How to organize a scavenger hunt

Whether you are inspired by watching Sherlock Holmes, hosting a kid's birthday party, or if you just want to set up something fun for a friend, scavenger hunts can be a lot of fun not only to play, but to set up as well. 

If you haven't set one up before, here are some tips to review so that you don't end up pulling your hair out trying to set it up. 

• What is the theme of the hunt? Lots of options, usually it's good to think of something specific to the person, their particular interests or something related to the event. I've done one for my husband on our 1 year of dating anniversary that went through significant places to us (the place we met, where we kissed, etc).
• Think of places that have significant meaning, why do they have meaning-- if there are any special objects that the hunter would be able to identify. 
• Ideas for clues:

• QR hunt - if they have access to a smart phone with a QR code reader, this can be a lot of fun
• word play
• hidden clues- write it in white crayon or colored pencil so they have to hold it up to the light in order to see it
• treasure map- piece it together in order to find the prize
• pictures from the location- they can see what they are supposed to expect from that location
• rhymes that would explain the place
• Map it out logically in your mind and then you can start setting up what clues will be found where
• Make a list of supplies needed
• Set up the clues, make sure if they are in public places to either have someone watch them or to set them up only shortly before the hunt begins. so that they will still be available when the hunter gets there. 

Daniel and I helping out in an engagement hunt

My Life in 232 words

When I was 6 I loved to visit my neighbor's house, because he had Cartoon Network and candy. At my house we had carrot sticks and an antenna where the only thing worth watching was WB Saturday morning cartoons. I lived with my 8 siblings, parents, and my mom's father until I was 12, when my parents got a divorce. Family was my life, including the friends, there were always 2-3 extra kids around the house. From the time I was in 3rd grade, my mom wanted to get out of Kentucky, by the time I entered 11th grade, we finally did. We drove across country and arrived in Utah at 2am and immediately it felt like home. In Utah I learned to sluff, to kiss, and how to get caught when sneaking out of the house. When I was 17 I started school at BYU where I learned how to be independent, how to love life, and how to love myself. At 21 I went to talk about Jesus and I came back loving the land, the culture, and the people of Korea. My husband saw me first in a cafeteria while we were single and celibate and 2 years later we touched for the first time on the porch outside of his house. Daniel taught me how to love science, to think critically and to look forward to each new day. 

As of late

Pictures taken from Aaron's food science lab and then a couple thrown in from a race we ran.

Cutie pie pictures

Before Anna left on her mission she wanted to take some pictures, so Daniel and I went up to SLC to help her do that and we got some pictures as well. Here are some of my favorite from the shoot.

The Magic Evening

Synopsis of the Evening:

After a delightful friendship with Aaron and Angela, we decided to take it to the next level and go to the opera together. Turns out, Aaron actually sang in the chorus for The Magic Flute a few years ago and so his enthusiasm combined with the beauty of the show made it unforgettable. It also inspired Daniel and I to watch Amadeus and learn a surprising amount Mozart (some of it may even be true).

Becca, Daniel, Aaron & Angela

Goof balls

Xactly where I want to be

Considering the fact that I only rarely update this blog, except when I have spurts of ambition, I realize that I never mentioned: I got a job. It's doing Tech Support for a company called Xactware. They are actually surprisingly big for a product most people have probably never heard of. They create software to help Insurance companies, adjusters, and contractors when filing loss claims on property. So basically it's a program that allows you to enter in all the claim info, sketch out the damaged house/apt/store/anything else, and then they have amazingly accurate price lists per area that are updated monthly (that's like their "special sauce").

Although I sit at a desk for the majority of the day, there is a gym at work and so Daniel and I have been running together a couple of times a week (usually on treadmills), I've been able to bike to work (it's only 2 miles away), and I got an exercise ball to sit on (although I think a more appropriate description would be to say "to bounce on"). I also have been bringing sliced veggies to snack on in between chats and calls and so have been able to get my 5 servings of vegetables.

I don't create the software though, I just support it when it's broken. Considering the hundreds of thousands of people who purchase and use it, it breaks surprisingly little, but with a new product release and everything else, I have had to work all sorts of overtime recently. So when I get a call at 4:58 pm and I have to stay until 6:10 (even though my shift technically ends at 5), I just smile and thank my lucky stars that I have a job and an income and some sort of stability.

I guess you could say I'm about as happy as Jade with Elmo on her belly:

Partying Pipkin Style

Daniel and I love Youtube. I mean.. science and math. Daniel and I love science and math. So after discovering some great Youtube channels (Vihart, Numberphile, the Vlogbrothers, and CPGrey Explains) we decided to have a part for Pi day. 

Thankfully Daniel is great at slaving away at the oven all day, so that we could eat hexalfexamexigons, three types of pie, and mobius strip fruit by the foot.

Delicious and nutritious-- brain food

The Math Mafia-- Angela even brought a fencing sword*

The Mad Mathematician *

Daniel's creation

This is actually from the day that Anna went into the MTC, isn't she beautiful?

*photos courtesy of Angela Calchera