80’s Themed Scavenger Hunt Lists Collection

By Joe Dean

Published 2010
Published by Joe Dean, 6724 Ravenna Court, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
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 Introduction
Scavenger hunts are and have always been great fun for all ages! The trick can be to
make yours creative and unique…to surprise your guests with an activity that is more
than just any other scavenger hunt they’ve been on in the past. Well this time that’s
exactly what you’re going to do…offer your party guests an opportunity to go on a
scavenger hunt unlike anything they’ve ever seen!

This packet is broken out into several parts:

Instructions
Variations
Rules
Scavenger Hunt Lists
Points Counter Pages
Hunt items and clues

The Instructions section will provide all the directions you’ll need to facilitate the
scavenger hunt. In the Variations section, we provide alternate ideas that you can utilize
to make the most of your hunt activity. In the Rules section, we’ve provided a list of
common rules that you can draw from when planning your hunt. These rules are for the
participants to follow to ensure that the activity runs smoothly. Scavenger Hunt Lists
section contains the actual scavenger hunt lists to be printed and used – there are three
different lists provided, each varying in complexity. The Points Counter Pages are handy
tools to use when it comes time to add up the points for each person/team.

The final section contains all of the images and clues you’ll need for your hunt – the
actual items that the participants will be finding. Instructions for how to use each set of
images and clues are provided in the Scavenger Hunt Lists section. You see, some of the
items on the list are simple to find and collect…others will prove to be more challenging
while others will be actual puzzles to solve!

We hope that you have as much fun planning the scavenger hunt as your guests will have
going on it!

Joe Dean
Designer
Quest Experiences
 Instructions
Before you begin printing out the lists or making copies of images and clues, we highly
recommend that you read through this packet in its entirety first. You see, you might find
that you won’t need to make as many copies as you might think…or that you’ll end up
printing out only certain parts of the packet itself.

A lot of work has gone into the design of this hunt to ensure the quickest and least painful
way to set up the hunt on behalf of the party host/hostess. In this section we will step
through the setting up process in its simplest form. We’ll make certain assumptions as to
the party size, playing area, etc. for the sake of explanation. Variations are explained in
the next section to ensure you’ll be able to set up the hunt that is perfect for your party or
event.

Participants and Playing Area

To begin, you must first determine the number of participants and the playing area within
which the participants will be able to find the items. The playing area needs to be an area
that is easily explained and understood by the participants (it will be no fun for the
participants to roam ‘beyond the bounds’ you intended, thus failing to find the items on
their list…) When choosing the boundaries, also consider a space with an ample number
of places to hide the items, without being too large (a space too spread out will greatly
lengthen the amount of time it will take for the teams to complete their list.)

By number of participants, I am actually referring to the number of ‘teams’ that will be

participating. Now, you might decide that everyone will work independently on the hunt,
collecting their own items. In this case, each team will consist of one team member. If
you are pairing your participants for the activity, then you will have teams of two. It’s
important to refer to these team ‘units’ because you’ll need to know how many copies to
make of the lists and items. If you plan on teams of four or five, then you can cut costs
down on printing by only providing ONE list per team, etc.

Overview of Play

For those not as familiar with how a scavenger hunt works, consider the following
scenario. At the conclusion of the scenario, we will begin to incorporate the variation
options. In the following scenario we will assume that 30 participants will be grouped in
teams of three (thus 10 teams will be created.) Additionally, we’ll assume the hostess has
chosen to use the local elementary school for the playing area (it’s a Saturday and the
school is vacant.)

* * * * * *

Linda’s party is all going as planned and her guests are having a great time. She’s
planned a special scavenger hunt activity for her guests. As she lives right next door to
the neighborhood elementary school, she felt that this was the ideal location to hide her
clues. She begins by pulling all of the participants together and groups them in three,
thus creating 10 groups. She explains that they are about to all go on an amazing
scavenger hunt and that all of the clues on their list can be found on the school grounds,
excluding the fields. She also goes through some of the rules that she expects all to abide
by to ensure the fun and safety of everyone. One of the rules is that ALL teams must
return within 30 minutes with their items if they are to be counted. Once all questions
have been answered and Linda is confident that the teams understand the rules, she
passes out large envelopes with the list contained inside. On her mark, she calls out GO
and the teams frantically open their envelopes to read their lists and begin searching for
clues and items at the school. Linda at this time notices the exact time for the sake of the
30 minute time limit.

