open · Icebreaker · 10–15 min · 2-20 people · medium energy

Treasure Hunt (Online)

The Treasure Hunt energizer encourages participants to quickly find common household items. This activity promotes engagement and lighthearted interaction, fostering a sense of shared experience and playful competition.

When to use Treasure Hunt (Online)

Use this at the beginning of a virtual meeting or workshop to inject energy and encourage active participation, especially when participants are feeling disconnected or fatigued.

What it solves

Virtual meeting fatigue, lack of engagement, disconnected team members.

How to run Treasure Hunt (Online), step by step

  1. Explain the rules: Participants must find specific items in their immediate surroundings as quickly as possible. (2 minutes)
  2. Announce the first item. For example, 'Find something blue!' (15 seconds)
  3. Participants search for the item. The first person to show the item on camera wins a point. (30 seconds)
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with different items. (5-10 minutes)
  5. Tally the points and acknowledge the 'treasure hunt champion'. (2 minutes)

Materials needed

  • List of common household items
  • Timer
  • Video conferencing platform

Facilitator tips

  • Choose items that are easily accessible but not too obvious.
  • Vary the difficulty of the items to keep it interesting.
  • Encourage participants to show off their found items.

Common pitfalls

  • Participants not understanding the rules. Clearly explain the rules before starting.
  • Unequal access to items. Adapt the items to be universally accessible.

Variations

  • Theme the items around the workshop topic.
  • Have participants suggest items to find.

Running it online or hybrid

Participants use their own physical space. Ensure instructions are clear and concise for remote participants.

What it produces

A list of found items and a shared sense of fun.

Origin

Adapted from Mischief Makers — source

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METODIC places Treasure Hunt (Online) inside a complete, timed session plan — agenda, worksheets, facilitator guide and slides — matched to your group and goal.

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