Childhood treasure hunt
Follow the clues, solve the puzzles and see where your childhood adventure takes you.
Create a treasure hunt inspired by childhood games, stories, toys or familiar local places. Keep it simple with a few clues around your home, school or community venue, or create a bigger trail for teams to explore.
How the activity works
Choose your route or playing area and create a series of clues that lead people from one location to the next.
Your clues could be based on:
- Favourite childhood stories
- Toys and games
- Nursery rhymes
- Playground games
- Riddles and puzzles
- Local landmarks
- Picture clues
- Hidden objects
People can take part individually, in families or in teams.
Ask for a donation to enter, encourage teams to raise sponsorship beforehand or set a shared fundraising target for the event.
Plan your activity
- Choose where your treasure hunt will take place.
- Decide where it will start and finish.
- Create your clues, puzzles and hiding places.
- Walk through the route yourself to make sure everything works.
- Decide how people will take part and how you will raise money.
- Invite people to join in and explain what they need to do.
- Set teams off and see who can complete the hunt.
How to raise money
Choose one simple fundraising idea or combine a few approaches to suit your group, activity and available time.
There is no required fundraising target. Choose an amount that feels realistic for the size of your group and focus on making it easy and enjoyable for people to get involved.
You could:
- Ask everyone taking part for a suggested donation
- Charge a small entry fee
- Ask people to sponsor participants
- Invite donations for additional attempts
- Charge teams to enter a tournament
- Ask people to donate to vote for the winner
- Combine the challenge with refreshments, a raffle or bake sale
- Set up an online fundraising page
Helpful things to think about
Adapt it for your group
Schools and colleges
Run the treasure hunt around a classroom, hall, playground or other suitable part of the school.
Younger pupils might enjoy picture clues, simple riddles or finding hidden objects. Older students could take on more challenging puzzles, coded messages or team-based clues.
You could organise the activity by class, house or tutor group and add points for completing each stage.
Taking part should remain optional. Pupils who do not want to complete the hunt can still help create clues, keep score or support their team.
Community groups
Use your usual meeting place, community venue or a safe local area as the setting for your treasure hunt.
You could ask group members to help create clues, hide objects or run different checkpoints.
For groups with a wide age range, mix easier and harder clues so everyone has a chance to contribute.
Families and individuals
Create a treasure hunt at home, in the garden or in a familiar local space.
Keep it simple for younger children with picture clues and hidden objects, or make it more challenging for older children and adults with riddles and puzzles.
You could invite another family to compete, work together as one team or ask people to donate to take part.
What you will need
- A set of clues or puzzles
- Pens and answer sheets if needed
- Any props or hidden objects
- A safe route or playing area
- Signs or markers if you are using checkpoints
- Optional prizes or certificates
- A way to collect donations
You do not need a complicated route. A short, well-planned treasure hunt can be just as much fun as a larger one.
Make it safe and inclusive
Choose a route that is safe, accessible and suitable for the people taking part.
Avoid sending participants near busy roads, isolated areas, water, steep ground or anywhere they would need to climb or enter without permission.
Make sure clues can be reached without relying on speed, mobility or physical ability. You can adapt the route, provide seated clues or let teams work together so more people can take part.
If the hunt is outdoors, think about weather conditions and have a backup plan if needed.
If children or young people are involved, make sure appropriate supervision is in place and follow your organisation's usual safeguarding arrangements.
Do not hide clues in places that could damage property or cause people to enter restricted areas.
The aim is to make the hunt adventurous and playful, while keeping it easy and safe for everyone to enjoy.
Looking for another idea?
Explore more playful fundraising ideas in the Be a Kid Week Play Hub.
Why your fundraising matters
Be a Kid Week is part of the Acorns Time Machine appeal .
The money you raise will help power the specialist care Acorns provides to children with short lives and their families. By managing pain, symptoms and medication and providing expert care whenever it is needed, Acorns helps families make more of the time they have together.
Your activity will help give seriously-ill children more time to simply be kids.
Ready to help childhood take over?
Sign up to Be a Kid Week and download your free fundraising pack, full of ideas and practical guidance to help you get started.
Big play day
Bring people together and make a whole event out of play.
