Remote Team Activity: Scavenger Hunt

A Fun and Interactive Team Activity for Remote Workers

As someone who manages remote teams, I’m always looking for ways to keep things fun and engaging. One activity that has become a favorite among my team is the Scavenger Hunt. It’s simple, energizing, and it really helps to break up the monotony of working from home. Here’s how I navigate this roup activity!

How the Item Hunt Challenge Works

First, I divide the team into smaller groups. Depending on the size of the team, I usually aim for groups of 4-5 people. I then send everyone to virtual breakout rooms. This way, they can work together and communicate more freely without distractions from the larger group.

Next, I provide each group with a list of items to find. Here’s an example of a typical list I’ve used:

• Box of cereal

• A pet

• Hairbrush or comb

• Something orange

• A left shoe

Some of the items are pretty straightforward, like a box of cereal. Others, like “something orange” or “a left shoe,” are a bit more vague. This adds an element of fun and creativity, as teams need to figure out how to interpret the prompts.

The team has just 5 minutes to assign who will grab which item and run around their space to gather everything. Once the 5 minutes are up, everyone returns to the main meeting room, and we debrief as a larger group.

What Happens After the Hunt?

Once everyone’s back, we have a fun and casual group discussion. I like to ask these prompts:

• Was your team able to collect all the items in the time you were allotted?

• What issues, if any, did your team run into? Were there any parts that you found difficult?

• How did you decide who would find which items?

• Did you have fun?

These questions help to spark conversation and allow everyone to reflect on how they worked together. It’s always interesting to hear the different challenges each team faced—whether someone had trouble finding a pet or struggled to locate a matching left shoe. And of course, there’s plenty of laughter as we share our experiences.

Why I Love This Activity

What makes this activity so effective, and why I keep coming back to it, is how it gets everyone involved. First off, it gets people out of their seats, which is a much-needed break from long hours of sitting at a desk. Plus, the quick pace and urgency add some excitement to the workday.

It’s also great for team collaboration. Teams need to work together to divide the tasks quickly and efficiently. It forces everyone to communicate, delegate, and rely on each other’s strengths—which are essential skills for remote teams.

Another reason I love the Scavenger Hunt is because it encourages a bit of creativity. Some of the prompts, like finding “something orange” or “a left shoe,” can be interpreted in a variety of ways. I’ve seen teams get really creative with how they approach the items, which always leads to funny moments and lots of laughs.

Lastly, it’s just plain fun. After all, we’re working remotely and staring at screens for hours every day. A lighthearted, interactive activity like this breaks up the routine and helps everyone feel more connected.

If you’re looking for a team-building activity that’s quick, easy to set up, and brings a lot of energy, I highly recommend giving the Scavenger Hunt a try. It’s a great way to get everyone moving, collaborating, and laughing together, even when working from different locations.