Over the next 30 minutes Linda enjoys watching her guests frantically look for items and
clues to complete the hunt. As the 30 minute time marker comes closer, teams start
returning with their items, contained inside their envelopes. Each team drops their
envelope in a box Linda has waiting (with Linda making sure that their team number was
written on each envelope for the sake of awarding the correct winners.)

Once the guests are all in, they’ve found they worked up a great appetite. Linda was
prepared and had food set out during the hunt awaiting the party guests at the conclusion
of the activity. While her guests laugh and enjoy telling each other about their adventures
looking for the clues and items on the hunt, Linda and a helper go through each envelope
to determine which team got the most points, using the provided points counter checklist.

Once a winner is determined, Linda excitedly pulls everyone together and quiets the
crowd for the sake of announcing the winner. Once the winner is announced, everyone
claps to congratulate them and Linda sighs with relief that she was able to provide such a
fun activity so seemingly effortlessly.

* * * * * * *

Now you that have an idea of how a sample run through goes, let’s get more specific
about creating YOUR scavenger hunt activity. The scenario just described would work
perfectly well, however there are other variations you can incorporate into your hunt as
well. These are described in detail in the next section.

Types of List Items

Before we move on to the variations, however, I’d like to take a moment to describe the
different types of items that the participants will be looking for. These are described in
greater detail in the Scavenger Hunt Lists section of this packet, however providing an
overview might prove to be helpful at this time.
There are three major types of items from the list to be found.
1. Simple Objects – These are straightforward. If the list says “Michael Jackson
Album” then the team will need to find a Michael Jackson album to receive
the points. With these items you have the option to either use the images
provided in this packet OR provide the actual physical objects. The choice is
yours and either will work.
2. Complex Objects – These are objects that are split up into two or more smaller
objects. Points are earned for each PIECE of the complex object found and
BONUS points are awarded if ALL pieces are collected in the set.
3. Puzzles – These involve different steps involving finding clues and solving
puzzles. Each puzzle is described in the Scavenger Hunt List section of this
packet and instructions are provided for each on how to use them.
4. Already Supplied Items – These items are items that the teams might already
have on their persons. For example, you’ll see on one of the lists “The team
with the oldest coin.” In this example, each team will put the oldest coin they
can find in their envelope. When you tally up the points, award the point item
to the team with the earliest date.

Now, let’s take a look at the different variations of scavenger hunt game play…
 Variations
In this section you’ll find different suggestions and ideas to include in your scavenger
hunt to ensure that it’s the perfect activity for your intended guests and party. Have fun
deciding which ideas to incorporate based on what you think your guests would most
enjoy!

Amount of Items to Hide

You have the option to provide the quantity of each item of your choice. Would you
rather have only ONE of each item hidden so that the first team that finds it is the only
team that gets points for the item? Or perhaps you want to include enough copies of each
item such that each team has the opportunity to collect every item on the list. You can
choose a combination of the two (some items are single, others have multiples.) In the
event of multiples, you also have the option to either hide them altogether or spread them
out in different hiding places.

More Items on the List Than Can be Found

Just because it’s on the list doesn’t mean that it has to be available. This adds a new level
of difficulty to the activity and works best with older participants. With this variation
perhaps only 75% of the items on the list are available to be found…but the participants
won’t know which ones. With this variation you have the choice to either tell the teams
or not. This will not work, however, for the final item on List 3 (note).