A Big Play Day is your chance to fill an afternoon or day with games, activities, refreshments and fundraising. Keep it simple with a few favourites or create a bigger event with different activity stations for people to explore.
How the activity works
Choose a venue and put together a mix of playful activities that people can enjoy throughout the event.
You could include:
- Traditional playground games
- Giant garden games
- Board games
- Craft activities
- Races and challenges
- A childhood quiz
- A treasure hunt
- Face painting
- Refreshments or a bake sale
- A dress-up competition
People could make a donation to attend, donate to take part in individual activities or buy refreshments with the proceeds going towards your fundraising.
You do not need to include everything. A few well-chosen activities can make a brilliant Play Day.
Plan your activity
- Decide who your Play Day is for.
- Choose a date, time and suitable venue.
- Pick the games and activities you want to include.
- Ask others to help you run different parts of the event.
- Decide how you will raise money.
- Promote your event and invite people along.
- Set everything up and enjoy a day of play.
How to raise money
Choose one simple fundraising idea or combine a few approaches to suit your group, activity and available time.
There is no required fundraising target. Choose an amount that feels realistic for the size of your group and focus on making it easy and enjoyable for people to get involved.
You could:
- Ask everyone taking part for a suggested donation
- Charge a small entry fee
- Ask people to sponsor participants
- Invite donations for additional attempts
- Charge teams to enter a tournament
- Ask people to donate to vote for the winner
- Combine the challenge with refreshments, a raffle or bake sale
- Set up an online fundraising page
Helpful things to think about
Adapt it for your group
Schools and colleges
Run your Play Day as a special afternoon, enrichment activity or part of a wider Be a Kid Week event.
Set up different stations around a hall, playground or classroom area and let pupils move between activities.
You could include playground games, crafts, quizzes, simple challenges and refreshments.
For older students, you could invite them to help plan or run activity stations for younger pupils.
Taking part should remain optional. Pupils who do not want to join a particular activity can help organise, keep score or support others.
Businesses
Turn an afternoon, team day or workplace social into a Big Play Day.
Set up a few activity stations, split colleagues into teams or let people drop in throughout the day.
You could combine board games, quick challenges, a quiz and nostalgic food to create a relaxed event without needing a full day away from work.
Hybrid teams could run smaller activities in different locations and combine results or photographs online.
Community groups
Use a regular meeting, community venue or outdoor space to create a Play Day that brings people together.
Choose activities that suit the ages and interests of your group and ask members or volunteers to help run different stations.
You could also invite families, friends or other local groups to join you and turn it into a wider community event.
Families and individuals
Keep it small and informal with a garden, park or living-room Play Day.
Choose a few favourite games, invite friends or family and add snacks, music or a treasure hunt.
You could ask everyone to make a donation to join in or set a shared fundraising target for the day.
What you will need
What you need will depend on the activities you choose, but could include:
- Games and activity equipment
- Tables and chairs
- Signs or simple activity instructions
- Refreshments
- Pens, score sheets or craft materials
- Helpers or volunteers
- A way to collect donations
- Any permissions required for your chosen venue
Try to use equipment you already have or borrow items from friends, colleagues or group members where possible.
Make it safe and inclusive
Choose activities that suit the space, ages and abilities of the people taking part.
Include a mix of physical and non-physical activities so there are different ways for people to get involved.
Make sure walkways and activity areas are clear and avoid running games in cramped spaces or near hazards.
If your event is open to a wider audience, think about access, toilets, first aid, refreshments and appropriate supervision.
If children or young people are involved, follow your organisation's usual safeguarding arrangements.
You do not need to make every activity competitive. Give people the option to play casually, help run an activity, donate or simply enjoy being part of the day.
The aim is to create a welcoming space where everyone can make time to play while helping raise money for Acorns.
Looking for another idea?
Explore more playful fundraising ideas in the Be a Kid Week Play Hub.
Why your fundraising matters
Be a Kid Week is part of the Acorns Time Machine appeal .
The money you raise will help power the specialist care Acorns provides to children with short lives and their families. By managing pain, symptoms and medication and providing expert care whenever it is needed, Acorns helps families make more of the time they have together.
Your activity will help give seriously-ill children more time to simply be kids.
Ready to help childhood take over?
Sign up to Be a Kid Week and download your free fundraising pack, full of ideas and practical guidance to help you get started.
