Archive for the ‘Church’ Category
Wednesday, October 10th, 2007Dear Nikki:
I’ve downloaded the planner and at first glance, it looks like there are lots of ideas that will work for our event after I tailor them to our needs.
Every July our church puts on a camp called, ‘Summer Hummer’. Ages 4- 5 stay only half a day, and each day I need to develop a new treasure hunt because the same children repeat the activities every day.
Ages 6 to 14 stay all day and the treasure hunt will be an activity the age groups participate in once. The groups are divided up, such as: ages 6-7 is one group, ages 8-9 is another, etc. All together there will be close to 900 kids! Wow, that takes my breath away. It’s really a blast, kids have a ball and so do the counselors. About 300 counselors participate. There’s craft people, snack people, story tellers, water slides, zip lines, luge racers, all sorts of field games: soccer, races, etc.
A theme is established by a company called Gospel Lights where we purchase the course. This year’s course is ‘Sonforce Kids’. During the week we emphasize a different element of the course. Monday is Trust, based on Exodus 1-2:10: Moses: Boy in a basket.
Tuesday is Unite, based on Esther 2-8: Esther: Queen at risk. Wednesday is Train, based on Daniel 1: Daniel: Servant of God. Thursday is Follow, based on Jeremiah 36-39: Jeremiah: Prophet in trouble. Friday is Lead, based on Numbers 13-14:9: Joshua: Spy in a strange land.
The setting is on a space station full of adventure and high drama leading the children to make good decisions based on the day’s Bible stories. I’m going to attempt to fashion clues and puzzles with a space theme.
I’ll have some help during the treasure hunt itself, but it will be up to me to figure out all the details and logistics of the hunt. It should be great! Thanks for all you do, you’ve given me some confidence and the beginning of some ideas to pull this off. I’ll keep you posted.
Regards,
Patty Pynch, Washington USA
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007Hi Nikki,
I have been able to get the scavenger hunt downloaded successfully and just briefly looked at, looks good.
My task is to organize a lock-in for youth ( appro. 100 grades7-12) at my church, my theme is mission impossible eluding to the fact that without Christ it is impossible to get into Heaven. I was planning to use some of your ideas to make a week long mission to be accomplished before they could get into the lock-in. This is probably going to be a very elaborate event (I hope I can pull it off) in early April.
Thanks
Jim Abbott, Montana USA
Saturday, August 4th, 2007Hello.
I read your book yesterday. I will being doing the Scavenger Hunt some time in July. I have until then to get it together. I am doing it for an age group of 12-17 both boys and girls. There should be approximately 6 girls and 6 boys. If invite another group it could potentially be more. For two years I had a neighborhood girls ministry. We use to do all kinds of things. That has been over for about 2 years. Recently I had a bible study for 12 year old boys in my home. That’s been over for a month or so. Both groups have asked me to have ’something’ for them this summer. They miss me, ahhhh. ha ha just kidding - they like being entertained. Anyway, both were bible study type deals in the past. The hunt doesn’t have to do with the bible BUT I am sending them a paper with some short scripture fill in the blanks…that will be their ticket to come to the hunt. I’m thinking about having it in our downtown area - we live a small community. We can be at the park and they will have access to the city building, library, post office, tennis courts, river front, businesses, restaurants, etc… They can work for a while - break for lunch - and go again. I think it will be the boys against the girls. I have a lot of ideas running through my head. I’m going to need to go back through your book and write things down this time. I still need to think about what they have to do, why, what the prizes are etc… Lots to do yet.
Thanks for taking the time to help.
Michelle Green, Kentucky USA
Friday, July 27th, 2007I am planning a treasure hunt for our youth group of approx 15 teenagers in a church hall.
Carol Caven, UK
Thursday, July 19th, 2007I am planning a treasure hunt activity day with my youth group at church. I have a small group but it consist of stair step ages (don’t think I even have 2 the same age). We are on a limited budget.
Tami, Orlando, USA
Saturday, July 14th, 2007Thanks for all the emails and help. I am interested in your help and ideas. Our event is an annual event (which if all goes well I would like to make the scavenger hunt an annual part of it).
