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.
Office sports day
Bring some playground competition into the working day.
An Office Sports Day is a fun way to get colleagues away from their desks, working together and enjoying some childhood-inspired games while raising money during Be a Kid Week.
How the activity works
Choose a handful of simple games and challenges that will work in your workplace, then split colleagues into teams and compete for points.
You do not need a sports field or specialist equipment. The best activities are usually simple, familiar and easy to join in with.
You could try:
- Beanbag target throwing
- Paper aeroplane competitions
- Balancing challenges
- Egg-and-spoon races
- Hoop challenges
- Team relays
- Desk-chair-free obstacle courses
- Three-legged races
- Throwing or accuracy challenges
- Quick-fire team puzzles
Award points for each activity and crown your Office Sports Day champions at the end.
You could ask colleagues to make a donation to take part, charge teams an entry fee or encourage each team to raise sponsorship.
Plan your activity
- Choose a date and decide how long your sports day will run.
- Find a suitable indoor or outdoor space.
- Pick a small number of games and challenges.
- Divide colleagues into teams.
- Decide how you will score the competition and raise money.
- Share the plan in advance and encourage people to get involved.
- Keep a scoreboard and celebrate your winning team.
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 workplace
Small teams
Keep things simple with a handful of quick games that can be played in a meeting room, breakout space or outdoor area.
You could split into two or three teams, rotate through each challenge and keep score as you go.
If time is limited, run your Office Sports Day over lunch or choose one main team challenge that everyone can join in with.
Larger workplaces
Turn the activity into a department-versus-department competition and let each team choose a name, captain or colour.
You could run different activity stations, keep a central scoreboard and crown your Office Sports Day champions at the end.
Colleagues who do not want to compete can still donate, help run a station, keep score, take photos or cheer on their team.
Remote or hybrid teams
Choose activities that people can complete from their own location, such as paper aeroplane challenges, quick-fire puzzles, desk-based balancing games or team trivia.
You could combine scores from people in different locations, run a live video call challenge or let teams submit their results during the day.
Keep the rules clear and easy to follow so everyone can take part wherever they are working.
What you will need
You do not need specialist sports equipment. Depending on the activities you choose, you may need:
- A suitable indoor or outdoor space
- A small selection of simple games and challenges
- Basic equipment such as paper, beanbags, hoops, cones or cups
- A timer or clock
- A scoreboard or score sheet
- Team names or team lists
- A fundraising page, sponsorship form or way to collect donations
- Optional prizes or certificates for the winning team
Choose activities that use items you already have where possible, and keep the setup easy for organisers and participants.
Make it safe and inclusive
Choose activities that are suitable for your workplace, your available space and the people taking part.
Keep walkways clear, avoid trip hazards and make sure there is enough room around each activity station.
Avoid making speed, strength or physical ability the only way to succeed. Include a mix of accuracy challenges, puzzles, team games and low-movement options so more people can get involved.
Make taking part optional. Colleagues who do not want to compete can still support the fundraiser by donating, sponsoring a team, keeping score or helping to organise the day.
Follow your workplace’s usual health and safety guidance, especially if activities involve movement, shared spaces or equipment.
Keep the competition friendly. The aim is to bring colleagues together, have fun and raise money for Acorns during Be a Kid Week.
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.