Sponsored playathon
How long can you keep the fun going?
Choose a playful activity, set yourself a time challenge and ask people to sponsor you. You can take part on your own, with friends or as part of a team and make your playathon as short, silly or ambitious as you like.
How the activity works
Pick one playful activity and decide how long you want to keep it going.
You could:
- Hula hoop
- Skip
- Dance
- Build with bricks
- Play a favourite game
- Keep a balloon in the air
- Draw or colour
- Complete puzzles
- Play table tennis
- Take turns playing playground games
Your challenge could last 30 minutes, an hour, an afternoon or even longer.
Ask people to sponsor you for completing your playathon or set a fundraising target for your team.
Plan your activity
- Choose the activity you want to do.
- Decide how long your playathon will last.
- Choose whether you will take part on your own or as part of a team.
- Set up your fundraising page or decide how you will collect sponsorship.
- Tell people what you are doing and why.
- Complete your playathon and share how you got on.
How to raise money
Choose one simple fundraising idea or combine a few approaches to suit your group, activity and available time.
There is no required fundraising target. Choose an amount that feels realistic for the size of your group and focus on making it easy and enjoyable for people to get involved.
You could:
- Ask everyone taking part for a suggested donation
- Charge a small entry fee
- Ask people to sponsor participants
- Invite donations for additional attempts
- Charge teams to enter a tournament
- Ask people to donate to vote for the winner
- Combine the challenge with refreshments, a raffle or bake sale
- Set up an online fundraising page
Helpful things to think about
Adapt it for your group
Businesses
Choose an activity that colleagues can take turns doing throughout the working day or run a shorter playathon over lunch.
You could keep a game or challenge going as a team, compete between departments or ask colleagues to take timed shifts so the activity continues for as long as possible.
Hybrid or remote teams could choose an activity everyone can complete from their own location and combine their total time.
People who do not want to take part in the challenge can still donate, sponsor colleagues or help keep track of the team's progress.
Families and individuals
Choose something you genuinely enjoy and make the challenge your own.
You could take part by yourself, involve the whole family or ask friends to join you.
For a family playathon, different people could take turns so the activity continues for a set amount of time. You could also choose several shorter challenges and complete them one after another.
Community groups
Choose something that fits naturally into your usual meeting or activity.
You could run one shared challenge, divide into teams or keep a playful activity going by taking turns throughout the session.
For groups with a wide range of ages and abilities, offer different ways to take part so everyone can be involved.
Schools and colleges
Choose an activity that works well for the age of your pupils or students and the space you have available.
You could run a class playathon, organise a relay where pupils take turns throughout the day or let different year groups choose their own challenge.
Younger pupils might enjoy skipping, building, drawing or simple playground games. Older students may prefer team challenges, table tennis, gaming or longer sponsored activities.
Taking part should remain optional. Pupils and students who do not want to join the activity can still donate, help keep time or support their classmates.
What you will need
This will depend on the activity you choose, but you may need:
- Equipment for your chosen activity
- A suitable place to take part
- A timer or clock
- A fundraising page or sponsorship form
- Water and breaks for longer activities
- Friends, family or teammates to keep you going
Make it safe and inclusive
Choose an activity that is suitable for everyone taking part and realistic for the length of time you have planned.
Build in regular breaks, especially for longer or more physical activities, and make sure people have access to water and somewhere to rest.
Avoid activities that rely entirely on speed, strength or stamina. You can adapt the challenge, shorten the time or allow people to take turns so more people can participate.
If children or young people are involved, make sure appropriate supervision is in place and follow your organisation's usual safeguarding arrangements.
The goal is not to push yourself to exhaustion. The playathon should be fun, achievable and something people can enjoy while raising money for Acorns.
Looking for another idea?
Explore more playful fundraising ideas in the Be a Kid Week Play Hub.
Why your fundraising matters
Be a Kid Week is part of the Acorns Time Machine appeal .
The money you raise will help power the specialist care Acorns provides to children with short lives and their families. By managing pain, symptoms and medication and providing expert care whenever it is needed, Acorns helps families make more of the time they have together.
Your activity will help give seriously-ill children more time to simply be kids.
Ready to help childhood take over?
