Scavenger hunts are for adults too
Island parent creates new Easter tradition after kids move out
The Easter scavenger hunts aren’t just for children . . . the Mackenzie siblings enjoy them now in their early 20s! Lisa Mackenzie started the tradition two years ago after her kids had all moved out.
“We always did one around our house when they were children and wanted to continue it. We created an Easter Scavenger Hunt for our young adult children around the Charlottetown and Stratford areas at residents and businesses that we know,” the mother from Georgetown, P.E.I. said.
“We give them their first clue at their place in Hillsborough Park. It could consist of GPS co-ordinates, businesses mottos, random addresses, or egg search with letters inside to unscramble.”
Mackenzie’s three adult children, 23-year-old Cora, 21-year-old Jack, and 20-year-old Sam get together with their friends to complete the scavenger hunt each year.
“The adult scavenger hunt has them driving around following various clues, I reach out to people and businesses that I know for them to have to go to,” Mackenzie said.
“Over the two years the hunts have included many friends of ours as well as the Charlottetown Fire Department, where they needed to get a picture with a firefighter for their next clue, and then Best Buy, What’s the Scoop, Oak Tree Place Liquor Store, the Olde Dublin, where they need a picture of all of them to get their next clue.”
For concern of her children breaking traffic laws, the scavenger hunt is a teambuilding activity rather than a competitive one.
“It is not a competition, I said I will never make it a competition as they would speed. They have to work together. The hunt usually takes an hour for them to carry out and there is chocolate, candy, ice cream coupons, and adult beverages as goodies,” she said.
“With the children now adults and they all live away, felt we needed to take it to them. We usually just go to their place for Easter, as they all live in the same split-level building. After they’re done, we always cook a big meal at their place and then have a games night.”
In addition to staying close with her kids, Mackenzie also wanted a new way to celebrate the family-driven holiday.
“I love holiday traditions and we have had loads over the years, so I like to be able to update them to keep them going. I honestly hope that we get to help in carrying on the tradition with their children in some form,” Mackenzie said.
“I feel like the kids will want to continue this tradition. They seem like they still like to do things with us, so I will keep trying to create traditions to keep the memories being made.”
As for this year, Mackenzie is currently scheming how to change it up from past scavenger hunts.
“We will be planning one for this year. New places will be added and hopefully new components. Just in the planning stages right now,” she said. “When the kids were younger, if they ever said they were bored we would say, ‘scavenger hunt’ and give them a list. Could be anything from a purple sock to a four-leaf clover.”
The Mackenzie family scavenger hunts have been such a hit that others have enlisted Mackenzie to help create them for their own families.
“I have been asked to create ones for other people, I will try to fit that into the schedule.”