The name of our event is called ‘Livin, Lovin, Luau’. It is a luau for Dads and kids ages 0-6 years. We host it at our local YMCA. We are confined to one large gym. My idea was to have all the dad/kid teams who wanted to participate follow a series of clues that would lead them from one station to another throughout the room. Some of the stations or games that we will have are: Play dough station, Coconut Bowling, Crazy Totem Poles, Fish craft, Infant Island (area for small child and infants to explore), coloring station, Photo station (we always take a picture of each child/ren with their dad to take home), Pin the Tail on the fish, Ring toss, Snack area, Fish Flying, Limbo, Shave your dad, Fishing game, Reading area, Pin the Banana on the tree, Hanging Monkeys.
I am sure I can come up with a great hunt. The last item would be at the area where the dad fills out an evaluation of the event and the child gets a special treat bag of goodies. Thanks
Cori Laux, Wisconsin USA
Friday, July 13th, 2007I appreciate your service.
I had a New Year’s Eve treasure hunt with about 50 young adults from church. Good times! It was a success! I tweaked the hunt so that it was ‘global’, so the teams were traveling to different world countries, and the challenges ranged from a basketball free-throw challenge (Lithuania) to a suduko challenge (Japan) to creating an encouraging note for our missionary friend in Africa (Tanzania).
An interesting thing happened at the end…one of the more enterprising guys figured out where the treasure map was hidden without having all the clue pieces (i.e., his team hadn’t completed the last task, but he still figured out the clue). Thank goodness for the combination code…it saved me from having to make up rules on the spot. He couldn’t take the map without having the combination code. As it turned out, another team won instead!
We had a good time…thank you for sharing your organizational skills with all of us!
PS: If I get some photos, I’ll email them to you
Christine Brackett, California USA
Sunday, July 8th, 2007Hi Nikki:
We had a fantastic time. Our Pirate themed treasure hunt party was a ‘treasure!’ The hunt was superb and the tools that you provided made it easy to customize to our group. The children loved it! I appreciate that you kept checking with us to make sure things were progressing well as we planned the event.
Again thanks!
Youth Pastor, Bonsack United Methodist Church
Tim Burns, Virginia USA
Thursday, July 5th, 2007I am planning a picnic for our church group, and it will be over 100 people there. We are having it at a local park and will have access to it only 1 hr before people will start arriving. The park is a large grass area with a shelter in the middle.
Calvin Hairston,
Monday, June 25th, 2007Hi Nikki,
Our church had our treasure hunt this past weekend. It was a great success and so much fun. This was a family event so all ages were able to participate. We used cities in the Bible (Paul’s Journey) as our stations, and challenges that Paul would have faced in these cities, some mental some physical. We have 60 people participate and everyone had so much fun and could not believe how well the treasure hunt worked out and how organized it was. Your planner kits was great I would recommend it to other churches and groups. Thanks for the help.
Hawkins Church Vicksburg Ms.
Julie Townley, Massachusetts
Sunday, June 10th, 2007Nikki-
the Treasure Hunt I am planning is for our Church’s Vacation Bible Study- so it needs to be Christian- based for children- actually one hunt for smaller children and a second hunt for pre-teens.
Thanks-
Tina Chiapetta, Illionois USA
Thursday, May 17th, 2007Hi Nikki,
I have actually purchased the Treasure Hunt game for two parties. The first one involves my Sunday School class (I am one of the leaders, not in the age group of 18 to 30!!!). The class is College Aged Young Single Adults from age 18 to 30. We are planning a retreat weekend and thought this game would be perfect for them. We are always looking for games for that age group.
The second group is for a state convention for pulmonary and vascular medical workers. Their meeting is in April but the lady in charge for this year’s event wanted to do a treasure hunt and have me come up with the ideas. When I saw your website it looked perfect.
The first group will probably do their thing outside, the second group will be inside at an Embassy Suites. Any help you can give me will be much appreciated.