Sign up to Be a Kid Week and download your free fundraising pack, full of ideas and practical guidance to help you get started.
Board game break or tournament
Take a break from the usual routine and make time to play.
Set aside a lunchtime or a few hours for classic board games, organise a friendly tournament or turn an ordinary meeting, lesson or get-together into a board game session. It is a simple way to bring people together, have some fun and raise money during Be a Kid Week.
How the activity works
Choose a few games that people can pick up and play easily. You can keep things relaxed with different games available for people to join in with, or add some friendly competition by running a tournament.
You could try:- Classic family board games
- Card games
- Quick-fire tabletop games
- Team games
- A knockout tournament
- A board game challenge between departments, classes or groups
Ask people to make a donation to take part, pay to enter a tournament or collect sponsorship for their team.
Plan your activity
- Choose when and where you will hold your board game session.
- Decide whether it will be a relaxed drop-in activity or a tournament.
- Gather a selection of suitable games.
- Decide how people will take part and how you will raise money.
- Invite people to join in and share the details in advance.
- If you are running a tournament, agree the rules and how you will keep score.
How to raise money
Choose one simple fundraising idea or combine a few approaches to suit your group, activity and available time.
There is no required fundraising target. Choose an amount that feels realistic for the size of your group and focus on making it easy and enjoyable for people to get involved.
You could:
- Ask everyone taking part for a suggested donation
- Charge a small entry fee
- Ask people to sponsor participants
- Invite donations for additional attempts
- Charge teams to enter a tournament
- Ask people to donate to vote for the winner
- Combine the challenge with refreshments, a raffle or bake sale
- Set up an online fundraising page
Helpful things to think about
Adapt it for your group
Schools and colleges
Run a board game session at lunchtime, during a tutor period or as part of a wider Be a Kid Week activity.
You could set up different games around the room and let pupils or students choose what to play, or organise a simple class or year-group tournament.
For older students, you could include strategy games, card games or team challenges. Younger pupils may prefer familiar, quick-to-learn games.
Taking part should remain optional. Pupils and students who do not want to play can still support the fundraiser by donating, helping to keep score or cheering on their classmates.
Businesses
Turn a lunch break, team meeting or Friday afternoon into a board game break.
Set up a few games in a communal space, organise a department-versus-department competition or run a knockout tournament across the day.
Remote or hybrid teams could take part using online versions of familiar games or simple virtual team challenges.
People who do not want to play can still donate, help organise the tournament or vote for a winning team.
Community groups
Use a regular meeting, club night or social event as an opportunity to bring out some familiar games and raise money together.
You could ask members to bring along a favourite game from home, create different activity tables or organise a friendly competition between teams.
For groups with a wide age range, choose a mix of games so there is something suitable for everyone.
What you will need
You will need:
- A selection of board games, card games or tabletop games
- Tables and chairs
- A suitable space to play
- Pens and paper if you need to keep score
- A simple tournament plan if you are running a competition
- A way to collect donations
You do not need to buy anything new. Ask colleagues, families or group members if they have games they can lend for the activity.
Make it safe and inclusive
Choose games that are suitable for the age, abilities and needs of the people taking part.
Make sure there is enough space around tables and keep bags, boxes and other items out of walkways.
Try to include a mixture of games with different levels of difficulty and avoid making speed, reading ability or physical dexterity the only way to succeed.
Explain the rules clearly before people begin and be prepared to adapt them where this helps someone take part.
If children or young people are involved, follow your organisation's usual supervision and safeguarding arrangements.
Most importantly, keep the competition friendly. The aim is to make time for play, bring people together and have fun while supporting Acorns.
Looking for another idea?
Explore more playful fundraising ideas in the Be a Kid Week Play Hub.
Why your fundraising matters
Be a Kid Week is part of the Acorns Time Machine appeal .
The money you raise will help power the specialist care Acorns provides to children with short lives and their families. By managing pain, symptoms and medication and providing expert care whenever it is needed, Acorns helps families make more of the time they have together.
Your activity will help give seriously-ill children more time to simply be kids.
Ready to help childhood take over?
Sign up to Be a Kid Week and download your free fundraising pack, full of ideas and practical guidance to help you get started.