First Team to Point Number

An alternative to the one with the most points by a certain time limit is the declaring the
winning team as the first team to reach a certain point value. In this way, each team gets
to decide which items they will look for to reach their target point total. With this option,
make sure that it’s possible to obtain the point value easily (i.e. provide multiple copies
of items, etc.)
 Rules
When it comes time to explain the rules to your party guests, it’s best to make them quick
and clear. Here are some suggestions to include:

1. Collecting more than one copy of a single item will work AGAINST you (negative
points). This rule keeps teams from taking a stack of items when they find them,
allowing other teams the opportunity to find them.
2. Set a time limit. Make sure that the teams know how much time they have.
STRESS to the teams that NO ITEMS will be accepted after that time (not a
second after.) This will ensure that no team has an unfair advantage with more
time.
3. Stay within the boundaries. This is for the benefit of the participants. They will
get very frustrated if they waste too much time searching in an area that won’t
yield any items (especially if they feel like the boundary wasn’t clearly
explained.)
4. All teams must stay together. This ensures that the guests are having fun together
as well as ensuring that the teams with more members don’t have an unfair
advantage over the teams with fewer members.
5. All items MUST be inside their starting envelopes (or bags or whatever other
container you provide for them) in order to be counted. This rule ensures that no
items are found AFTER the time the envelope/bag is turned in.
 Scavenger Hunt Lists
There are three different lists provided for you to choose which is best for your party. It
is advisable that you read through all three before you choose. The first list incorporates
only simple items. The second list incorporates only simple and complex items. The
third and final list has all three types.

LIST 1 – Simple Items Instructions

To use this list simply print the needed number of copies enough for each team to have
one, plus a few extras (because we always seem to need a few extra…) Next print out
enough copies of the Simple Items sheets (5) to satisfy the number of items you’d like to
provide for your party guests to find. Once the pages are printed, cut out the individual
items and make like stacks for hiding. Finally, hide the items and you’re ready to go –
making sure that the SMURF (the little blue guy) stack is hidden a little harder than the
other items as they are worth more points! Remember, when you’re adding up the points
for each team to count the smurf as 50 points rather than the 20 points that the other items
are awarded.

LIST 2 – Simple and Complex Items Instructions

To use this list simply print the needed number of copies enough for each team to have
one, plus a few extras (because we always seem to need a few extra…) Next print all of
the pages in the Simple Items section and the Complex Items sections . Make the needed
copies for all your items sheets (the number you’ve determined to provide for your guests
to find) and cut out the individual items, placing them in like stacks.

Once all of your items are cut and separated, pull to the side the images of Ronald
Reagan and the words TOTALLY. Now take scissors and cut along the white lines on
the Ronald Reagan images, creating like stacks of pieces (you should have three stacks at
eventually.) Next cut out each of the letters in the words TOTALLY, putting each letter
in it’s own stack – count the two L’s as two different letters (you should have seven
stacks of letters eventually.) Once these pieces are cut, all of these pieces stacks will be
ready to be hidden along with the other stacks. When hiding the stacks, be sure to hide
the smurf (the little blue guy) and the three video arcade games in slightly harder places
to find as they are worth more points

LIST 3 – MEGA SCAVENGER HUNT LIST

To use this list simply print the needed number of copies enough for each team to have
one, plus a few extras (because we always seem to need a few extra…) Additionally,
you’ll need to provide each team with something to write with (i.e. pencil, pen, etc.)

You’ll need all of the pages in the Items and Clues section for this list (though not
necessarily all of the items.) Once you print out the needed copies, cut out all of the
items. Next cut along the white lines on the images of Ronald Reagan (putting all like
pieces in their own stacks.) On the final two pages (on the Puzzles pages), cut along the
solid black lines, separating the written clues. These are to be hidden in the same fashion
as the other items.

Set aside the Cabbage Patch dolls (the little girl doll) and the hairsprays as they will NOT
be hidden. Now that you have all of your stacks of items and clues, they are ready to be
hidden for the hunt (with the exception of the dolls and the hairsprays.) When choosing
places to hide the three video arcade games, try to put them in harder to find places as
they are worth more points.

