<p>We were asked to put together a scavenger hunt for the High School band, orchastra, chorus trip to NYC this spring. Not sure why, but I think we may be some of the few parents that have actually been there. Does anyone have any ideas on what to put in. It will last about 6 hours over 2 days. I looked on line, but only found organized hunts that cost way too much money.</p>
<p>I would suggest a photographic scavenger hunt. Photos of students in different places (such as in front of Carnegie Hall), talking to a doorman at the Dakota, next to a horse buggy at Central Park, in front of a subway stop… So rather than collecting things, collect images.</p>
<p>Are you looking for ideas of things for the students to hunt for?
How about things like, “Take a picture with a NYC police officer.”
Get a Playbill from a currently running Broadway show.
Take a picture at the fountain at the Metropolitan Opera House.</p>
<p>Is this the type of idea you’re looking for?</p>
<p>Wow! Where are you from? I’m not sure I’d want to let a group of high school students loose and in a hurry in NYC if they are not familiar with city precautions.</p>
<p>That’s why I was suggesting a bunch of mid-town things, hmom5. ;)</p>
<p>This is OT, but it reminded me of something really funny that happened in college a long, long time ago. I went to CCNY, in NYC, and my friend was a Social Studies Education major. The only REQUIRED course was in the history of NYC, taught by a professor of about 95 years of age, who looked a lot like Jiminy Cricket. The only REQUIRED project for the class was the creation of a scrapbook of historically significant places, buildings, etc. all around NYC, with labeled photographs. Of course, there was a fair number of scrapbooks handed in at the end with labels only, along with the explanation that the photos “didn’t come out”! Oh, to relive those carefree days!</p>
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<p>I agree with this. One solution is to have the entire scavenger hunt in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The place is huge and the possibilities are endless.</p>
<p>D’s HS AP US History class did a NYC scavenger hunt. It was the best event of the year. Not all the kids were familiar with NYC and I remember there was reasonable contact with chaperones. I’ll email her and get back to you.</p>
<p>I think it sounds like a lot of fun, as long as it leaves kids with the opportunity to really get to see something, and not be just racing from one place to the next. </p>
<p>I would add the ferris wheel inside Toys R Us. The giant floor piano at FAO Schwartz (too far away from mid-town?) or the FAO Schwartz “guard”. Some store fronts - like Tiffanys, or Macy’s. The ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center. A photo of the Empire State Building and the NY Public Library lions.</p>
<p>So a picture at Lucky Chengs is out?</p>
<p>Years ago I took a “gargoyle” walking tour of NYC. Adding a couple of gargoyles would be great as looking up adds a new dimension to enjoying the architecture of NY. Check out Fordham’s website: [New</a> York Gargoyles](<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/garg1.html]New”>http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/garg1.html)</p>
<p>The final item: A Forgotten Man.</p>
<p>(sorry, William Powell fan, here)</p>
<p>GOOD obscure call digmedia----THAT was my first thought as well</p>
<p>You could make it a bit more challenging, with clues like:
“Where Holly Golightly had Breakfast”
“Where Dorothy and the rest of the Round Table met”
“The Donald’s domain”
etc.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your suggestions, it is just what we were looking for. We are looking at doing a photo hunt (not items neccessarliy), and the kids will be with their chaperones for the hunt. I wouldn’t want a bunch of high schoolers loose in NYC either. </p>
<p>Woody, it would be great if your D had what they used or could remember. </p>
<p>We can use all the suggestions you have.</p>
<p>We have done some photo scavenger hunts in Chicago and they are a lot of fun.</p>
<p>In NYC definitely have boundaries. I have also done scavenger hunts where the participants are either tied together by a ribbon, or have to hold on to a rope at all times.
(It is funny to see adults walking down a street and holding onto a rope.)</p>
<p>If you plan correctly, they won’t need to get on a subway. </p>
<p>Here is a cute scavenger hunt that was in the NYT a few years ago. I think that you can find some items on it to put on your list. You can also give a lot of movie clues and have pictures taken in front of the sites.</p>
<p>[Point</a> and Shoot for Bonus Points - New York Times](<a href=“http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/travel/04weekend.1.html]Point”>http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/travel/04weekend.1.html)</p>
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And give extra credit if they learn the lions’ names!</p>
<p>Call me a snob but with all the history and great sites NYC offers, why would you go to a Toys R Us ferris wheel, or any other store, unless it’s Tiffany’s or similar?</p>
<p>Well, partly because they’re kids. Everytime we’ve gone to NYC, anybody new in the crowd has been amazed by the idea of a ferris wheel inside a store. </p>
<p>Last time I was in NYC, we were walking along 34th street, came to Macy’s, and it suddenly clicked that I was where “Miracle on 34th street” was set! For those of us who have only ever watched the Macy’s parade on TV, or have seen lots of NYC movies, but have never been there, the first time we connect, it’s fun!</p>
<p>I felt the same way in Savannah, looking for the park bench Forrest Gump sat on while waiting for the bus.</p>
<p>I like history - perhaps more than most people. But I also like variety.</p>
<p>Binx, we’re the same way, I totally get it. We’ve only been to NYC twice but one of the highlights of the trip for DD was frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity - she’d seen the movie and the wait was too long (2 hours in freezing cold weather) the first trip but we finally got in on the second trip. She was like a little kid, mouth open in awe as she sat there with her frozen hot chocolate in front of her! Another “always wanted to but never had” moment for her was jogging in Central Park.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, we loved the Met, the MOMA, the NYC Ballet but for those of us who don’t get there often those other moments of connection are priceless too.</p>
<p>And, yes, we also made a special trip to Toys R Us to see the ferris wheel and stood there staring for a bit. DD enjoyed that each “car” in the ferris wheel was something that she would have loved as a small child and we talked about which ones she would have wanted to ride in. It all makes for memories.</p>
<p>Love the photo scavenger hunt idea by the way!</p>