Dress like a kid day
Take inspiration from a nostalgic fashion trend, dress as a favourite childhood character, recreate an outfit from an old photo, become the person your younger self dreamed of being or turn it into a playful non-uniform day at school.
A Dress Like a Kid Day is an easy way to bring people together, start conversations and raise money during Be a Kid Week.
How the challenge works
Choose a day when pupils, students, colleagues or group members can replace their usual uniform or work clothes with something inspired by childhood.
Keep the theme broad and flexible so that everyone can take part without needing to buy a costume or new outfit.
Choose your theme
People could:
- Wear an old school uniform or school-inspired outfit
- Take inspiration from the decade they grew up in
- Dress as a favourite childhood character
- Become the person they wanted to be when they grew up
- Recreate a favourite childhood outfit or old photograph
- Take part in a simple non-uniform or mufti day
Taking part should always be optional. People who do not want to dress up can still donate, share a childhood photograph or support the campaign in another way.
Plan your challenge
- Choose your theme
- Pick a date
- Get permission
- Plan your fundraising
- Invite people to take part
- Dress up, fundraise and share
How to raise money
Choose one simple fundraising idea or combine a few approaches to suit your group, activity and available time.
There is no required fundraising target. Choose an amount that feels realistic for the size of your group and focus on making it easy and enjoyable for people to get involved.
You could:
- Ask everyone taking part for a suggested donation
- Charge a small entry fee
- Ask people to sponsor participants
- Invite donations for additional attempts
- Charge teams to enter a tournament
- Ask people to donate to vote for the winner
- Combine the challenge with refreshments, a raffle or bake sale
- Set up an online fundraising page
Helpful things to think about
Adapt it for your group
Schools and colleges
Run the activity as a non-uniform day, themed dress-up day or student-led challenge.
Younger pupils could wear a favourite playful outfit or dress as something they would like to be when they grow up.
Older students may prefer a nostalgia theme, childhood photograph recreation or a “what I wanted to be when I grew up” challenge.
Taking part should remain optional. Pupils and students should still be able to donate or support the day without dressing up.
Businesses
Invite colleagues to take part in the office, remotely or across different locations.
You could hold a competition for the most creative outfit, recreate childhood photographs or ask colleagues to match childhood pictures to the correct person.
Remote workers could share photographs or join a team call in their chosen outfit.
People who do not want to dress up can still donate, vote in a competition or share a childhood memory.
Community groups
Turn a regular meeting or get-together into a Dress Like a Kid Day and invite members to take part in a way that suits your group.
You could choose a shared theme, recreate childhood photographs, dress as favourite childhood characters or run a simple competition for the most creative outfit.
Anyone who does not want to dress up can still donate, vote, share a childhood memory or help organise the activity.
Taking part should remain optional. Pupils and students should still be able to donate or support the day without dressing up.
What you will need
You will need:
- A date for your activity
- Permission from your school, college or workplace
- A clear theme or explanation of the day
- A simple way to tell people how to take part
- An online fundraising page or agreed method for collecting donations
- Optional childhood photographs
- Optional prizes for competitions
Nobody should need to purchase a new outfit to take part. Encourage people to use clothes, accessories and other items they already have.
Make it safe and inclusive
Make sure that the theme allows people to participate in a way that feels comfortable for them.
Avoid costumes, clothing or themes that could cause offence, reinforce stereotypes or make other people feel uncomfortable.
People should always be able to participate without dressing up. They could instead donate, share a childhood photograph or support another part of the activity.
Schools and colleges should follow their usual policies on:
- Clothing
- Safeguarding
- Photography
- Appropriate themes
- Participation and inclusion
Workplaces should also consider their usual dress requirements, particularly where clothing could affect health, safety or the ability to complete particular roles.
Looking for another idea?
Explore more playful fundraising ideas in the Be a Kid Week Play Hub.
Why your fundraising matters
Be a Kid Week is part of the Acorns Time Machine appeal .
The money you raise will help power the specialist care Acorns provides to children with short lives and their families. By managing pain, symptoms and medication and providing expert care whenever it is needed, Acorns helps families make more of the time they have together.
Your activity will help give seriously-ill children more time to simply be kids.
Ready to help childhood take over?
Sign up to Be a Kid Week and download your free fundraising pack, full of ideas and practical guidance to help you get started.
