Treasure Hunt Ideas for a Pirate's Party
- Plan a treasure hunt to get your pirate party started.pirate statue image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
Hosting a themed party and decorating the party space in that theme is only half the battle. There must be activities that match the theme as well. In a pirate party, for instance, decorating the space with gold doubloons, eye patches and scabbards sets the tone, but a pirate activity makes it memorable. One classic pirate activity is a treasure hunt. Plan one and send your guests off to find their own buried treasure. - Prior to the party, spend some time making the treasure hunt props. At a minimum, you should make a map and a treasure chest. According to the One Stop Birthday Ideas website, an authentic-looking treasure map can be made by soaking a white piece of paper in muddy water (or coffee) and then allowing it to dry. Once it's dry, keep it with you as you plan the treasure hunt. When you reach a spot where you want to add a clue or activity, mark it on the map and use a pirate-themed name. For example, assume the hunt starts in the kitchen (the "Jolly Roger," for party purposes). If you want to place a clue in the living room (14 steps away), draw 14 dotted lines from the Jolly Roger (the kitchen on your map) to the location.
Finish the treasure hunt off with an actual treasure chest. You can purchase an old-looking chest from a resale store or a costume store, or you can make your own. According to A to Z Kids Stuff, you can craft your own treasure chest from a shoebox and some colored paper. - Get the guests involved by having them solve clues as they follow the map. For example, the map might show seven locations (places around the party area). At the start of the hunt, tell the pirates that seven keys are needed to open the treasure chest and that there is one key at each location. Design clues such as riddles or puzzles (with difficulty based on the pirates' age range); the guests must solve the puzzle to find the key.
- In addition to using clues or riddles at each location, pirate-themed activities can provide a nice twist on the treasure hunt. Have each pirate design his or her own pirate sword at one location, for example. Use plastic bats or swords and have the pirates put stickers or other designs on them. At another location, hang a pirate-themed piñata and instruct the pirates to use their crafted swords to break it open.
- To increase the length of your treasure hunt, use multiple maps with clues and activities. The first map leads to the second and so forth. For diversity, make the maps out of nontraditional materials. The first map can be made from paper, while you can print the second map on a piece of cloth and hang it as a flag, for instance. You can also use an object for your map, such as a pirate hat with the map printed on the inside.
