Archive for December, 2008
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008Hi Nikki — I’m finally getting around to answering your emails! We finally completed our Treasure Hunt last week! We had so much fun — thank you for the great kick-start!!!
I ordered your Treasure Hunt software package way back in February.
Your software was just what I needed to get started, get me thinking about what I wanted to do — and it was GREAT fun! Everyone, from kids to adults, had a great time! For me, it was like Christmas, having chosen wonderful presents for all — and watching everyone Ooooh and Aaaah. My participants had a ball! Of course, now that everyone had so much fun, next year I have to come up with a game for EVERYONE — the grownups want to play, too!!!
Ah, the challenge!
Here’s what I did with your ideas:
I used your ideas for the 6 teams and 6 ports — to avoid them running into each other. However, since I knew I’d be running the treasure hunt during out group camping trip (4 families, 26 people), I had to wait until we got to this year’s campground to set it up. Didn’t know where I’d bury the treasure or what the site was like until I got there!
I had six adults manning the six ‘ports’ of call… and four teams. I paired the two teenagers with younger same-sex kids (girls and boys ages 7 - 10)plus a teen = (2 teams). A third team was the moms and ‘little ones’ under age 2, and the fourth team was the dads and little guys (two boys age 4).
We had the ‘group campsite’ for 40+ people, so we had our six stations spread out throughout the campsite, in the woods, and on the trail leading to our campsite.
At each location, each young pirate could earn a doubloon by completing the task. After each trial, they had to bring their doubloons to the Master of Arms to buy a piece of the puzzle for their team. After collecting all six pieces of the puzzle — they then had to use the puzzle to find the treasure map. Once they found the treasure map, they had to use the map to search for the buried treasure.
I made several copies of the treasure map, so as each team completed their puzzle, they could find the parchment map and begin the search for the treasure. You should have seen them combing through the woods! (I made parchment maps ahead of time from wrinkled, coffee stained paper — then used burgundy marker to draw on the map once we were in the campsite and I knew where the treasure was — I had one of my sons pace out the path to the
treasure.)
I worked it out so that each group could search for the treasure, but the team that found it had first pick of the treasure. The ‘treasure’ was a box of gifts from the dollar store. After the first team picked over the treasure, the rest of the teams chose their treasure, in youngest to oldest order.
This is what we did:
Pirate Beach — each young pirate had to decorate a pirate head-scarf to wear and create a team Pirate flag to carry on their journey.
Doubloon Inn — Learn to tie a pirate’s ship knot — all pirates need to know how to tie ship’s knots. We had the younger children learn to tie a square knot, and the older children learned to tie a bowline. Each child received an 8 ft. length of rope to learn their knots, and wear as a pirate belt. Their ropes went with them everywhere!!!
Gold Digger’s Island — The ‘logic’ island. (The captain needs a pirate crew that can think!) Sudoku puzzle for the older kids (4 and 6 square for kids, 9 square for adults, 25 piece jigsaw puzzle for non-number kids.) This was the log-jam station. Too hard for most — I’ll change it next time I do this.
Five Mile Lookout — I had 4 boxes sealed with one of the puzzle-pieces inside. Each box was tied up in 100′ of rope knots… they had to really work to untie the knots to get into each box! My husband and son spent an evening tying up these boxes!
Smuggler’s Cove — this is where they had to learn to walk the pirate ship’s rope rigging for the sails. Rope stretched out on the ground, the young pirate’s must walk the rigging looking through the wrong end of binoculars.
A great favorite!
Hideaway Harbor — Set up two rope swings (age appropriate). The young pirates in training needed to learn how to run and jump with a rope swing and land on the King’s treasure ship (at target on the ground) — ready to do battle for treasure! (Also a great favorite.)
I used the gold foil wrapped chocolates for doubloons, and although I had expected (and built) the game for three teams, I ended up with four teams.
This meant that the teams had to negotiate (with doubloons) near the end of the game to form a melded team with enough pieces of the puzzle to find the treasure map.
We had great fun!
Eileen Blackwood, Minnesota USA
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008Hello 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
Monday, December 15th, 2008Hi Nikki,
Yes, thank you, I have received my treasure hunt party planner. I am printing everything out as we speak and I have been just glancing at the material but I am getting really excited for my party! This looks like it’s going to be a blast and I can’t wait! As you might have guessed my party will be for Halloween and this particular one is going to be for my kids.
Every year we usually do an adults party and a kids party for Halloween. My girls are aged 11, 8, and 6 so there is a little bit of an age gap there so it’s hard to come up with things to keep them all busy. This year the party will probably be on October 27th and will consist of girls and boys ranging from 6-13 years of age. I live in Montana so you can’t always count on the weather being nice enough to have a party outside. My house is pretty good sized though, so this should work out great and I will definitely let you know how everything turns out. Thanks for everything!
