Need treasure hunt prize ideas!

[AmyCC]

Every summer we get together with four other families and go camping for several days. We have a blast! The kids in the group range in age from baby to 16 years old with most in the 8-14 year age range.

This year we want to do a treasure hunt with the kids. What should the "treasure" be? We'd like it to be something that the kids can play with while we're camping. (We're camping on a lake at a state camp ground.) One idea we had was a big tub of water balloons for an impromptu water-balloon fight. But we'd like some other ideas. We're willing to spend a little money ($50?) but we can't think of anything else.

Any ideas?

[newbie]

You can get lots of stuff from Orientaltrading.com and it comes in bulk. I love buying stuff there for parties.

Jet

[Kathleen in VA]

Every summer we get together with four other families and go camping for several days. We have a blast! The kids in the group range in age from baby to 16 years old with most in the 8-14 year age range.

This year we want to do a treasure hunt with the kids. What should the "treasure" be? We'd like it to be something that the kids can play with while we're camping. (We're camping on a lake at a state camp ground.) One idea we had was a big tub of water balloons for an impromptu water-balloon fight. But we'd like some other ideas. We're willing to spend a little money ($50?) but we can't think of anything else.

Any ideas?

Are you thinking one big treasure for one winner to find and keep or are you thinking a collection of treasures so everyone gets to find something? I'm kind of getting the idea that you are looking for a group prize but don't really know for sure. Can you clarify?

[fivetails]

How about they find a combination of "nightime" camping stuff at the end? What I mean is a bin filled with stuff like: sparklers, roasting sticks ready & carved, marshmellows, stuff to make smores, glow sticks/ bracelets/necklaces/etc, colourful light up whatevers (like those pins that flash colours, pens that sparkle and glow, etc)....things like that......I know it would be a hit with mine & their friends, since they love the whole "playing in the dark" thing - all the glowing/sparkling stuff and making treats would be fun. :D

[Jen3boys]

My kids love the glow stuff. They'll make glow necklaces and play night soccer. Maybe a glow in the dark ball?

[AmyCC]

Yes, we're thinking of a group prize to share. Something they call all use/do while their camping. We'll be there for several days so we thought it would be fun to give them some new form of entertainment in the middle of our time.

[AmyCC]

Oooh, that's a fun idea!

[AmyCC]

That would be fun!

[AmyCC]

I guess I'm thinking of one big prize everyone could share. Originally I was trying to find one of those big inflatable disks to play on in the water. I thought they'd get a kick out of that! I was hoping I could find an end-of-the-season sale, but all the ones I'm finding are still very expensive.

[ticklbee]

How about those giant bubble makers?