Childhood Games Challenge
Bring back the games you loved growing up and challenge your classmates, colleagues, friends or family to join in.
From skipping and hopscotch to paper aeroplanes and board games, choose a few simple activities, add some friendly competition and raise money during Be a Kid Week.
How the challenge works
Choose two or three childhood games that suit your group, the space available and the amount of time you have.
Participants can compete individually, play in teams or work together towards a shared challenge.
Choose your games
You could try:
- Skipping challenges
- Hopscotch
- Hula-hooping
- Beanbag or soft-ball throwing
- Egg-and-spoon races
- Sack races
- Musical statues
- Keepy-uppy challenges
- Paper aeroplane competitions
- Traditional playground games
- Board games or card games
Can't see what you're looking for? Create your own challenge!
You do not need to include every activity. Choose a few games that work for your group and keep the challenge simple.
Plan your challenge
- Choose two or three games.
- Pick a date and location.
- Decide whether people will play individually or in teams.
- Choose how you will collect donations.
- Invite people to take part.
- Play, fundraise and share your results.
How to raise money
Choose one simple fundraising idea or combine a few approaches to suit your group, activity and available time.
There is no required fundraising target. Choose an amount that feels realistic for the size of your group and focus on making it easy and enjoyable for people to get involved.
You could:
- Ask everyone taking part for a suggested donation
- Charge a small entry fee
- Ask people to sponsor participants
- Invite donations for additional attempts
- Charge teams to enter a tournament
- Ask people to donate to vote for the winner
- Combine the challenge with refreshments, a raffle or bake sale
- Set up an online fundraising page
Helpful things to think about
Adapt it for your group
Choose the games, format and fundraising approach that will work best for the people taking part.
Schools and colleges
Run the challenge as part of a PE lesson, house competition, lunchtime activity or end-of-term fundraiser. Pupils could take part in teams, move between activity stations or try to beat their own score.
Businesses
Create a team tournament, lunchtime challenge or office leaderboard. Keep games simple, quick to set up and easy for colleagues to join between meetings or shifts.
Community groups
Choose activities that work for mixed ages and group sizes. You could run several game stations, invite people to take turns, or make it a relaxed social fundraiser.
Families and individuals
Hold your challenge at home, in the garden, at a party or in a local outdoor space. Pick a few favourite games, invite friends and family, and ask people to donate or sponsor the challenge.
What you will need
Keep your equipment simple and choose items that match the games you are planning to include.
- Skipping ropes
- Chalk, tape or cones for marking out games
- Hula-hoops
- Beanbags or soft balls
- Spoons and plastic eggs, or a similar lightweight alternative
- Sacks, pillowcases or suitable alternatives for sack races
- Music and a speaker for musical statues
- Paper or card for paper aeroplane competitions
- Board games or card games
- Score sheets, pens and signs
- A safe place to collect donations, or details of your online fundraising page
You do not need to buy everything new. Borrow, reuse or adapt items where possible, and only use equipment that is safe and suitable for your group.
Make it safe and inclusive
Plan your challenge so that people can take part in a way that feels comfortable, safe and suitable for them.
- Choose games that are suitable for the ages, abilities and confidence levels of your group.
- Offer accessible alternatives, such as seated versions, lower-impact games, team roles or scoring and cheering roles.
- Check the space before you start, including floors, outdoor surfaces, trip hazards and room for people to move safely.
- Use soft, lightweight or age-appropriate equipment where possible.
- Make sure activities are supervised, especially when children or young people are taking part.
- Follow your organisation’s safeguarding guidance where relevant.
- Have a first-aid plan in place, especially for larger groups, schools, community events or workplace activities.
Looking for another idea?
Explore more playful fundraising ideas in the Be a Kid Week Play Hub.
Why your fundraising matters
Be a Kid Week is part of the Acorns Time Machine appeal .
The money you raise will help power the specialist care Acorns provides to children with short lives and their families. By managing pain, symptoms and medication and providing expert care whenever it is needed, Acorns helps families make more of the time they have together.
Your activity will help give seriously-ill children more time to simply be kids.
Ready to help childhood take over?
Sign up to Be a Kid Week and download your free fundraising pack, full of ideas and practical guidance to help you get started.