Erika Smollack, Montana USA
Monday, December 15th, 2008Hi Nikki,
I work for the Department of Human Services Child Welfare for the State of Oregon. The party is taking place here in Portland, Oregon at the Zoo. The date of this event is Tuesday, August 8, starting at 8:30 am. and running until 4:00 pm. Because the State of Oregon does not pay it’s employees to take ‘Party’ days off our event is called the Support Staff Off Site Work Shop Day and the Treasure Hunt is one fun activity we are doing to end the session. The age range of everyone participating is from 26-60. The theme is ‘Safari Hunt’ since it is going to be held in the Zoo. A co-worker and myself went to the Zoo last night and set everything up with the help of their administrative staff. Also, since the state will not allow us to have just and offsite fun day our guest speaker is speaking on communication so each person had to provide me with their favorite animal and they are divided up according to animals. Each person also has to figure out just how there animal communicates so we are using your game and just critiqued it a little. We are all really excited about this event as some of the adults thought this was just a kids game until I explained how the operation was going to work.
I will tell you more about it after the event.
Thank you so much,
Melody Higgins, Oregon USA
Sunday, December 14th, 2008Thank you the email. It’s nice to see an individual is associated with this purchase.
The party is taking place in Texas, USA.
The party will be September 9.
The party will be a birthday party for my son-in-law and husband.
The age range will be child to adult.
The theme is ‘Treasure Hunt’.
I’ve read through the planner today and will begin the planning process tomorrow.
Talk to you later.
Angie Pavlcek, Texas USA
Saturday, December 13th, 2008Nikki,
I usually plan my kid’s birthdays in advance. My daughter is turning 13 this year, and decided ‘last minute’ to throw her a surprise birthday party. All the girls attending the party will be between 13-15 years old. We are north of Denver, Colorado, USA.
She loves that show ‘Treasure Hunters’ so we decided a treasure hunt theme is what we would have. I began scouring the internet for treasure hunt information, as I had an idea of what to do. I found your website, bought the online ‘book’, and printed it (wow lots of pages). I was happy to find something I could get immediately, because of the time constraint.
After my daughter went to bed, my husband and I began reading through it. Wow! What wonderful ideas! We have decided on 7 different locations to hide the ‘puzzle pieces’ and activities, along with the clues to the next location. All outside, and the puzzle will tell them to go to the (community) pool to find the treasure. That way they can swim when they have found it.
Her party is on Saturday (which is only three days away), and we are so excited. I only have to buy a few things (chocolate gold coins, necklaces, bandanas, etc) for the party. Your book (so far) has been an asset to me.
I’ll let you know how the party went.
Terri Snyder, Colorado USA
Saturday, December 13th, 2008Hi Nikki,
Thanks for the Treasure Hunt. My son’s 8th birthday party was great. All the kids loved the hunt and the last clue was a treasure map that lead to a buried treasure. They all were running around like crazy. My son still talks about it a week later. He wants to do it again next year.
My daughter is having her 16th birthday in November, I was wondering if I would have access to the site to make a treasure hunt for her party?
Thanks
Denise Feldle, New York USA
Friday, December 12th, 2008Had a great time with the treasure hunt, had a birthday party last night with 11 and 12 year olds, the treasure was a pot of goodies (St. Patrick’s Day theme). Your directions really helped. Planning to do it with our soccer team at our next travel tournament.
Denise Calloway, South Carolina USA
Thursday, December 11th, 2008THANK YOU, NIKKI! We had our family Treasure Hunt this weekend as part of a birthday celebration. 12 of us in all. We had so much fun!!! I couldn?t have pulled this off without you. Big success. I highly recommend this.
Linda Lyle, California USA
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008We didn’t have our treasure hunt due to the weather, but we used all the adult games from the bonus ebook and everyone enjoyed them thank you so much,
Wanda Keener, Texas USA
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008It was a lot of fun. I was able to use 2 acres of land to do the games and made the treasure 2 blocks away in someone else’s yard. It was so great. My son who is a little shy was the talk of the class on Monday with the kids saying it was the best party ever. Your program was exactly what I wanted. Someone to walk me through step by step. With 3 kids I don’t have a lot of time to be creative and not a lot of money to have a birthday party out somewhere like Laser tag or Chucky Cheese. If you ever come up with other parties let me know. I also gave out you web address to others.
Kim Carter, Virginia USA
Monday, December 8th, 2008Hello Nikki, Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our Easter Egg Hunt today. Followed your instructions and the children loved it.
I now have all sorts of ideas for future parties. Your ideas were simple, common sense, but I never would have thought of them. Well worth the $29.
