Whats on your phone Scavenger Hunt

Want to do one of those cool scavenger hunts but donÕt want to fool with trying to round up enough digital cameras or disposable cameras? Just use kidsÕ cell phones! Here is how you can play Cell Phone Scavenger Hunt (note: if you donÕt have the resources to do this as a full blown scavenger hunt event, check out the mini version of this event HERE on our games page where kids stay at the church the whole time).

Advertize the event several weeks out and encourage your students to bring a friend as this will be a great way to introduce new people to your group. On the day of the event, form teams of 3-5 students (depending on the size of your overall group). Assign 1-2 adult volunteers to each team. (NOTE: We STRONGLY recommend that NO student do any driving at all. Restrict driving to responsible adults only!)

Give each team a print off of the following list and tell them they have 1 hour and 30 minutes to collect as many of the pictures as possible.

Rules:
Teams CANNOT split up. The entire team must stay in the same van/car/SUV.
Adults are the only ones who can drive the vehicle.
Teams MUST BE BACK at the church at the appointed time or they will suffer a 50 point deduction.
Each picture only needs to be on one cell phone (not every team membersÕ cell phone)

The List

50 Pointers
1. Your entire group of teens sitting on a bench (At a bus stop or at a park, etc. The adult should take the pic.)
2. An American flag
3. Any fast food restaurant drive through ordering intercom (the thing you talk into to place your order)
4. A church sign (from any church but your own!)
5. A pond or lake
6. A water fountain

100 Pointers
1. Stand up arcade game (20 extra points if itÕs Pac Man, baby!!)
2. Person walking a dog
3. A Walmart, or Kmart, or SamÕs Club, or Costco cash register
4. Any kind of outdoor recreational sports facilities (soccer, football, baseball, golf course, tennis courts, basketball courts, etc)
5. A person mowing grass
6. A person using an ATM (cannot be a member of the team)

250 Pointers
1. Any emergency vehicle with its lights/flashers on (ambulance, fire truck, police car, etc)
2. A member of the group talking on a public pay phone
3. Any form of roadkill (no, you canÕt run over a middle schooler to make it!!)
4. The construction site of a building or home or business (The home/building cannot be completely finished. It has to be Òunder construction.Ó)
5. A traffic light that is yellow
6. A person jumping off of a high dive (can be a member of the team)
7. An animal in a pasture or field (restricted to cow, horse, donkey, mule, goat, or sheep)

400 Pointers
1. A train crossing the road at a railroad crossing
2. An airplane taking off or landing
3. Any license plate with the letters C and Q in it (It can have any other letter and/or number, but it must have at least one C and one Q.)
4. Someone standing in a cemetery (Do NOT interrupt an actual funeral!!!!)
5. A damaged billboard (and NO, you canÕt be the one to damage it!)
6. A pothole in the road with water in it

Encourage the adults to be VERY safe while out as a group. When the time is up and everybody is back at the church, collect the pics from the phones while everybody is eating burgers or pizza. Then, have an awards ceremony where you give away prizes. Make sure to include a few Òcell phone themedÓ gifts like, a free cell phone case, a 5 dollar iTunes gift card, a free ringtone download, etc.

Have fun and be safe!

NOTE: For more scavenger hunt ideas, check out Click, Grab, and Get Hunt, Disposable Camera Relay, Pay Phone Scavenger Hunt, and Video Scavenger Hunt found on our Fun Event and Activity page.

Planning a scavenger hunt may seem like an overwhelming task, but there are some exciting new apps available that make it easy. Have no fear because this list of scavenger hunt apps will help you create the ultimate treasure hunt for any occasion.

1. GooseChase

3 Images

Close

GooseChase is a DIY scavenger hunt platform. You can either choose a theme for your game from the existing "mission bank" on the app or you can create one from scratch.

To complete missions, participants submit photos through the app. Each mission has a set point value, and the team (or individual) that collects the most points by the end of the game wins.

The game is free if you use it for organizing a small team hunt, and GooseChase offers paid packages for large groups or businesses. Check out the video below for assistance with getting started.

Download: GooseChase for iOS | Android (Free)

2. Let's Roam: Scavenger Hunts

3 Images

Close

Let’s Roam features a clean and beautiful design, making it easy to both plan and run scavenger hunts. The app has scavenger hunts available in over 400 cities worldwide, so you’ll be able to properly explore your surroundings no matter where you find yourself for your next holiday.

