Following Rugged Racers, Rugged Robot or any remote control robot on an adventure
You could begin the treasure hunt with the task of following the remote control robot. Controlling it so that it heads in the direction of the clues, eventually getting to the treasure. If your setting doesn’t have a Rugged Racer, Rugged Robot or similar remote control bot you could create a much smaller treasure hunt inside using a Bee-Bot and mat. Allowing children to programme the Bee-Bot along each square to find the clues and the treasure – ensuring that they code the Bot correctly as they go. This could be done outside on a large piece of cardboard – with a pre-drawn grid or on one of the grid mats available.
Team time
Split the children into teams to encourage working together and to ensure that they all take turns. For the larger remote control version of the activity, ensure you have left the clues in easy to spot areas of the setting. Pupils could work in teams, one to control the robot and the other team to follow, search and read out the clues – recording information as they go on clipboards and microphones for play back later in the classroom. You could have the clues with a message on a recordable such as recordable pegs pegged to a tree. 
Track and record findings
Track the Rugged Racer and Robot and answers to clues on route using recordable clipboards. This way children can write down notes as well as verbally record their findings. Remember that the Rugged Racer and Rugged Robot, in particular, are suitable for all sorts of terrain and weather so as long as the children are appropriately dressed, the hunt can go on! Just be careful with any other electric equipment if it is wet.
Scan, seek and discover
Hiding clues in a metal chest or box and treasure such as metal coins in sand is a great way of encouraging children to think differently. Metal detectors will pick up on the coins and allow them to find clues that way as well as immersing themselves in all areas of the environment. You could also use binoculars to scan the skies and trees or magnifying glasses to get up close.
Discovering the Treasure
Hooray – you found the treasure! Working together to find the treasure can be a rewarding achievement, succeeding as Outdoor Detectives!
Rejoin and re-tell the hunt as a story back in the classroom
Once all the clues and treasure have been found, join back together and discuss your findings. Use the recorded sound bites and notes taken to see if you can piece together the story of what happened to the treasure. Children could retell the story in their teams, perhaps drawing a map of the clues and creating a storyboard.
With thanks to Charlotte Swinscoe for writing this post.
