Draw a map of your home that looks like a pirate treasure map for a creative indoor scavenger hunt for kids of all ages.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs we earn from qualifying purchases. Read more.
Scavenger hunts are a fun boredom buster for kids of all ages. For Pirate Week, we put together a unique version that doubles as a pirate treasure hunt.
Make a treasure map and cut it into pieces, each with a clue that leads to the next. You can make this activity easier or harder to fit your child’s age. We love this as an activity for a mixed age group because older kids can read the clues while younger ones do the searching.
If you want to turn this into a bigger activity, have the kids dress up in pirate hats. Build a cardboard box fort and mark it on the map. Or just toss a blanket over the dining table to turn it into a cave.
Become a Happy Camper!
Sign up to receive our monthly email newsletter
and get a free printable 30 Day Reading Calendar!
How to make a scavenger hunt map
Supplies
- brown craft paper
- pencil
- markers
- ruler
- scissors or paper trimmer
Instructions
1. Draw the map.
Start by drawing a rough outline of your house in the middle of the paper. It doesn’t have to be as square as your house really might be and should look a bit like an island. Add details you might see on a treasure map to mark where something is in your house.
For example, we put trees where the walls are. The castle buildings are the sofa and chair in the living room. The big, mysterious cave is the dining table. And we parked a boat by the front door.
2. Create a map key.
Draw a box in the corner for the map key. Include an icon and what it represents. For example, trees for walls, water for sinks, buildings for furniture, and mountains for stairs. Focus on major elements instead of trying to draw too many things.
3. Add color.
Decorate the map with markers to add some color if you like. Stick to natural colors, like green and brown, to keep to the pirate map theme.
4. Mark the treasure.
Decide where you’ll hide the treasure chest in your house, then mark it on the map with a big X.
5. Write the clues.
Flip the map over to the back. Draw lines to divide the map into pieces. You need a piece for each clue, but you can make as many or few as you like. We make ours square, but you could cut them into odd shapes instead.
Write a clue in each box. The first one will be the clue you hand to the kids to start. Each clue should lead to the next location. The last clue should instruct your kids to assemble the map to find the treasure.
Your clues can rhyme or not. Write in a silly pirate voice, or just keep it simple!
6. Cut and hide the clues.
Cut out the clues along the lines, making sure you keep them in order. Save the first one, then hide the rest. After you hide the last clue, hide the treasure where you marked it on the map!
7. Send your kids on the hunt!
Finally, give the beginning piece to your little pirates. As they follow the clues, they should collect the pieces. When they read the last clue, they’ll put the map together and follow it to find the treasure.
This is a great play activity to do after making an egg carton treasure chest. You can use the chest and fill it with whatever treasure you like before hiding it.
Alternatively, hide a fun treat, a special toy, or something else new.
We hope this indoor scavenger hunt has sparked some creative fun for your family! There are tons of ways you can customize this activity for your kids. After you’ve hunted indoors, make a map of your backyard or even your whole neighborhood.
Plan your summer with the DIY Summer Camp Planner!
Our step-by-step guide will help you organize a day, a week, or a whole summer of fun activities for your kids.
