College Scavenger Hunt Ideas

100 campus tasks: press Pick 10 new tasks, take away what your campus lacks, then share or print the list.

College Scavenger Hunt Ideas

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  1. A hallway bulletin board, and the theme it has this month2 points. Team photo beside it. Leave every pin in place.
  2. The front desk of your hall, and the hours it is staffed1 point. Posted at the desk.
  3. A flyer for a guest lecture, a research talk or a study that needs volunteers2 points. Photograph the flyer and leave it pinned.
  4. The schedule for a free fitness class or an intramural sport3 points. At the recreation center or on its web page. Write down one the team would really try.
  5. A bench or a tree with a dedication plate3 points. A teammate points at the plate. Read it before you leave.
  6. The central lawn or quad, with the team sitting in a circle1 point. Prop the phone and use the timer.
  7. Something in the school colors that is not clothing1 point. A bench, a banner, a bus. A teammate stands beside it.
  8. A place to print when the library is closed3 points. A union, a lab or a residence hall printer. Write down where and until when.
  9. What to do when you are locked out of your room3 points. The posted lockout steps. Write down who to call and whether it costs anything.
  10. The library's closing time tonight1 point. Posted at the entrance. Write it down.

Points: of 20

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All 100 tasks

Library 16

  • A call number that starts with N, on the spine of an art book 3 points. N is fine arts in the Library of Congress system. Photograph the spine on the shelf. No need to pull the book out.
  • A call number that starts with Q, photographed on the shelf with a teammate 3 points. Many large academic libraries shelve by Library of Congress letters, and Q is science. Shelved another way? Find the science shelves.
  • A free study seat with a window and an outlet within reach 2 points. A teammate sits in it and points at the outlet.
  • A library book by an author who shares a last name with a teammate 3 points. Search the catalog first. Photograph the spine on the shelf, with the teammate pointing.
  • A map of the library's floors, with a teammate pointing at where you are 1 point. Near the entrance, the stairs or the elevator.
  • A print newspaper or magazine dated this week 2 points. In the periodicals area. A teammate's thumb points at the date.
  • A quiet study floor or room, and its posted rule 1 point. Photograph the sign from outside, and whisper while you are there.
  • The book return slot that works when the building is closed 1 point. Usually outside, near the main doors.
  • The course reserves shelf or desk, and its posted loan period 2 points. Where instructors leave course books on short loan. Write down how long you may keep one.
  • The floor and aisle where the M call numbers live 2 points. M is music. The sign at the end of each aisle gives the range.
  • How to book a group study room, and how far ahead you can book 2 points. A sign, a screen by the door or the library website says.
  • The library's closing time tonight 1 point. Posted at the entrance. Write it down.
  • The oldest publication date the team can find on the open shelves 5 points. Look on the back of the title page, handle the book gently and leave it on its shelf. The oldest date among all teams takes the 5.
  • The printer nearest the library entrance, and what a black-and-white page costs 2 points. The price is posted on or near the printer. Print nothing.
  • The research help desk, and the hours someone is there 2 points. Hours are posted at the desk. You do not have to ask anyone.
  • The special collections or archives room, photographed from outside 3 points. Follow the signs and stay in the corridor. Write down how a student asks to see something.

Classrooms and offices 16

  • A building named after a person, and what the plaque says they did 3 points. Read the plaque or the lobby display. One sentence is enough.
  • A classroom number that reads the same forward and backward 3 points. 101, 212, 343. A teammate points at the door plate.
  • A computer lab open to every student, and its hours 2 points. The hours are on the door. Stay out if a class is using it.
  • A cornerstone or plaque showing the year a building opened 2 points. Team photo with the year readable.
  • A display case holding something students made or won 2 points. Trophies, models, artwork, research posters. Team photo beside it.
  • A flyer for a guest lecture, a research talk or a study that needs volunteers 2 points. Photograph the flyer and leave it pinned.
  • A hallway poster that explains somebody's research 3 points. Write down its title, and one thing the team learned from it.
  • A lost and found 2 points. Often a building's front desk or the campus safety office. Write down where it is.
  • A set of posted office hours on a faculty door or a department board 2 points. Write down the days and times only. No photo of the door, and no knocking.
  • The academic advising office, and how a student makes an appointment 3 points. The door or the advising web page says how. Write it down.
  • The building where a teammate's first class of the week meets 2 points. The teammate checks their own schedule. Team photo at the entrance.
  • The department office for a teammate's intended major 2 points. Team photo beside the door sign.
  • The largest lecture hall you can find, and its posted seat count 3 points. Capacity is often on a sign by the door. Look in only if the room is empty.
  • The registrar's office 2 points. Where enrollment, transcripts and forms are handled. Team photo by the sign.
  • The step-free way into a classroom building: a ramp, an elevator or a door button 1 point. Photograph the sign or the button. Everyone should know the accessible way in.
  • The writing center or tutoring center, and its drop-in hours 3 points. Posted at the door or on its web page.

