Scavenger Hunts at Stanford University

  • private
  • adults
  • outdoor

The Stanford Stampede Scavenger Hunt

Go back to school for a degree in fun

Explore the hallowed, picturesque grounds of Stanford University on a fun and funny scavenger hunt. On teams, you’ll follow in the footsteps of countless (OK, 60) Nobel Prize winners and put your own brains to the test: can you suss out the answers to tricky questions across the campus?

On this college caper, you might…

  • Sleuth your way through sculpture gardens and past the legendary Golden Spike, which Leland Stanford ceremonially drove home in 1864, finishing the first transcontinental railroad
  • Hover near J. Edgar Hoover’s old residence
  • Do recon around Stanford’s research library
  • Spy locations that have starred in films from Flubber to Orange County…and more!

Your team will tackle such questions as…

  • Outside Memorial Church, which virtue seems to be throwing a gang sign with one hand? (Maybe they’re awfully generous on the west side.) Answer: The sculpted fingers of Charity seem to form the letter W.
  • Visit Memorial Court. On cobblestones, find six figures that an idiot might think have such names as Cheese, Medium Rare, Bacon, Double-Double, and Whopper. What is the first name of the one who seems to have the worst headache? Answer: Andrieu, one of the Burghers of Calais in a sculpture by Rodin, holds his head, poor guy.

Along the way, you’ll also complete unusual Photo Challenges and track down the Hunt Host for a surprise bonus challenge.  

Stanford’s campus has been called one of the most beautiful in the world—making it the perfect backdrop for this game that’s great for everything from student and alumni events to corporate outings.  

A Kids Edition is also available, in which kids and adults work together and have an equal amount of fun. Take it from a group that posted this 5-star Google review: “We did a hunt for my son’s 14th birthday party. We were surprised and delighted at the extent to which the kids got into it. They liked the mix of having to decipher the clues, as well as the photo challenges.”

Contact us to learn more about our Stanford campus scavenger hunts—and find more fun in the heart of Silicon Valley!


  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • indoor

The Secrets of the Cantor Arts Center Scavenger Hunt

An adventure for artful team building in the Bay Area

Discover the most arresting, most unusual, and most amusing details in the galleries of the Stanford University’s Cantor Arts Center on this fun, funny scavenger hunt. You’ll scrutinize startling sculptures, ponder masterpiece paintings, decide whether Alexander the Great is really that great, choose a powerful Afropick, play a 19th-century “snap” game, tangle with ancient Chinese dragons, master the Old Masters, and much more.

BUT no knowledge of art or the museum is required! You just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, a sense of humor, and good teamwork.

A Kids Edition is also available, in which parents and kids work together to find art and unravel clues.

What hunters are saying about the art museum game

A review posted on Facebook: “Had a great experience with Watson Adventures! We booked a hunt with them of the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University for a team offsite. Great communication from the whole team from initial contact, to the planning process through the end of the hunt. Tara (our Sales Rep) was wonderful and responsive and Eric (our onsite Game Host) was a blast. Appreciated their flexibility to accommodate us inside for a different hunt due to inclement weather. Would definitely recommend Watson Adventures for anyone that is looking to plan something fun and interactive for a group activity!”

Contact us to learn more about the art museum scavenger hunt at Stanford—and find more fun in the South Bay Area!


  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • outdoor

The Murder Mystery Mayhem Scavenger Hunt

Beware: there’s a killer in your midst

Someone playing this game with you is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde. His or her good side knows nothing about the evil side—and the evil side has challenged you to prevent your own murder. Everyone in your group has been poisoned, and the clock is ticking down on your time left to live. To reveal the killer’s identity, you’ll have to complete a series of photo challenges, solve interlocking puzzles, decipher coded text messages, and more. If you succeed, you get the antidote. If you fail…well, you know.

If you love escape-room games, you’ll love this murder mystery scavenger hunt. But even better, you won’t be locked in a room for an hour: this game can be played almost anywhere. 

An in-person murder mystery for any location!

We have a variety of versions, depending on where you want to play. Such as…

  • A city, town, or neighborhood
  • A science or history museum
  • A zoo or aquarium
  • An office building
  • A school or campus

A murder mystery scavenger hunt perfect for team building

Here’s a game that will help you solve the mystery of how to entertain a diverse group of people while boosting morale and teamwork. It’s perfect for any private party or a corporate team-building outing of any size. Our clients who have enjoyed this game include T-Mobile, TD Bank, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Michigan in Washington, and others too numerous to mention.

What delighted clients are saying

“Everyone had a great time at the hunt! We are all still talking about it.” —an electrical engineer whose group played the game at the Houston Zoo

“A HUGE THANK YOU. Everyone had a BLAST and your hosts were FANTASTIC! Thank you so much for another great event!!” —an office coordinator in Los Angeles

“We had an amazing time and will be in touch for the next hunt we’d like to do in the near future! Tokia [the hunt host] was amazing, and we’d love to work with her again!!!” —an organizer for a group in Washington, DC

The hunt’s afoot! Contact us to learn more—and find more team-building fun anywhere!


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