Sit down with a pen and paper.

Relax.

Maybe you’re setting up a short run with just one or two segments/maps and already have an idea on the route you want to put forth for them and have already thought about the path you want them to take.

If not, starting in a corner room, imagine taking a walk through your house. Write down every spot in that room you can think of to hide a gift. Imagine moving to the next room and do the same. Continue.

If you want to have the hunt start or transition outside, do the same as above but imagine starting at the door that would be used to exit. Imagine a journey around the yard, step by step, writing down every spot you could hide a gift.

How many hidden or buried treasures (presents) are there going to be?

Sort out the path they will take, from one gift to another, imagining their journey through the house and yard, from location to location.

From the starting point, write down:

This segment’s starting location

Where the gift is going to be.

A waypoint or landmark in between (so they don’t get lost)

Which gift is going to be at the ‘X’

Number each segment and gift to help keep them in order.

Review each segment in ‘Map it out’.

These are the confounders and the basic things, things that are common sense, but only common sense once you get to that moment in time and realize “This isn’t going to work.” or, more likely, “I was so tired I drew nonsense. Literal nonsense. This goes nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. Crap. This is awkward, Let’s think what ‘Dave’ could have ‘been trying to say’ here.”

Accidental discovery; someone coming across segment 5 when they are on segment 2 can derail the treasure hunt.

Wrap your gifts.

Craft your maps.

Gather the equipment for any challenges or tasks together.

Wait for the right time.

Be Dave and do Dave type things.

Things won’t be perfect and that’s okay. The adventure and the experience is what this is about; don’t let perfect get in the way of a great time.

Plan for exposure to the elements, animals, children, clowns, animal children, or sanitation workers; Low cost garbage bags and rubber bands work well to protect treasure from environmental exposure; quartz dipped in garlic oil works well against clowns; notes or signs can work sometimes against sanitation workers. Against children, you are on your own.