‘Clues Name Hunt’ game for picnics or corporate events

Are you thinking about how to break the ice and keep the energy levels of the group high during the trip? Your activity options in this setting are very limited to some older games. This article features the first in a series of three innovative, on-the-go clue-finding games, great for school picnics or corporate team-building events.

Situation

You have a school field day or corporate team building event and everyone plans to take a four hour bus ride. Are you thinking about how to break the ice and keep the energy levels of the group high during the trip? In this setup, a number of ‘We’ve played this game before’ type games can be played. Now, if you need to design a whole new game, keep reading…

Preparation

Pre-boarding

1. Create a list of names of some people who are on board or are known to the group
2. Choose the duration of the clue search game. Assume about 3-4 minutes per hint and 10 minutes for instructions and game setup. To play the game for an hour, you will need to create between 12 and 15 tracks.
3. List of names to create tracks
4. Create and print clue cards

How to play

game settings

Divide the group into teams of 4-5 members each. Use fun criteria to select team leaders, such as the last member of the group, the funniest costumed one, the one with white socks, the one who loves his family the most (Ask to demonstrate that). Use your imagination to come up with more creative and fun ideas. Ask the team leaders to name their teams.

Instructions for teams

Each team has a clue and a maximum of three chances to solve that clue. The team will get 100, 50 or 25 points if they solve it in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd task. If any team can’t crack the clue, it goes on to the next teams. If any other team solves it, they are awarded 30 points.

start the fun

Now let’s say you have four teams and have created 16 tracks. Give the first clue to the team leader and give them three chances to identify the name of the person on the clue. They must solve the clue in three minutes. Follow this for other teams. Keep awarding the points and keeping the record. When all the clues are solved, announce the winning team.

Tips

1. Create more than one track for the same name, this is usually not expected by the group.
2. Give out the list of names present on the bus to all teams and inform that the clue can go to anyone on that list and off the list as well just to add to the fun and interest.
3. Mix some simple tracks and some complex ones to keep the interest levels of each team high.
4. Create a sequel of games for the entire exit event and use poker chips or Monopoly coins for teams to rack up the points for each game. At the end of the entire event, the winning team is announced and awarded.