In addition to hiding the items and clues, there are a couple additional things in the set up
of this hunt (assuming you are providing all of the items on the list)

1. Station someone within the scavenger hunt boundaries you’ve designated who
is your Valley Girl (they don’t need to be in costume, but it would be fun if
they were.) Give this person the stack of hairsprays. This person will give
each team one collection of 5 hairsprays (a single image) in exchange for
ONE Risky Business sunglasses. The Risky Business sunglasses are items
hidden in the playing area.
2. Station someone else within the scavenger hunt boundaries you’ve designated
have the stack of Cabbage Patch Dolls. Although not necessary, it can be
more fun if this person is not readily seen. This person will give ONE
Cabbage Patch Doll out to each team in exchange for a smurf (the smurfs are
items hidden in the playing area.

When adding up the points for each team, award points for providing the following
answers on their sheets:
Who missed the Madonna concert? Jenny
Which movie did Karen see last? Weird Science
Which of the following items cannot be found? Top Gun
How many of the following items can you find? Each
item found is worth 20 points, with the exception of the
Smurf which is worth 50 POINTS!!!

Breakfast Club Movie Poster

Back to the Future Movie Poster
Footloose Movie Poster
Five Cans of Hairspray for your bangs
Banana Clips
Risky Business Sunglasses
Scratch N Sniff Stickers
Roller Skates
Rubick’s Cube
Teddy Ruxpin
Cabbage Patch Doll
Culture Club Album Cover
Huey Lewis and the News Album Cover
Men at Work Album Cover
Frogger Arcade Game
Centipede Arcade Game
Pacman Arcade Game

Smurf – 50 Points!
 How many of the following items can you find? Some of the items will
be worth more if you find all of the items in a set.

10 Points Each
Breakfast Club Movie Poster, Back to the Future Movie Poster, Footloose
Movie Poster, Five Cans of Hairspray for your bangs, Banana Clips, Risky
Business Sunglasses, Scratch N Sniff Stickers, Roller Skates, Rubick’s Cube
Teddy Ruxpin, Cabbage Patch Doll, Culture Club Album Cover, Huey
Lewis and the News Album Cover, Men at Work Album Cover, pieces of a
Ronald Reagan puzzle (3), and the individual letters (7) that spell the word
TOTALLY

20 Points Each
Frogger Arcade Game, Centipede Arcade Game, Pacman Arcade Game,
and a Smurf

30 BONUS POINTS (in addition to the above points)

Find BOTH the Hairspray AND the Banana Clips
Find BOTH the Teddy Ruxpin doll AND the Cabbage Patch Doll

40 BONUS POINTS (in addition to the above points)

Find all three pieces of the Ronal Reagan Puzzle
Find all three Movie Posters
Find all three Album Covers
Find all three Arcade Games

100 BONUS POINTS (in addition to the points above)

Find ALL SEVEN letters in the word
TOTALLY
How many of the following items can you find? Some of the items will be
worth more if you find all of the items in a set.

10 Points Each
Banana Clips, Scratch N Sniff Stickers, Roller Skates, Rubick’s Cube,
Teddy Ruxpin, Culture Club Album Cover, Huey Lewis and the News
Album Cover, Men at Work Album Cover, pieces of a Ronald Reagan
puzzle (3), and the individual letters (7) that spell the word: TOTALLY

20 Points Each
Frogger Arcade Game, Centipede Arcade Game, Pac-man Arcade Game

25 Points Each
Ask Someone for a Cabbage Patch Doll
Ask a Valley Girl for some hairspray

50 Points Each
Who couldn’t make it to the Madonna concert? _____________
Which movie did Karen see last? ______________

30 BONUS POINTS (in addition to the above points)

Find ALL THREE video arcade games
Find ALL THREE pieces of Ronald Reagan
Find ALL THREE music album covers

