Get tangled up in a whole lot of fun on this treasure hunt! Each player must follow a colored string that winds, twists, wraps, and slips through and around obstacles on a playing field. Players try to avoid getting tangled in their own and other player’s webs as they search for the end of the line, and the ultimate prize. This is an activity that has been around for ages, and although you must allow for a goodly amount of set up time, the results are well worth it!
Age
School-age, Tweens, Teens, AdultsNumber of Players
2, 3 to 4, 5 to 10, 10 to 20Prep Time
20 minutes or moreTime Length
5 - 15 minutesDifficulty
Attention, please! (a few rules to follow)Indoor/Outdoor
EitherSpace Needed
Medium (a clearable open space the size of a 2-car garage), Large (gym, outdoor field, reception hall)Noise Level
Semi-rambunctiousMess Factor
Dustpan, pleaseSupplies
Setup
Pre-event set up
1. It’s always best to prep the string/web before the event. To do this, measure out the amount of yarn to the desired length (if you have the time, you may want to cut a few “testers” to determine the exact length you want).
2. If you like, write the name of each player on a T.P. tube (or other spool “base;" here we've used oversized, colored popsicle sticks). Do one tube per player. You may want to have a few extra blank ones as well.
3. Tape one end of the yarn to the T.P. tube and wrap the entire length of yarn around the base. When you reach the opposite end, place a tiny piece of tape on the yarn end and tuck it under one of the strands to keep the yarn from unraveling. If you are using a T.P. tube, then simply cut a tiny slit in the tube and slide the yarn into the slit to secure it in place.
Set-up on the day
One by one, take your tubes of yarn and create your web.
1. Take your goodie or prize and tie it to the free end of the wrapped string.
2. Enter your playing field and find a good place to hide your treat.
3. Working backwards from your treat, start unwrapping the yarn, creating a path. Weave the yarn around objects such as trees, table legs, chairs, hat stands, etc. -- just make sure these items are secure and aren’t going to topple over!
4. Keep going until you reach a designated “starting” place. Although all the tubes don’t need to end up in the same place, they should end in the same vicinity (i.e., you don’t want one ending in the middle of the web). Secure the T.P. tube in this location.
5. Continue this process for each tube, weaving in and out of the various obstacles and strings as they start to take over the space. (Do not wrap strings around each other -- they may cross under or over each other, but do not wrap!)
How to Play
1. Have the players enter the playing field one at a time and locate their name on their tube.
2. Players should begin wrapping the string around their tube and following their string in, out, up, down, wherever it may lead them.
3. Once the player finds their treat, they should untie the goodie, and give the team leader their roll of string.
Variations
1. Instead of writing a name on each tube, write the answer to a riddle, or a question, or a fact. Hand each player the question/riddle, and have them search for the tube with the correct answer.
2. Use pictures or stickers on the tubes instead of names.
Tips
1. Make sure players roll their string instead of just following their string to its end, or you will end up with a huge clean-up on your hands! If they wrap as they go, you’ll be back to normal in no time.
2. Start players one or two at a time to avoid too much congestion in the beginning.
3. The more ins, outs, ups, downs, and crawling throughs you can get with your string, the better.
4. It’s not a bad idea to test a few lengths of string in your playing field ahead of time, to get a sense of how long your string should be.
5. Make sure that your playing area is free of any sharp objects. Make sure the area is safe.