Student life 18

  • A calendar of this week's campus events 2 points. A screen, a board or the campus app. Pick one event the whole team would go to.
  • A club that nobody on the team knew existed 2 points. Photograph its poster or table sign. The team says what the club does.
  • A dining station menu label that marks a vegetarian or allergen-free dish 2 points. Photograph the label from wherever you can see it without a meal swipe.
  • A microwave that any student may use 2 points. Commuters ask this in week one. Union and lounge signs say.
  • A piano, a pool table or a game table that students may use 3 points. One teammate poses mid-game. Play a note or a shot only if nobody is studying nearby.
  • A stage, a theater or a recital hall, and the next event on its poster 2 points. Team photo outside.
  • A table where six people could study together with food 2 points. The team sits at it. Union and cafe areas are the usual answer.
  • The campus bookstore's hours 1 point. Posted at the door. Buy nothing.
  • The campus mascot in any form: a statue, a banner, a shirt a teammate has on 2 points. The team copies its pose.
  • The dining hall's hours for today 1 point. Posted at the door.
  • The next home game, concert or show that you can find a date for 2 points. A poster, a banner or a screen. Write down what and when.
  • Posters for three different student clubs, in three photos 2 points. Leave every poster where it hangs.
  • The recreation center's front desk, and what you need to bring to get in 2 points. The sign at the desk says. Usually it is the student ID.
  • The schedule for a free fitness class or an intramural sport 3 points. At the recreation center or on its web page. Write down one the team would really try.
  • Something in the school colors that is not clothing 1 point. A bench, a banner, a bus. A teammate stands beside it.
  • The student government office or notice board 3 points. Write down how a student runs for a seat or votes.
  • The student newspaper, in a rack or on a door sign 3 points. A campus radio station door counts too.
  • The student union's information desk 1 point. Team photo nearby. The desk workers stay out of the shot.

Help and services 16

  • A place to print when the library is closed 3 points. A union, a lab or a residence hall printer. Write down where and until when.
  • The accessibility services office, and how to get in touch 2 points. An email address or a phone number from the door sign or the web page.
  • An emergency procedures sign inside a building, and the assembly point it names 2 points. Usually by the stairs or the elevator.
  • The campus safety office, and its non-emergency phone number 3 points. Every teammate saves the number before the team moves on.
  • The career center, and one event on its board 2 points. A resume review, an employer visit, a job fair. Write down the date.
  • The counseling center's sign, and how a student books a first visit 3 points. Write down the phone number or web address on the sign. Nobody has to go in.
  • The financial aid office, and its hours 2 points. Team photo by the sign.
  • The food pantry or basic needs office 3 points. The student services page says whether there is one and where. Swap this line if yours has none.
  • The ID card office, where a lost card gets replaced 2 points. Team photo by the sign. Note what a replacement costs if it is posted.
  • The IT help desk, and how to reset a forgotten password 2 points. The desk sign or the IT web page says.
  • The mail room or package pickup, and its hours 2 points. Posted at the window or the lockers.
  • The name of the Wi-Fi network that students are meant to use 1 point. From a sign or the IT page. Every teammate connects.
  • The office that handles parking permits and bike registration 3 points. Often part of campus safety or transportation. Write down where.
  • The student health center, and its hours 2 points. Hours are posted at the entrance. Photograph the sign, not the waiting room.
  • The study abroad or international student office 2 points. Photograph one poster for a program the team would sign up for.
  • The testing center, or wherever make-up exams are taken 3 points. The academic support web page names it. Photograph the door sign from the hall.

