Find the Party Scavenger Hunt

The Surprise:

Have a publicized, popular event, such as a party, but when they arrive at the site, there is a sign saying that the event has been moved – -with a clue as to where. At that location there is a clue to the next spot, and so forth until they arrive at the party site.

Why do this Surprise:

This idea simply takes a mundane event and makes it memorable. It also gives a group with little in common, as might be the case for a social event, something in common to talk about.

How to do the Surprise:

In most situations there will need to be heavy publicity for a moderately attractive event. Social events often are passed over by youth, some because these events are uncomfortable for them, others because they have plenty of social events to chose from. Most youth will also wait to see "who else is coming" before committing. You may have to resort to "recruiting" at least some of the participants. A successful and fun activity, however, will make other events more attractive. Step two of preparation is to arrange for drivers. In this day and age, most of us are hesitant to allow youth to drive during youth events (as opposed to driving to and from events). Also, it helps in the mixing of a group if kids are thrown together into cars or vans based on the when they arrive at the original site.

Next, the intermediate locations need to be decided upon and arrangements made. Although the intermediate locations can be anywhere, if they are public and/or unprotected locations, the clues may disappear, causing much unhappiness.

In some communities, it might be wise to alert the police that the roving bands of teens are O.K.

Additional hints:

0. The clues can be cute, direct, cryptic or funny. The primary issue is how much time is to be spent trying to find the party and how much time is spent at the party. This depends on the situation. Avoid making the clues so cryptic that they can't figure them out and get frustrated.
1. Provide drivers with a sealed set of the clues and possibly with answers to each.
2. Have a problem solver type person that can independently make good decisions as the last driver to leave the original location. They may need to deal with any odd situations. Some such situations are people who brought friends whose parents thought that they would be only a the church building; someone with a particular allergy that might be a problem; someone who can only stay "for a few minutes."
3. The last driver should probably stay a minimum of 15 minutes after the party was supposed to start and the initial clue should be posted at this original site, because of the probability of late comers.

Variations:

0. Have part of the party or have refreshments at each of the intermediate destinations
1. At each site, have a clue to the next site, but also have an additional, more obscure clue that points to the final destination - allowing some to short circuit the scavenger hunt.
2. Have the event annually and after the first year, make the clues harder and have the hunt for the party to be the primary activity.
3. Have the activity be a mystery party from the beginning and publish along with the general publicity clues to the location - the youth are then challenged, singly, in clusters of friends or as a whole group to solve the mystery prior to the day of the party.