If you have children in your life this is a great way to spend a day. Have your own treasure hunt, your own Hidden Treasure so to speak. We guarantee they will talk about it for years to come.

You will need:

Cream or tan colored paper
Plastic bottles
Sand and small seashells
Treasure box
Treasure contents (anything you want)
Pirates clues (a ribbon tied in a tree works well)
A shovel
2 adults
Any number of children
A boat (although you could do a variation without it)

1) If you would like to invite someone special you can make a fun invitation for this treasure hunt day. Begin by typing invitations onto cream colored paper. Each invitation should be different including a separate portion for the directions from your starting point to another destination on the lake. (Be sure to include anything the hunters can look for like landmarks, distances, direction, etc.). Burn the edges of the paper to make it look aged and weathered. Roll up the paper and place into an old plastic bottle along with a little sand and some seashells. (These can be sent through the mail.)

Be sure they bring their invitation to the treasure hunt so everyone can follow the directions.

2) Create a treasure. You can use any box or container. Fill with anything you think the children may like. If you choose candy, remember that chocolate will melt quickly on a hot summer day. Place the treasure and a shovel on your boat in a hidden place before the guests arrive.

3) After all passengers are on board the boat you can start asking for help with directions. The person with the first set of directions can read theirs to the group. As a group decide what you think the "pirate" meant when writing the directions; is there a certain landmark to look for, a certain direction to go in, a certain distance to travel? When you've reached the end of the first set of directions, move on to the second person's and so on until you've reached your destination.

4) When you've reached your destination one adult should take all the children in a certain direction and begin to look for clues left by the pirates. The other able bodied adult can retrieve the treasure from its hiding spot on the boat, bring a shovel and some "pirate's clues" and look for a spot to bury the treasure. After burying the treasure, place a clue or two nearby to help the children find the spot to dig. Next hide the shovel back on the boat and catch up to the rest of the group. That will signal the other adult that they can begin their look for clues in earnest.

The entire group will treasure this day for years to come!

By Tom Henke