City Sleuths

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City Sleuths Scavenger Hunts

City Sleuths is the smarter scavenger hunt for fun team building

Working a riddle in West Village NYC

Working a riddle in West Village NYC

Team Craft’s riddle based City Sleuths activity is an answer hunt: a team building experience that’s great fun for large or small groups, and set in memorable locations.

Team Building in a Stimulating City Environment
Experience a Great American City - while learning about effective teamwork.

We currently conduct this program in Austin, Baltimore, Charleston, SC, Denver, Fort Worth, Galveston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Princeton, San Antonio, San Diego, and Washington, D.C.

If your city isn't listed, ask us. We can possibly add new locations upon request.

City Sleuths is a fun riddle solving game that is Team Craft’s clever upgrade from a scavenger or treasure hunt as a team building activity. Teams have from three to five participants and compete to score the most points by finding answers to riddles among the curious, historic, and entertaining elements of a stimulating city district.

Working a riddle in Greenwich Village

Working a riddle in Greenwich Village

A 4-hour version includes two rounds of riddle solving. A 2.5 to 3 hour version ends after one round. The end involves scoring answers, giving out awards, and conducting a debrief no winning techniques that translate to the work setting. It is often held over drinks or a meal to celebrate the event. Winning team members each receive an engraved gold medal on a satin ribbon. Everyone receives a keepsake memento of the experience.

Riddles & Strategy

Each team is given a collection of riddles to solve. Teams are directed to a section of a city’s most entertaining or historic district to search out the answers. Figuring out each riddle leads them to a location where they’ll find a little known humorous or curious fact related to local history, famous people, or artistic or creative aspects of the location and and score points for having the right answer.

Working a riddle

Working a riddle

What makes this activity so unusual and fun is that written riddles require participants to think past obvious and easy answers. Each riddle is designed to challenge assumptions and typical ways of thinking, but also uses shared knowledge of general trivia and observation to generate the answer. To be successful, teams need to be creative and think outside the lines - but still follow a logical thread. First impressions are typically wrong. So teams are encouraged to involve each member in sharing observations and ideas to figure out the answer.

The riddles cleverly cloak the identity of the street a team needs to go to, the building to look for, and the information needed there. It requires effective communication, shared problem solving, and open minds - all important elements of successful teamwork.

Exploring historic alleys in Philly

Exploring historic alleys in Philly

Each of the cities where we do this program has an urban district that is fun and exciting to explore. Prior experience with the activity location is unnecessary and it can actually work to a group’s detriment if participants make too quick an assumption.

The program is like a speed tour of points of interest that participants experience in greater detail than most visitors. Participants discover kitschy and humorous work of artisans mixed with facts about local celebrities or historic elements of national interest.

Let us solve the riddle of what program to do for your team. City Sleuths is the answer you're looking for!

What Makes City Sleuths Great

Have Fun & Get to Know Your Teammates BetterTake a Speed Tour that focuses on Overlooked Gems in Great LocationsDevelop Teamwork and Communication Skills through a Great Experience
The Focus is on People, not technology.
Riddles lead to the unusual, historic, and the kitschy. They are designed to humor and entertain as you go.
Riddles are structured to challenge shared problem solving using powers of observation, logic, and deduction. Just like good detectives.
No Silly or Awkward demands in the program design.
They are tested and proven to generate aha moments of cool insight you wouldn’t have even on a guided tour.
The process rewards teams that can plan ahead. Successful teams at first slow down to then move fast.
Get to know great little known fascinating facts about other participants.
You can’t make up right answers. Teams really need to find the exact place to figure it out, and enjoy the answer. Great teams can complete 20 riddles in 90 minutes. It’s designed to keep people moving.
Teams are encouraged to identify effective roles to share among the team.
Teams Build on Success -
And get whatever Coaching they request.
It’s all done on foot in a manageable sized area that is loaded with great discoveries.
Combine the activity with a Communication Styles session beforehand and allow team members to use new skills and strategies for effectiveness – that are transferable to their real teamwork afterward.
Teams are self organizing and develop plans and strategies that fit their preferred style.
It’s a simply elegant experience in a great place.

Have Fun & Get to Know Your Teammates Better

  • The Focus is on People, not technology.
  • No Silly or Awkward demands in the program design.
  • Get to know great little known fascinating facts about other participants.
  • Teams Build on Success - And get whatever Coaching they request.
  • Teams are self organizing and develop plans and strategies that fit their preferred style.
  • It’s informal and low key; structured just enough to keep everyone engaged and active.

Take a Speed Tour that focuses on Overlooked Gems in Great Locations

  • Riddles lead to the unusual, historic, and the kitschy. They are designed to humor and entertain as you go.
  • They are tested and proven to generate aha moments of cool insight you wouldn’t have even on a guided tour.
  • You can’t make up right answers. Teams really need to find the exact place to figure it out, and enjoy the answer. Great teams can complete 20 riddles in 90 minutes. It’s designed to keep people moving.
  • It’s all done on foot in a manageable sized area that is loaded with great discoveries.
    It’s a simply elegant experience in a great place.

Develop Teamwork and Communication Skills through a Great Experience

  • Riddles are structured to challenge shared problem solving using powers of observation, logic, and deduction. Just like good detectives.
  • The process rewards teams that can plan ahead. Successful teams at first slow down to then move fast.
  • Teams are encouraged to identify effective roles to share among the team.
  • Combine the activity with a Communication Styles session beforehand and allow team members to use new skills and strategies for effectiveness – that are transferable to their real teamwork afterward.

Teams are well oriented and provided the information they need to be successful. No trickery or gimmicks. No intent to befuddle or confuse. But teams that don’t use the information provided can get frustrated. We’re always available to assist, if requested.

Winning team members get gold medals on satin ribbons – like in the Olympics. Then teams identify their winning strategies that they can share in an insightful debrief – if you want. You can do this together in the comfort of a pleasant watering hole or restaurant.

Inclement weather? No problem. Reschedule with advance notice, or we’ll substitute a great indoor experience that also targets your goals for a great program. It’s fail safe!

Working a riddle in Princeton Campus

Working a riddle in Princeton Campus

Preparing a plan on the River Walk

Preparing a plan on the River Walk

Working a riddles in the West Village NYC

Working a riddles in the West Village NYC

Working a riddle

Working a riddle

Working a riddle at The Bitter End

Working a riddle at The Bitter End

Working a riddle in Las Vegas

Working a riddle in Las Vegas

Working a riddle at Elfriths Alley Philly

Working a riddle at Elfriths Alley Philly

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