A Modern Scavenger Hunt

This past week, I’ve posted a couple of times about water tables for grandchildren.

I daresay that ‘tweeners and teenaged grandchildren would roll their eyes if you had that activity for them to do.

So here’s something totally rad for those older grandchildren: a QR scavenger hunt.

This type of a scavenger hunt uses technology that might be new and unfamiliar to some of you grandmothers. But, before you get your knickers in a twist, let me assure you that this is simple. If you can bring up a webpage in your browser on your computer and if you can type,  you can create an QR scavenger hunt.

In today’s world of technology, QR code is an acronym that stands for quick response code. It’s like a bar code that you see on items that you purchase in the store. However, instead of being short lines all bunched together, QR is square in shape.

These codes were first developed by the automotive industry and now businesses have jumped on the tech wagon and have incorporated them in lots of their marketing activities.

These squares of code are aimed at smartphone users. Companies use them on their product labels, in newspapers, in magazines, on business cards, and even t-shirts. The codes can be extra information, a telephone number, a website, a link to a YouTube video, a Google map, or a Facebook page.

This is what a QR code looks like.

So here is how you create a modern scavenger hunt that will appeal to your older grandchildren.

First go to QR Code Monkey. This is a free site. Next, type in your clues. After you type in your clue, click on the button Create QR Code. Then you can save it.

Once you have your code, simple print it up. Then hide your clues in your desired spot. Gather your grandchildren. They need to have a smart phone with a QR reader. These are free to download. (The free ones generally have ads. I have one called QR Reader for iPhone by TapMedia. It has small ads at the bottom of the app. I really like this app and I don’t mind the ads.)

I made up a couple of clues so that you can get an idea of what it is like.  We have a ‘tree face’ on one of our trees in our yard. This is where I put the first clue. In the picture above, you can see where the clue is on the tree. I simply printed up the QR code on regular paper and taped it to the tree.

This clue on the tree says:

To the top of the ladder
by the top of the slide,
clue number two
is trying to hide.

This other clue is on our play center. I printed out that clue and taped it to the slide.

The clue on the slide says:

Out in our forest
in the middle of the trees,
that is where to find
clue number three.

This activity will really appeal to smartphone totin’ teens. You can do this activity around your yard, at a local park, or at a family reunion.

Be sure to make it challenging for them to find the clues. And then at the end, have a really cool prize for them — like tickets to the local cinema, homemade ‘coupons’ for a hamburger joint (where you take them out to eat — and pay for it) , or a ‘coupon’ to be redeemed for their favorite dessert that grandma makes.