The Sunday School group will be themed from the Bible, probably from the Old Testament.
The second group would need something with heart and lung theme.
Thanks for the follow up!!
Connie Wilson, Ohio USA
Wednesday, May 16th, 2007Hello Nikki
Thanks for the email. Very happy with all the ideas & info, very clear.
Will be running 2 residential summer camps in August 2006.
6-11 year olds- 40+ kids
12 - 14 year olds 60+ kids
We are a registered charity here in Ireland, an interdenominational team of Christians working with kids from north & South ( Catholic, Protestant and also ethnic minorities).
We have being doing this since 1986 and this will be my 20th Year!!!!! Where does the time go?
I no longer run the games workshops (as the team have younger & more energetic members than me), But I still organize the EVENTS programme which involve the entire camp all at the same time, i.e. Fancy Dress, Treasure Hunts, Live Drama on stage, Quizzes.
So I’m looking forward to adapting the Treasure hunt ideas you have sent, and I will send you some photos of how we get on.
Many Thanks,
Kindest regards,
Paul Boyle, Republic of Ireland
Thursday, April 26th, 2007Nikki, I got the Treasure Hunt for my Church Group. We meet once a month for a Movie Night and on the night of the Treasure Hunt we were watching ‘National Treasure’. I thought a treasure hunt would be fun to do before the movie and everyone had a great time! I didn’t have a clue on how to have a treasure hunt, so I went to the web and found you.
You did a great job of putting this game together and I will be able to use it for many more parties to come. I used some of your ideas and did few of my own and it turned out to be a huge success. Everyone is still talking about how much fun they had.
We had our hunt all indoors on Friday night, April 7th. I will attach a few of the pictures from our ‘Treasure Hunt’. Thanks for the help.
Cheryl F. Barbour, North Carolina USA
Thursday, April 19th, 2007Hi Nikki,
our birthday scavenger hunt was a GREAT success. Your material gave me lots to choose from and I was grateful. I used the treasure map for the invitations and rolled them up to hand out. The list was on the treasure map and it was 8 items to look for or info to find and 8 were photos to take to make memories & proof of it getting done. It was a teen girl team against teen guy team and the playing field was the city of Wichita, KS so they had a certain time to be back complete or not and the one with the most done was the winner. They all came back with wonderful stories and had lots of fun. I learned though that the guy against girl wasn’t the best cause the guys were too COOL to do some of the list, but the things they did they had FUN! Whereas if they had mixed teams the girls would have persuaded them into doing everything.
While planning this double birthday party it has prompted other ideas one for our leadership Christmas party at church promoting unity & working together to accomplish a task.
Also I have talked with our the coordinator who is up for the idea of a scavenger hunt during next summer’s Family Reunion. Should be loads of fun.
Thanks for the great info! I am going to try to send a photo let me know if it makes it.
Dena Hudson, Kansas USA
Thursday, March 1st, 2007I did a treasure hunt last year for the kids at my church (I am the children’s pastor). I wanted all of them (3) teams to find a treasure, so I marked the envelopes 1,2,3, at each station so that by the end each team had a different map to a different treasure. It was easy to use with your format. I am hoping to do something again this summer, but I want to make it even better! I look forward to any tips you have for me. Thanks
Bridget Marotz, Texas USA
Thursday, January 18th, 2007Dear Nikki,
I will be running a week long cub scout day camp this summer for about 100 boys ages 7-11, in Toms River, New Jersey. With the camp theme being ‘Pirates’, I thought your treasure hunt game would make a fun addition to my program. I’m only in the initial planning stages, but I think I am going to incorporate it into the sports program, and have the children accomplish feats of skill at different stations each day in order to receive one of 5 map pieces. On Friday when they receive the final piece of the map they will be able to hunt for their prize. You have some great tasks in your program, most of which I expect to use, adding in some scout skills like specific knots, or fire building, maybe even first aid skills. As I said, I’m just starting but what I’ve read so far I like!
Take care,
Lisa Lockwood, New Jersey USA
Thursday, November 30th, 2006I am the Camp Director for a Girl Scout Day Camp. Our theme this year is ‘Treasure Grove’. We plan to use various activities throughout the week referencing this theme.
