Getting Started with Scavenge.rs: The Beginner's Guide

Welcome to Scavenge.rs! Whether you're planning your first scavenger hunt or looking for a better way to organize them, you've come to the right place.

This guide walks you through everything you need to create and launch your first hunt in less than 30 minutes.

What is Scavenge.rs?

Scavenge.rs is a platform that makes creating, managing, and hosting scavenger hunts simple and fun. Instead of juggling spreadsheets, worrying about lost clues, or manually tracking progress, Scavenge.rs handles the details so you can focus on creating an amazing experience.

Creating Your Account

Step 1: Sign Up

1. Go to Scavenge.rs
2. Click "Sign Up"
3. Enter your email and create a password
4. Verify your email
5. You're ready to go!

Step 2: Complete Your Profile

• Add a profile picture
• Write a brief bio
• Choose privacy settings
• You can update these anytime

Creating Your First Hunt

Step 1: Access the Hunt Creator

1. Log into your account
2. Click "Create Hunt" from your dashboard
3. You'll see the hunt creation form

Step 2: Basic Hunt Information

Fill in these required fields:

Hunt Title Be descriptive and engaging. "Sarah's Birthday Scavenger Hunt" or "Downtown City Challenge"

Description Tell participants what they're hunting for and why: - "Find 10 iconic landmarks in downtown" - "Solve clues to find hidden gifts" - "Complete challenges around the office"

Hunt Location Enter where the hunt takes place. If it's in multiple locations, name the primary area.

Start Date & Time When does your hunt begin?

Duration How long should the hunt last? (Usually 45 minutes to 2 hours)

Step 3: Choose Hunt Type

Individual Hunt: Participants compete solo

Team Hunt: Small groups work together

Hybrid: Allows both individual and team play

Step 4: Add Your Clues

This is where the fun happens!

Adding Your First Clue: 1. Click "Add Clue" 2. Enter the clue text 3. Specify the location (if location-based) 4. Add a hint (optional) 5. Set the correct answer 6. Choose the clue type: - Text clue - Photo clue - Location-based - Challenge

Example Clue: - Clue: "I have a face and hands but no eyes. Where do you find me?" - Hint: "Check the office..." - Answer: "Clock" - Type: Text clue

Step 5: Add More Clues

Build your hunt with multiple clues: - Aim for 8-15 clues for a standard hunt - Mix clue types (text, photos, challenges) - Progressively increase difficulty - Make sure all clues are solvable

Pro Tip: Test your clues before launching. Walk through them yourself.

Step 6: Set Up Scoring (Optional)

Choose your scoring system: - Time-based: Fastest to complete wins - Points-based: Assign points per clue - Challenge-based: Bonus points for special tasks - Standard: Everyone who completes wins

Step 7: Customize Your Hunt

Add a Theme - Choose or create a theme - Add theme colors - Upload a hunt banner

Enable Features - Photo submissions (participants can submit photos) - Progress tracking (you track teams in real-time) - Team chat (teams can communicate) - Leaderboard (live scoring)

Step 8: Set Participant Rules

Define any special rules: - Are participants required to take photos? - Can they leave the designated area? - Are hints allowed? - Time limits on individual clues?

Step 9: Review & Launch

Review your hunt: - [ ] All clues are clear - [ ] Locations are correct - [ ] Answers are accurate - [ ] Theme matches event - [ ] Rules are clear

Click "Publish" to make your hunt live!

Inviting Participants

Option 1: Generate a Join Code

1. After publishing, get your unique join code
2. Share the code with participants
3. They enter the code and join
4. Perfect for: In-person hunts, groups you know

Option 2: Share a Link

1. Get your personal hunt link
2. Share via email, text, or social media
3. Anyone with the link can join
4. Perfect for: Public hunts, wide audiences

Option 3: Anonymous Participation

For business hunts, allow anonymous signup: - Participants don't need accounts - They provide their name/team name - No email required - Perfect for: Customer events, open hunts

During Your Hunt

Monitoring Progress

Host Dashboard: - See all participant locations - View current scores - Monitor completion progress - Send announcements to participants

Live Leaderboard

• Display on a screen at your event
• Real-time score updates
• Build excitement and competition

Support Tools

• Send hints to struggling teams
• Add time extensions if needed
• Update participants via broadcast messages
• View submission photos in real-time

After the Hunt

Collecting Results

Your platform automatically tracks: - Completion times - Scores - Photos submitted - Routes taken (if GPS-enabled)

Sharing Results

Options for sharing: - Download full results report - Export to spreadsheet - Share leaderboard with participants - Create certificates

Gathering Feedback

Use built-in surveys to gather feedback: - What did participants enjoy? - What would they change? - Would they do it again?

Pro Tips for Success

✓ Test First: Always test your hunt before the event

✓ Clear Instructions: Write clear clues and give good hints

✓ Have Backups: Keep extra clues ready if teams get stuck

✓ Set Expectations: Let participants know what to expect

✓ Be Flexible: Be ready to adapt if something goes wrong

✓ Capture Photos: Take pictures during the event

✓ Celebrate Wins: Make finishing exciting with announcements

Common Questions

Q: How many clues should I include? A: 8-15 is ideal. Too few feels rushed, too many gets exhausting.

Q: Can I edit my hunt after it starts? A: Yes! You can add hints, extend time, or message participants.

Q: What if someone gets stuck? A: Send them a hint or offer help. You maintain full control.

Q: Can I reuse hunts? A: Absolutely! Clone previous hunts and customize them.

Q: How many participants can join? A: Unlimited! Scale from small groups to hundreds.

Next Steps

1. Create Your Hunt: Start with a simple 10-clue hunt
2. Invite a Friend: Test with someone before the big event
3. Gather Feedback: Ask what worked and what didn't
4. Launch Your Event: You're ready to host!

Get Help

• Help Center: Browse frequently asked questions
• Video Tutorials: Visual guides for every feature
• Support Email: We're here to help

Welcome to Scavenge.rs. Happy hunting! 🎯