Camps Turn to Watson Adventures to Help Kids Explore Museums and Historic Locations For a Fun, Unique Experience

Since 1999, thousands of kids and teens have explored some of America’s best museums and history-packed neighborhoods on Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts for campers. Our hunts are designed to accomplish several objectives:

• Get counselors and kids working together on a shared adventure.

• Turn exploring famous places into a game kids will enjoy.

• Pose questions that spur teamwork and discovery without requiring previous knowledge—but providing many opportunities for learning and having fun along the way.

• Introduce young minds to the breadth of a museum or historic location so that each hunter gets the chance to discover what most intrigues him or her.

• Spur curiosity so that students are eager to learn and explore.

Dozens of camps and programs have turned to us for exciting, educational hunts, including: Concord Recreation Department, Phillips Exeter Academy, Lincoln Recreation Department, Academy of Information Technology and Engineering, Riverdale YMHA, Borough of Paramus Day Camp, Center for Jewish History, Meadowbrook Day Camp, U.S. Army School Age Services, ASAP Program of Bergen County, Oasis Children’s Services, RISE/ McBride, Friends of Israel Scouts, Inc. and Kois Center/ Smith, among others.

The hunts are appropriate for age seven and up, with special versions for teens. We can handle groups large and small—more than once, for example, we have had hundreds of students hunting simultaneously at such museums as the American Museum of Natural History.


How the Hunts Work

On teams, hunters follow directions on clue sheets that guide them to specific locations, such as galleries in a museum or blocks in a neighborhood. At each spot they must decipher the clues to find something in the vicinity that provides an answer to a question.

For example, on our Museum of Natural Hysteria Hunt, directions guide your team into the Hall of North American Forests to answer this question:

• Find a giant slice of “Mark Twain”with more than a thousand rings. What year was “he” born?  Answer: 550 AD, marked at the center point of a slice of the “Mark Twain Tree,” a giant Redwood tree.

Take another example: Our Secrets of Central Park Scavenger Hunt reveals the hidden history and unusual works of art in the park. One question leads you to the Bethesda Terrace for this question:

• Around the corner from a Wise guy usually seen with potato chips, what “Jack” nearly gets swept away? Answer: Near a sculpture of an owl, you can spot a witch whose broom nearly swipes a jack o’ lantern.

No previous knowledge is necessary—just sharp minds, open eyes and good teamwork. Students must actively engage with exhibits or their environment, while discovering that different members of the team have different talents and discoveries to contribute.

Team members must stick together and work together. Adult chaperones may be advised for each team, depending on the hunt location and the age of the hunters. The hunt MC (master of ceremonies) and assistants won’t be following or leading you, but will check in with you along the hunt route to make sure all is well.

The best part is that the campers must actively engage with their environment—and educate themselves along the way. The objective of the hunt is not to give an in-depth understanding of a msueum or neighborhood, but rather to pique curiosity and make students eager to learn.

Most hunts require 90 minutes of actual hunting time. When teams reach the finish line (which is usually the same as the starting point), Watson Adventures staffers collect and score the results, hand out the answers and announce the winners.

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Hunt Locations: Available in Select Cities and Suburbs

Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts for camps are available in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Visit the Kids Scavenger Hunt Locations page for a complete list of museums, neighborhoods, parks and other venues available. You can also contact us to discuss a hunt in a new location.

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Find Out What Watson Adventures Can Do for You

To find out how we can stage a hunt for your group, use our handy e-mail Contact Form. Or call us at 877-9-GO HUNT (877-946-4868), extension 11.