Around campus 20

  • A bench or a tree with a dedication plate 3 points. A teammate points at the plate. Read it before you leave.
  • A bike rack, a bike repair stand or a bike pump 2 points. A repair stand or a pump earns the points. A plain rack earns one.
  • A campus clock you can read from outdoors, showing the right time 2 points. A teammate's phone held up beside it proves the time.
  • A campus map board with a you-are-here mark 1 point. Team photo, everyone pointing at the mark.
  • A campus tradition spot, and its story in two sentences 5 points. A painted rock, a seal nobody steps on, a bell that gets rung. The admissions tour page often tells the story. Swap this line if yours has none.
  • A covered place to wait out the rain between two classroom buildings 1 point. An arcade, a porch, a bus shelter.
  • A garden, a greenhouse or a tree with a name tag 3 points. Write down the species on the tag.
  • A signpost that points to at least three campus places at once 2 points. Team photo, each teammate pointing a different way.
  • A statue, a sculpture or a piece of public art, and the name on its plaque 2 points. Write down the title and the artist, if the plaque gives them.
  • A water bottle filling station 1 point. A teammate fills a bottle, if anyone brought one.
  • An emergency blue-light phone 2 points. Photograph it and note the nearest building. Do not press the button.
  • An outdoor seat with shade and a Wi-Fi signal 2 points. A teammate sits in it and shows the signal bars.
  • The central lawn or quad, with the team sitting in a circle 1 point. Prop the phone and use the timer.
  • The entrance to the stadium, the athletics field or the main gym 2 points. Team photo outside.
  • The main gate, arch or entrance sign, with the whole team in front of it 1 point. Stay on the campus side, off the road.
  • The oldest date carved or cast anywhere outdoors on campus 5 points. Cornerstones, gates, plaques. The oldest date among all teams takes the 5.
  • One spot from which you can see three campus buildings, each named from the map 3 points. Write down all three names. Guesses score nothing.
  • Recycling, compost and trash bins standing side by side 1 point. Read the labels before you shoot. Every campus sorts a little differently.
  • The shuttle or bus stop nearest the residence halls, and its timetable 2 points. Write down the last departure tonight.
  • The walk from the library doors to the dining hall doors, timed 3 points. Walk it together and write down minutes and seconds. Running does not count.

Residence hall 14

  • A hallway bulletin board, and the theme it has this month 2 points. Team photo beside it. Leave every pin in place.
  • The board that says which resident assistant is on duty tonight 2 points. Write down the duty phone number. No knocking on doors for this one.
  • The floor lounge or study room 1 point. Team photo on the sofa.
  • The front desk of your hall, and the hours it is staffed 1 point. Posted at the desk.
  • The hall's guest policy, in one sentence 3 points. From the housing handbook or a sign at the front desk.
  • The hall's quiet hours, as posted 2 points. On a hallway sign or in the housing handbook.
  • How to report something broken in a room 3 points. A web form, a code on a poster or the front desk. Write down which.
  • The laundry room, and how you start and pay for a machine 2 points. A card, an app or coins. The sign on the wall says.
  • The mailbox or package locker for the hall 2 points. A teammate points at their own.
  • The nearest fire exit from a teammate's room, and the assembly point outside 3 points. Walk the route once. The evacuation map in the hallway shows it.
  • The nearest food after the dining hall closes, and when that closes too 2 points. A vending machine, a late cafe, a market. Buy nothing.
  • The recycling and trash room for a teammate's floor 1 point. Note what goes where.
  • The shared kitchen or kitchenette, and its posted rules 2 points. Photograph the rules, not somebody's dinner.
  • What to do when you are locked out of your room 3 points. The posted lockout steps. Write down who to call and whether it costs anything.

How it works

Every answer sits on a sign, a door or a web page, so these college scavenger hunt ideas fit any campus. The 100 orientation tasks sort by zone: library, classroom buildings, student life, help and services, grounds and residence hall.

Read the full guide

Fit the list to your campus

Press Pick 10 new tasks until the lines fit your campus, because not every school has a greenhouse. Under More filters, Essentials only keeps the 36 places a new student needs anyway, such as the ID card office and a blue-light phone.

Scores, and how to read a call number

Scores run from 1 point for the library's closing time to 5 for the oldest date carved anywhere on campus. Half the tasks ask for a team photo and half for a written answer, so nobody takes up a staff member's time. Many large academic libraries shelve by Library of Congress call numbers, where the first letter is the subject: Q for science, N for fine arts, M for music.

  • For commuters, take away any Residence hall line with × and keep the microwave, late printer and shuttle timetable when they come up.
  • Leave out forfeits for the last team home. Welcome week should hand nobody something to dread.
  • Finish at the dining hall, so teams that just met keep talking over a meal.

Questions and answers

How long does a campus hunt take?

About an hour for 15 tasks. One task times the walk from the library doors to the dining hall doors, which shows how spread out your campus is. For a 30-minute slot, keep to a single zone, such as Library, so nobody crosses campus twice.

Do these scavenger hunt ideas for college students suit one residence hall or a club?

Yes. A resident assistant can pick Residence hall in the menu: 14 tasks such as the laundry room, the quiet hours and the lockout steps. A club can pick Student life. Where phones stay in pockets, press Written answer under More filters.

Does this work as a freshman orientation scavenger hunt?

Yes. Tasks involve only your own team. Nothing is bought or taken, no task leaves campus, and none sends anyone into a lab, a class in session or another student's floor. No dares and no drinking, so an orientation office can hand it out.

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