School Trip Scavenger Hunt for the Whole Class

A GPS hunt keeps a class moving and busy without a teacher directing every step. Below you find eight tasks you can copy directly, plus answers to the practical questions that come up when planning.

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A school trip usually means a large group, a new location and a limited number of adults. A GPS scavenger hunt gives each small group a route and a job to do, so children are busy and helpers know where everyone should be. You need a phone per group, a list of waypoints at the location, and a set of tasks that can be done with what is already there. Pick waypoints that are fixed and easy to recognise, such as an entrance gate, a statue or a signpost. Keep the total route short, because walking with children takes longer than you expect.

At a glance

At a glance
Group size	Groups of 4-6, one adult each
Duration	60-90 minutes
Age	6-12 years
Where	Park, zoo, forest or town centre
Preparation	30-45 minutes

Tasks you can use right away

Tasks you can use right away
No.	Task	How it works
1	Count and enter	At the waypoint the group counts something fixed, such as benches around a pond or steps on a staircase, and enters the number as the answer. Only the correct count unlocks the next waypoint.
2	Everyone touching	The group takes a photo in which every member is touching the same object, for example a tree, a lamppost or a fence. The helper checks that nobody is missing from the picture.
3	Find five	Within three minutes the group finds five things from a list: something red, something round, a feather, a leaf with jagged edges and something smooth. They lay them on the ground and photograph them, then put them back.
4	One minute of silence	The group stands still and stays quiet for sixty seconds, then writes down three sounds they heard. Works well halfway through the route to calm things down.
5	Measure in steps	The group estimates the distance between two visible points, then one child walks it and counts steps. The answer is the step count; compare between groups at the end.
6	Read the sign	Send the group to an information board or plaque and ask a question that can only be answered by reading it, such as a year or a name. Check the board yourself beforehand.
7	Human statue	The group recreates a statue, building or animal they see at the waypoint using only their bodies, and takes a photo. Give them two minutes so it stays quick.
8	Headcount check	The group lines up, counts off out loud and the helper takes a photo of the whole group. Enter the number of children as the answer. Place this task at the midpoint and at the end.

Turn this into your own hunt

Tips for the day

Walk or check the route the day before or on arrival, and drop any waypoint that is closed, moved or hard to find.

Choose waypoints that do not change with the season or the weather, such as signs, gates and statues, not flowers or market stalls.

Give each adult helper a printed list with the waypoints, the tasks and your phone number in case the app or battery fails.

Build a headcount task into the middle of the route so helpers check the group without it feeling like a roll call.

Agree a fixed end time and meeting point before the start, and keep a short bonus task ready for groups that finish early.

Frequently asked questions

Groups of four to six children work best. Smaller groups mean everyone gets to look, count and decide, and it is easier for a parent helper to keep an eye on them. A class of 28 becomes five or six groups.

Yes, one adult per group is the sensible minimum. That adult carries the phone with the hunt, keeps the group together and decides when a task is done. Ask for helpers at least two weeks before the trip.

You can, but only if you use the location's own website or map to pick waypoints such as a main entrance, a playground or an information board. If possible, visit once beforehand or arrive 30 minutes early on the day to check the route.

Aim for 60 to 90 minutes including walking. Younger children lose focus after about an hour, and you need slack for toilet breaks and lunch. Eight to ten waypoints is usually enough.

Set a fixed end time and a clear meeting point rather than ending when the first group is done. Groups that finish early can do a bonus task such as collecting rubbish or drawing the route from memory. Announce the end time at the start.

Print a one-page list of the waypoints and tasks for each adult helper as a backup. Also agree on a meeting point and time before the start, so a group can always walk back without the app.