As the date approached for Anime NYC, uncertainties loomed about whether the bustling atmosphere might be too much for my daughters, who were attending their very first fan convention. A decade of attending events, beginning with New York Comic Con, had equipped me with a wealth of experience, yet this occasion felt distinct with my twin daughters, both aged 15, stepping into the realm of grand conventions for the first time. To mitigate any feelings of overwhelm, I thought about a scavenger hunt to guide them through the expansive grounds of the convention hall. Unfortunately, my search online yielded no results. Thus, the night before Anime NYC, I took it upon myself to create a unique scavenger hunt tailored for the anime convention experience.

Credit: Jordan Calhoun / Anime NYC

Taking place in the expansive 3.3 million square foot Javits Center, Anime NYC had reached unprecedented heights in 2024, welcoming over 100,000 attendees—its largest turnout in seven years. Anyone who has attended a convention understands the energy and chaos at play: numerous events, panel discussions, vendor booths, and relentless marketing vying for attention as one traverses the busy pathways. These events can be quite daunting for first-timers, and Anime NYC was certainly no different.

The primary intention behind the scavenger hunt was to provide a purposeful direction for our journey while offsetting the potential exhaustion of the experience. This approach not only eased any overwhelm but also made the overall outing significantly more enjoyable for my family. In fact, the prospect of attending future conventions without a scavenger hunt now feels inconceivable.

Design Your Own Convention Scavenger Hunt

A free downloadable scavenger hunt template for comic and anime conventions is available for use or inspiration in crafting your own. The scavenger hunt framework is divided into three distinct sections:

• The first section consists of simpler tasks worth one point each, including a few bonus opportunities, yielding a total of 15 points at maximum.

• The second section features challenges requiring more interaction with fellow attendees, where each task is valued at two points, allowing for a total of 20 points possible.

• The final section encourages capturing videos of team members engaged with the community, each worth five points, bringing the potential score in this segment to 25 points including bonuses.

This scavenger hunt format can be adapted for various comic, anime, or gaming conventions, inviting customization to fit individual group interests. For instance, consider integrating different characters from comics or video games or adjusting difficulty levels based on age or enthusiasm for the genre. My family enjoys identifying Black characters in anime, leading us to incorporate a task where we’d ask attendees to name five Black anime figures.

How Long Will the Scavenger Hunt Take?

For adults, completing the scavenger hunt typically requires about 4 to 6 hours. When children participate, the completion time may extend, contingent on their stamina. My family spent roughly six hours exploring Anime NYC, and out of the 60 possible points, the triumphant team scored an impressive 48 points, narrowly beating the second team’s total of 47 points.

Credit: Jordan Calhoun / DailyHackly

Crafting Your Own Scavenger Hunt

Creating a personalized scavenger hunt allows for immense creativity. The simplest versions only necessitate a list of items or tasks and basic rules regarding team formations, time allowances, and rewards. For competitive groups, some essential questions to consider include:

• Can teams form alliances?

• Are sabotage tactics allowed?

• Can teams purchase hints (which stirred lively debate during my family’s scavenger hunt when one team bought an autograph from an anime voice actor for an additional point)?

• How will ties be resolved ahead of time?

Why Scavenger Hunts Enhance Convention Visits

An often-quoted productivity mantra states, “The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.” This advice underscores how even the most monumental tasks can be made manageable by breaking them down into smaller, defined steps. This principle proves invaluable in various pursuits, whether it’s training for a marathon, penning a book, or instilling a love for conventions in younger generations. By organizing tasks and concentrating solely on the next step, the overall goal becomes more attainable. Consequently, a scavenger hunt serves as an effective organizational tool, functioning as a fun checklist for activities. Plans are in place to integrate scavenger hunts into a diverse array of events, including family vacations, museum visits, and excursions. When an adequate option is not readily available online, the commitment remains to develop new scavenger hunts tailored to upcoming adventures.