By Rev. Doug Forbes
A Selfies Scavenger Hunt is a great team building activity. Your young people will learn new things about their community, make new friends and they will have a lot of fun. For a Selfies Scavenger Hunt, you need: smart phones or digital cameras, reflective clothing, a perimeter to stay within, a list of what to look for, flashlights and a spirit of adventure!
Break your young people into groups of about five, give each team a list of what to look for, explain the rules including a return time and ensure that each group has a smart phone or digital camera, some flashlights and a chaperone.
A possible list of what to look for and how many points for each could be:
In front of the sunset – 10, With an American flag – 5, In front of a swimming pool – 5, With a pirate – 15, With a post office box- 5, With something new – 10, With something borrowed – 15, With a fire hydrant – 5, Making everyone look really small – 20, Playing leap frog on a brick walkway – 15, With a bell – 10, At a school – 5, Something broken – 15, Something white – 10, At home plate – 5, Street sign named after a president – 15, A symbol of history – 10, With something free – 10, With a book return – 5, Front of a tree – 5, Front of a yellow car – 20, Something smooth – 10, Something red – 10, Something round – 10, Near a street sign – 10, Something colorful – 10, Two kinds of leaves – 10, Front of a trash can – 5, Something bumpy – 10, Standing in the shade – 5, Standing in the sun – 5, Something covered in feathers – 15, Something inflated by air – 10, Something made of wood – 10, Something that displays a rule(s) – 15, Something you can sit in – 5, Something with a date on it – 10, A reflection of your team – 10, Your team on a slide – 15, Something pink – 10.
You could also add a point multiplier for:
With a pastor – 5, With a fireman – 5, With a police officer – 5, With a pizza chef – 3, With a dog – 2.
When everyone gets back together allow time for everyone to share their adventures and photos. Add up the points and award prizes.
For a Bible Study read James 1:23-25 to your young people and explain that reading the word of God is like holding a mirror or camera up to your life. Some people forget what they have to read and God’s word cannot bless them. Other people remember and obey God’s word and it blesses them and changes them for the better.
Ask your class to turn to I Corinthians 13:1-13 and ask for volunteers to each read a verse until the entire passage has been read. Explain that if we love God with all our hearts, love our neighbors as ourselves and follow the words of I Corinthians 13, God will bless us. Re-read I Corinthians 13 and explain that the greatest gift from God is love. God’s love for us, and our love for God and each other.
Read John 3:16 to your young people and explain that God loves everyone in the world. He loves us so much that He sent his Son to die on the cross for all of our sins and mistakes and to give us the free gift of eternal life. Tell your class that they can receive God’s free gift of love by praying: “Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sins, please forgive my sins, come into my heart and make me a member of your family. Thank you for your free gift of eternal life. We pray in Jesus name, Amen.”
Ask your students to re-read I Corinthians 13 during the week and perform an act of love and kindness for a family member, friend or neighbor.
Pastor Doug would like to thank Evan Pittsley, a wonderful youth leader, for co-authoring this article with him.