How to Create a Campus Scavenger Hunt for College Orientation
A new student’s first experience on campus can shape how they feel about their college. That’s why orientation is such an important opportunity to make students feel welcome, connected, and excited about the year ahead.
One way colleges can accomplish all three is with a campus scavenger hunt, and Eventzee is the ultimate resource to get the job done!
A well-designed scavenger hunt can introduce students to campus facilities, traditions, resources, and each other—all while giving them something fun to do.
Start With Your Orientation Goals
Before creating challenges, determine what you want students to learn or accomplish through this interactive experience.
Do you want them to:
- Learn where important campus resources are?
- Meet other incoming students?
- Discover campus traditions?
- Learn about student organizations?
- Visit specific buildings?
- Interact with orientation leaders?
- Become familiar with downtown or the surrounding community?
Your goals should determine your the challenges throughout the scavenger hunt.
Turn Campus Locations Into Challenges
Once you’ve identified the locations you want students to visit, turn each one into an opportunity for interaction.
For example:
Library: Find the library and take a team photo outside.
Student Center: Locate the student center and answer a question about its services.
Mascot Statue: Find the mascot statue and recreate its pose in a photo.
Dining Hall: Visit the dining hall and complete a food-themed challenge.
Recreation Center: Find the rec center and answer a question about student fitness programs.
Suddenly, a campus tour becomes a game!
Use Different Types of Challenges
A great scavenger hunt shouldn’t require students to do the same thing repeatedly.
Eventzee supports multiple challenge types, allowing colleges to mix up the experience with:
Photo Challenges — Capture creative team photos around campus.
Video Challenges — Record short videos completing fun tasks.
GPS Challenges — Require students to physically visit specific locations.
Quiz Challenges — Test students on campus facts and traditions.
QR Code Challenges — Place codes around campus to unlock additional content.
Text Challenges — Have teams submit answers or responses.
Polls — Gather student opinions while making participation interactive.
The variety keeps the experience moving and gives different types of students different ways to participate.
Don’t Forget the Fun
Not every challenge needs to teach something.
In fact, some of the best orientation challenges may simply be designed to make students laugh.
Ask teams to recreate a famous campus photo. Have them make a short video introducing their team. Challenge them to find the strangest object on campus. The goal is to balance useful information with memorable experiences.
Build an Experience Students Will Remember
A campus scavenger hunt doesn’t have to replace traditional orientation. Instead, it can complement campus tours, presentations, welcome events, and other programming. It gives students an excuse to explore their new home while interacting with the people and places that will become part of their college experience.
With Eventzee, colleges can create customized campus scavenger hunts that combine orientation, exploration, teamwork, and fun into one interactive experience. Reach out to our team today to start planning your adventure!