For adult readers, you can try out the Bar Hunt option, which basically allows you to turn your scavenger hunt into a mini-pub crawl. You can play a solo mission, complete team trials, or even set up an adorable date night scavenger hunt.

If you struggle with picking a restaurant, Let’s Roam and Dine—a program within the app—allows you to sign up for coupons, specials, free items, and more, so you can ensure every part of your event is perfect. Once you arrive at your dining location after prospecting the landscape, the app will prompt you with amazing conversation starters.

Let’s Roam is about more than a simple scavenger hunt; it’s about experience immersion.

Download: Let’s Roam for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

3. ScavengerHunt.Com

2 Images

Close

If you visit or live in a major city, ScavengerHunt.com is one of the fastest and easiest scavenger hunt apps available to use. Created by the producers of Let's Roam, the app allows users to mark hidden items and locations across a given geographical area.

As other users continue to use the app and the community grows, more and more hunt locations are getting added to the map.

This scavenger hunt works as a question-and-answer game. When you arrive at one of the hunt locations, your mobile phone will prompt you with a question. You must then locate the answer in your surrounding area. This could be a secret message or a historical fact.

This app doesn’t include many options for rural hunting, so if you don’t live in a big city, it may be best to keep this app for vacations. You also need to buy a hunt online, which will provide you with a voucher code for app use. This app is only available for iOS.

Download: ScavengerHunt.com for iOS (Free)

4. Adventure Lab

3 Images

Close

For those who reside outside a major city but still wish to participate in fun scavenger hunts, be sure to try out Adventure Lab. Although Adventure Lab focuses more on a geocaching style of scavenger hunt, it has so many different adventures available that we couldn’t help but include it in this list.

Related: Fun Mobile Games Which Let You Explore the World

As users create and explore an adventure path it becomes a new option for other users to attempt. Each adventure has a number of locations to stop, take pictures at, and enjoy. Also, you can view comments and insights from past adventurers to ensure you get the most out of your experience.

If you’re already a fan of geocaching, you can connect your existing account to continue earning points towards your score. Adventure Lab takes a simple scavenger hunt and changes it to an exploration of your world.

Download: Adventure Lab for iOS | Android (Free)

5. GISH

3 Images

Close

GISH has dedicated itself to reimagining the classic scavenger hunt. GISH stands for the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt, which makes this app great for hunters across the globe.

The app connects you with a community of fellow GISH members in your area. You can reach out to these people for assistance or get together and complete fun challenges. The challenges are always rotating and provided through the app.

In addition to regular scavenger hunt competitions that take place throughout the year, GISH is also heavily dedicated to its yearly GISH Hunt. Every summer you can create a team of fellow GISH hunters and complete a week's worth of scavenger hunting for the chance to win an all-expenses-paid vacation to an exotic destination.

Explore your home and then explore the world with GISH.

Download: GISH for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

6. Google’s Emoji Scavenger Hunt

Google's Emoji Scavenger Hunt is a fun little game that you can play using just your phone's camera. After you load the site and start the game, you will only have 20 seconds to find items Google throws at you. Machine learning will then try to identify what it is you're holding in front of your camera.

Related: How to Play Google’s Emoji Scavenger Hunt

You can even keep the sound on and hear all the items being identified as they come into the camera's view. If you enjoy this one and feel like playing more fun Google games, check out these quick games you can play on Google Search.

This app is only available for android users. However, there is also a web address available for playing Emoji Scavenger Hunt in a browser.

Download: Google Emoji Scavenger Hunt for Android (Free)

7. Geocaching

3 Images

Close

Geocaching is a scavenger-type activity where users first create "caches," by filling them with items, and then hide them wherever they want. They then upload the GPS coordinates to the web for others to find.

Once you find a cache, you can replace it with something of equal or greater value and claim what you found.

Caches differ based on their size, distance, and difficulty. An easy one could make for a perfect out-of-the-box romantic getaway with your significant other.

Download: Geocaching for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

More Outdoor Games to Play With Smartphones

Although virtual gaming has contributed to more indoor playtime, smartphones are also helping us to explore the world around us. Gone are the days of intense scavenger hunt planning and preparation. If you experiment with a few of these apps and tools, you'll definitely crack the formula for your perfect scavenger hunt.

If you still love spending time outdoors but a scavenger hunt just isn't your idea of an entertaining afternoon, check out some fun outdoor games to play using your GPS- enabled smartphone.

What is on your phone game questions?

How do you play what's on your phone game?

What are some good scavenger hunt clues?

What are some good items for a scavenger hunt?