Sue Ashworth, Buckinghamshire UK
Sunday, December 7th, 2008Hi Nikki, I had the party on Thursday, it was great everyone loved the hunt, it was something different. Everyone can?t wait for the next hunt.
Naila al Moosawi, USA
Sunday, December 7th, 2008Hi Nikki,
Thank you for your email!
I am looking forward to getting started planning our treasure hunt.
For the week of The 4th of July, I am having 25 close family members come to town…so this treasure hunt will be a fun event. The family members range in ages from 5-80; however, about 1/2 are kids and 1/2 are adults.
We have a small yard, big community park and lake nearby.
Thanks a million!!
Susan Robinson, North Carolina USA
Saturday, December 6th, 2008The treasure hunt party was great; my 16 year old son said it was an awesome party. All the kids came dressed in costume as well as the adults! The hunt took about 1.5 hours to complete. The clues lead to a compass and spade, the compass lead to a treasure map, and the map then lead to the treasure that was buried. When they dug up the chest it was wrapped in chains and locked, and a clue giving them a hint as to where they could find the key, which was hidden in another chest. Being a pirate party, there were several chests for them to look through, but it was in the cake which was shaped like a chest.
We served jerk chicken and shrimp before the hunt, they did the hunt, then ate cake, opened the chest, then played capture the flag in the dark (they had on glow stick necklaces). Everyone had a grand time!! Thanks for your ideas.
Teresa Arthur, Vancouver USA
Friday, December 5th, 2008Hi Nikki, my party was in Oakville, Ontario. I had it on April 9th and it was for my daughter’s 8th birthday. The age range is 6-8 years old. I had some ideas about the party prior to getting your book, but your treasure hunt book was great to help bring all my ideas together. I modeled the game after yours but I changed a few things to be applicable for us. I didn’t have a lot of time to put it together, but it only took a few hours to gather the necessary items and make the game. I loved making up the clues and the treasure map. We authenticated the map by burning it and staining it with tea, and it was very realistic.
The morning of the party I had everything ready to go early and I felt completely relaxed, which is not always the case prior to a party. The party was a resounding success. The kids absolutely loved the game. They had so much fun, and worked really well in teams. I buried the treasure in our front yard, so that was definitely the highlight for the group. They were chanting ‘dig, dig, dig’ to the team who was digging to get the treasure up. Once it was found, they screamed with joy and excitement at what was in the tin.
Everyone had fun. No one was frustrated or felt they couldn’t do the game.
So thank you for all your assistance. I will definitely do another treasure hunt again. In fact my 6 year old asked if she could have the same party next year. It was so much fun for the kids but also for the my husband and myself.
We couldn’t wait for the kids to get here so we could play the game.
Thanks again!
Susan Thomson, Ontario Canada
Thursday, December 4th, 2008Hi Nikki,
We had a great party. The games we played at the party was like Amazing Race. They had to play a game to get a clue. (They collect all seven clues and put it together to find the treasure). I made passport for everyone. We traveled around the world to all seven continents. They had different ways to travel around the world. (bike, Wheel bower, skates, etc.) When they collected all the clues they had to find the treasure box that was buried.
We had two teams. I know the kids loved it we had it before our spring break, and yesterday was the first day back and they were still talking about it.
Thanks for the help and ideas.
Shawna Bates, Georgia USA
Thursday, December 4th, 2008Hi
We played the child’s pirate treasure hunt game today. We had about 35 kids and I was not sure if we had enough props. Next time I would like our station leaders and myself wear a pirate costume. We made up some of our own tasks due to our situation. Each team got the same prize. We were able to buy some pirate sandwich bags from a pirate shop in town.
Thank you for the basic plan. We had parents accompany the children and it was a great success.
Marla Mazur, California USA
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008All went VERY well.. I had about 30 children to do the treasure hunt… They really liked it… It took a lot of thought and planning this first run but it will be a sinch the next time…. I made copies of the pages, cut, color coded, glued and laminated the different stations. I used fold down baskets for the stations… I just taped name to it… Sooo I can pack it all up and use it next year… THANKS it was lots of fun.
Nadine Draper, Ohio USA
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008Well everything came out a big hit. Everyone loved the treasure hunt. They thought it was real creative. Everyone had a real good time. It was 4 teams of 2. That way everyone really had to work together and no one was left out. Thanks again,
Tatyana Capdevila, Florida USA
Monday, December 1st, 2008Hi Nikki!, I just wanted to give you a report back on how the treasure hunt went. The kids had a ball! I got some really great ideas from your book about what to do at the ports. I have a request out to our family for people to send me any pictures they took. I’ll send you one if I get a cute one.
Angelic Thompson, New Orleans USA