We anticipate about 150 people, divided into groups of 12-18.
Cindy Trout, Ohio, USA
Tuesday, November 21st, 2006Nikki — I adapted the instant treasure hunt for a church building and grounds setting. I had a family night with a dinner, and the after dinner entertainment was the treasure hunt. The parents and kids loved it! It was a BIG hit! After the treasure hunt, I gave my lesson which is that the Bible is full of ‘clues’ that lead us to the greatest treasure of all — Jesus. Wish I had some pictures to send, but forgot to bring my camera. I was not sure this would go over well, but the treasure hunt was one of the most successful activities I have ever done with the kids.
Joana Jones, Indiana USA
Wednesday, September 20th, 2006I am actually planning an event for the cub scouts and this will help a lot in the planning. The treasure hunt will be sometime this summer or early fall and we are talking 100-150 kids!
Susan Austin, Maryland USA
Tuesday, August 1st, 2006I am organizing a kids event for our church (this Saturday)….I am planning to bury a treasure chest.
I am looking at 40 to 60 k- 5th grade children…
Nina Ford, Minnesota USA
Tuesday, July 11th, 2006Nikki,
I decided to bury the treasure right at the edge of the woods on our property.
I’ve written a clue that will bring the searchers to the map (or final clue). I haven’t written the last step of final instruction, but I’m partial to little rhymes rather than maps. I’m sure I’ll have no trouble coming up with something once I give it a few minutes.
The party is for the deacon and pastoral staff for my church. I used the idea you gave me to name each station for a city in Paul’s journeys.
Here’s a fun thing I’ve added. The guests are aware that there’s a church leadership party and they know the date and time, but NOT the location. In fact, they haven’t been told who is hosting the party–only that it is a church leadership party.
On the night of the party, they go to a local fountain and bench to meet a man with a black trench coat and hat who will give them a clue that leads them to my house (where the party and hunt will be).
I have reservations from 14 families who have called a cell phone number and left reservations following a message from a voice that isn’t mine. People with questions have been directed to the church secretary who is in on the secret and can answer questions or ask me and get back with the guests.
I’m having a ball with it. Thanks, Nikki, for your great ideas and your well-written plan.
Kim Bickel, Indiana USA
Tuesday, June 20th, 2006Our treasure hunt takes place in Indiana on July 15. It is a party for church staff leadership and their families. Guests range in age from 6 months to 65 years!
I love your ebook so far. No questions yet, but I won’t hesitate to e-mail if questions come up.
Kim Bickel, Indiana USA
Sunday, March 5th, 2006It was last weekend and I got some compliments on it. I used some of your ideas and also incorporated some landmarks of the camp we were in and everyone seemed to have a good time.
We had a Scavenger hunt around our Scout camp. I incorporated finding things with facts about camp so the kids had to visit various areas of camp they may not usually visit. They seemed to have a good time with it. It wasn’t the only activity - it was part of a full day of activities. I will be using your ideas for our Cub Scout summer camp as I am Camp Director.
MaryAnne McFarland, New Jersey USA
Friday, February 3rd, 2006Hello Nikki,
We are planning a Masquerade Ball for our daughter Abbi’s 16th birthday and thought your treasure hunt game would be a good activity and would blend well with our theme.
We are a conservative Christian family and will be inviting the teenage sons and daughters of other Christian families and we wanted to make sure your game would be appropriate for our gathering. We had previously ordered a party game online (from a different site) that was described as a teen version, however, once we downloaded the game we realized there was too much material in it that violated Biblical principles so we could not use it. Unfortunately, the person we ordered it from would not give us a refund. It was not a treasure hunt. I think your treasure hunt will be much more suitable for our needs and more adaptable for a ‘dress-up’ party.
We want this birthday party to be something Abbi can look back on with glad memories and for it to be something we can all feel good about.
I appreciate your taking time to respond to my email.
Sincerely,
Patricia Smith, Oklahoma USA