BRING THE BRANCHES TOGETHER.
Family Reunion Scavenger Hunt Planning
A family reunion hunt gives relatives something to do together beyond finding a seat at lunch. It can help cousins start talking and give different generations a shared story. Build the plan around the people attending, especially those who may not know each other well.
Choose a setting that suits the reunion
Start with the reunion's main location. If everyone is already meeting at a park or hired venue, a hunt there can keep travel simple. Confirm that the space permits your activity and has the facilities your group needs. Do not assume the game booking includes venue hire.
If exploring a city is part of the reunion, choose one ready-made route with a convenient starting area. Check walking requirements, admission and opening hours before committing. Ask relatives about access needs early so the setting does not become a surprise on the day.
Mix teams with a little care
Avoid automatically grouping everyone by household. Pair relatives who rarely see each other, while keeping children with responsible adults and making sure nobody feels stranded with strangers. Ask one welcoming person on each team to help introductions happen naturally.
Balance the roles as well as the ages. A teenager might enjoy taking photos, an older relative might spot a detail, and a younger child can help choose the team name. Rotate jobs rather than deciding that one generation should handle the technology and another should only watch.
Use shared memories without testing people
For a reunion activity you create yourself, use prompts that invite stories rather than reward whoever knows the family history best. These examples are separate from the questions in a StrayPics game.
- Find a color or object that reminds someone of a family holiday, then ask them to tell the short version of the story.
- Create a photo that could be the cover of your reunion album. Give everyone who wants to appear a role.
- Ask two teammates to share a place they would like the family to visit together. Find a nearby detail that represents one choice.
- Choose a team name using one word suggested by each generation. Explain how you made the final choice.
Leave space around the activity
Keep the arrival, game and meal as separate parts of the schedule. Most in-person StrayPics hunts take 90–120 minutes; add time for introductions and travel. If a group photograph or meal has a fixed time, build a buffer rather than making the slowest walkers feel responsible for a delay.
Send one clear message to every household with the meeting point, what participants need, and the organizer's contact. Let people know whether you plan to share photographs afterward. Families can have different expectations about photos, especially when children are involved.
Choose a game that matches the size
City hunts start at $99 per team of up to six. Photo Quest costs $129 per team of up to eight and uses a location you choose; four to six players per team is recommended. A Custom-Built Scavenger Hunt costs $189 per team of up to eight and can use your celebration, theme and shared stories.
Book ready-made self-guided play at least 24 hours ahead. A Custom-Built hunt or onsite host needs at least five days. The optional host costs $350 once per booking and includes kickoff, onsite support, extra photos and a wrap-up with awards. Check the chosen product details before confirming your reunion budget.