way to build up a great team-building experience.
And because at Woyago, we never run out of ideas, check out some of our other blog posts with fun remote games and activities you can easily do with your remote team:
The 13 Best Team-building Problem-Solving Activities
The Best Remote Trivia Games for Remote Teams
19 Fun Games to Play on Facetime
17 Quick Team-Building Activities to Try Out to Get A Cohesive Team