40 BONUS POINTS
Which movie poster can’t be found? __________
Top Gun
Back to the Future
Breakfast Club
Footloose

100 BONUS POINTS

Find ALL SEVEN letters in:
TOTALLY
Team Name/Number
Breakfast Club Movie Poster
Back to the Future Movie Poster
Footloose Movie Poster
Five Cans of Hairspray
Banana Clips
Risky Business Sunglasses
Scratch n Sniff Stickers
Roller Skates
Rubick's Cube
Teddy Ruxpin
20 POINTS EACH

Cabbage Patch Doll

Culture Club Album Cover
Huey Lewis Album Cover
Men at Work Album Cover
Frogger Video Arcade Game
Centipede Video Arcade Game
Pacman Video Arcade Game
LIST ONE - 80'S THEMED SCAVENGER HUNT POINTS COUNTING SHEET

Smurf
50 Pts

Total Points
Team Name/Number
Breakfast Club Movie Poster
Back to the Future Movie Poster
Footloose Movie Poster
Five Cans of Hairspray
Banana Clips
Risky Business Sunglasses
Scratch n Sniff Stickers
Roller Skates
Rubick's Cube
Individual Items

Teddy Ruxpin
10 POINTS EACH

Cabbage Patch Doll

Culture Club Album Cover
Men at Work Album Cover
Huey Lewis Album Cover
Top
Middle
Reagan

Botton
T
O
T
A
L
TOTALLY letters

L
Y
LIST TWO - 80'S THEMED SCAVENGER HUNT POINTS COUNTING SHEET

Frogger Video Arcade Game

Centipede Video Arcade Game
20 Pts

Pacman Video Arcade Game

Smurf
Hairspray AND Banana Clips
30 Pts

Teddy Ruxpin AND Cabbage Patch

ALL THREE Reagan Pieces

ALL THREE Movie Posters

ALL THREE Album Covers

40 Points

ALL THREE arcade games

Pts
100

ALL SEVEN TOTTALLY letters

Total Points
Team Name/Number
Banana Clips
Scratch n Sniff Stickers
Roller Skates
Rubick's Cube
Teddy Ruxpin
Culture Club Album Cover
Individual Items

Men at Work Album Cover

Huey Lewis Album Cover
Top
Middle
Reagan
10 Points Each

Bottom
T
O
T
A
L
TOTALLY Letters

L
Y

Frogger Video Arcade Game

Centipede Video Arcade Game
20 Pts

Pacman Video Arcade Game

Cabbage Patch Doll
LIST THREE - 80'S THEMED SCAVENGER HUNT POINTS COUNTING SHEET

Hairspray
Who Missed Madonna Concert?
25 Pts 50 Pts

Karen's Last Movie

ALL THREE Video Arcade Games
ALL THREE Reagan Pieces
30 Pts

ALL THREE Album Covers

Top Gun Not Found
Pts

ALL SEVEN TOTALLY Letters

Pts
40 100 Pts

Total Points
 Items and Clues
This final section contains all of the items that will be found on the scavenger hunt you
set up. They are to be printed and cut out as needed (depending on how many of each
item you want to provide to be found and per the instructions for the list you are using.)
Remember to choose hiding places for each of the items age appropriate to your guests.
Also keep in mind the time duration you have in mind for the activity (i.e. the harder the
items are to find, the longer it will take to complete the list.) When placing the items
outside, keep in mind the wind factor. Finally, it’s best to make sure that the guests do
not have access to the area that you’ve hidden the items in prior to the game (unless
you’re choosing to wait to place the items until moments before the hunt is actually to
begin.)
Simple Objects
 Complex Objects

TOTA L L Y
 Puzzles

Jimmy, Daryl and Jenny

were all invited to the
Madonna concert, but one
of them couldn’t make it…

Daryl was able to go to the

Madonna concert

Jimmy was able to go to the

Madonna concert
Karen and her friends went to a John
Hughes movie marathon at the
theaters. In some order, they saw
Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles,
Weird Science and Pretty in Pink.

Karen and her friends saw Sixteen

Candles right before they saw Pretty
in Pink.

Karen and her friends saw Pretty in

Pink right before they saw Breakfast
Club.

Karen and her friends saw Breakfast

Club right before they saw Weird
Science.