Peter Bankss asked:

Hobbies are supposed to be fun! And treasure hunting is no exception. There are plenty of fun games and activities you can use to make treasure hunting a fun outing for the whole family.

If you decide to take others treasure hunting with you, whether it is your children or older relatives, it won’t be much fun for them if they’re just watching you all day. Let’s face it, sitting around and watching someone run a metal detector over the ground is hardly a thrilling experience. The key is to get everyone involved. Not only does this make it more fun for them, but you will have extra hands working away at finding the treasure you are after!

Some companies even organize treasure hunts as corporate activities. It’s a really great way to get coworkers working together on a common goal: finding the treasure! People learn to be innovative, creative and persistent during treasure hunts.

Some treasure hunting companies even offer corporate discounts. Each person on the hunt should have a job or task to do. Put one person in charge of navigating or leading the group to the treasure. Another could be

responsible for protecting found treasures from damage. Giving people a sense of purpose will help them to become involved and they will enjoy the treasure hunt that much more.

When planning a group treasure hunting outing, consider using a treasure hunting company as your guide. These people are experienced; they know which equipment you need; where you are likely to find your treasure; and all of the rules surrounding treasure hunting in the area.

Some treasure hunting companies will provide all of the equipment necessary for the hunt. So while it may cost money to book the hunt, you will be saving money by not having to buy equipment for several people. One example of this would be an underwater hunt. If you are taking a group of friends to the beach for a ring and jewelry hunt, it could be quite costly to provide snorkeling equipment for everyone.

A treasure hunting company would supply them for a rental fee. You wouldn’t be stuck with a dozen snorkel masks to store after the trip!

When taking children treasure hunting, it is important that each child has their own tools and equipment. To stay organized, use the grid method that we discussed earlier. Map out your treasure hunting area, and assign each child a square. Assigning a separate area to each child should limit the amount of bickering that goes on. Congratulate each child on their finds, even if it’s a worthless pop can. You could even plant treasures the day before, to ensure that each child uncovers something different.

If you are planning a treasure hunt for children, always consider their safety first.

They will need to be closely supervised during the hunt. One adult per three children is a good ratio. Try to limit treasure hunting with children to areas where you are sure there will be very few threats or dangers. In could be disastrous for a child to dig up a sharp, rusted object, or to stumble across a weapon or drug paraphernalia. Children typically have a short attention span, so keep the treasure hunt brief or have other activities throughout the day. Prizes and a meal at the end of the hunt would make for a perfect day.

Anytime you get a group of people together for a treasure hunt, remember to act as host and to provide a few necessities. If you are treasure hunting in the sun or in a hot climate, you will need to have plenty of drinks on hand to keep everyone hydrated throughout the day.

Bronnie Vaughn asked:

Lego Pirate themed sets were first released for sale in 1989. The Lego pirate sets included the first mini figures without a very realistic looking head that only had 2 dots for eyes and a drawn smile. The faces of these minfig pirates did vary from the ones that had painted eye patches and drawn beards and hair. Along with the Lego pirate sets, Imperial Soldiers with blue coats were also released to pursue the plundering pirates (1989 – 1991). These toy soldiers had a definite European look about them. A Lego comic book, The Pirates, and titled “The Gold Medallion” was debuted in 1989 as well. The blue-coated Imperial Soldiers were replaced in 1992 by Imperial Guards, which were on duty through 1995. During this period Lego Pirate sets took on a definite Spanish feel. During 1996 and 1997 the Spanish Armada was on the scene, patrolling the pirate-controlled seas.

1997 saw the last few Lego Pirate toy building sets being released. This came as a surprise to the many fans of the famous Legos pirates and their surrounding sets. These beloved sets had become one of the company’s best selling product lines. A few pirate sets have since been re-released and the pirate theme can be found in a few Lego Duplo sets as well. Captain Redbeard, also known as Captain Roger, was one of the characters in a Lego pirate set released in 1989, and he quickly became one of Lego’s most popular pirates. He and his first mate, Rummy, could often be found on a ship in the open seas doing what pirates do best. Robbing and pillaging!

There has recently been some very good news for Lego pirate enthusiasts. The company is coming out with more brand new pirate sets in their 2009 releases, which can already be found at some online stores. Lego’s timing is on the mark to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first pirate sets from 1989. The new Lego Soldier’s Fort set and Brickbeard’s Bounty set are but a couple of these new releases. Welcome back!

In 1990 Ladybird books, based on the Lego pirate theme were published. There are 4 books in all. Adventure on Shark Island, Captain Roger’s Birthday, Will and the Gold Chase, and The Royal Visit. These entertaining books were based on the crew of the Dark Shark and their sea going adventures and clashes with the Broadside Imperial Guards. The stories created a lasting identity for the characters and as a result, expanded the universe of the Lego pirate themed sets. Captain Foul, who was in command of the pirate ship “The Barracuda”, was introduced as one of the main characters in the books. Captain Foul, however, never made it to any of the Pirate sets created by the Lego company.

For a lot of adults, especially those who enjoyed the first releases of the pirate, adventure themed, Lego sets, the toys are not just mere toys. They are more like childhood souvenirs that they have spent many hours with and can still be enjoyed, eventually handing them down to their own children. Lego toy brick sets, being durable enough to last at least two or more generations, could easily become family treasures handed down from generation to generation! Educational, entertaining and long lasting are just some of the attributes that people love about Lego toy building sets.

Joseph Buffalo asked:

If you want to have some fun and have an entertaining treasure hunt, try the Western Ghost Towns.

The ones I’m referring to are the ones you need a four wheel drive vehicle to get to them. The key to finding these ghost towns is “research”. The first place most people start is buying a book on ghost towns in the area they are going to treasure hunt. It is best to have a topographical map of the area also. Another good source is the local historical society. They usually have old photographs of long gone ghost towns.

Let me say something about old black and white photographs. All the building depicted in the photograph appear further away than the actual distance at the ghost town site.

We were searching a long gone town in SE Arizona. We had to four wheel it for about 1-1/2 hours to get to it. We had the Typo map; an old picture of the town dated 1888. There were some visible adobe foundations at the site. We were looking for the old saloon site. Standing on a small rise we thought it was approximately 50 yards away. Fortunately there were other mounds of dirt and hills we good triangulate. We actually were almost standing on top of the saloon foundation.

Looking at the old picture we determined where the front door would have been. Most of the building would have had wooden walks, with separations between the boards. If some one dropped a coin on the walk, most likely it would drop through the floor. Since we didn’t have a picture of what the saloon looked like inside we had to guess where the bar might have been.

Most of the buildings in these old ghost towns are not very big, so you can set up a string search pattern area to make sure you cover every inch. It was a lot of fun researching the site.

Our finds that day were over 50 100 year old square head nails, 3 “V” Nickels, one worth $35-$50. Older pennies, and a few quarters. We were hoping for a Gold coin, but maybe we will find it over the next hill. Happy treasure hunting.

Treasure Hunting items at; Treasures

Peter Bankss asked:

Is there anything more exciting than a treasure map? The thought of being led to riches is very appealing to many.

But wait… there are some very important points to consider before you head off in search of your treasure. First, you will need to validate the legitimacy of the map. If you plan on wandering around for a day and really couldn’t care less if you found anything, you can skip this step. But if you have your heart set on finding the treasure, you will need to be sure that the map is somewhat accurate.

Who drew the map? Why would they draw a map leading to the treasure? Who else may have had access to this map? These are all important questions that you must answer for yourself.

You also need to know how to read a map. It seems like common sense, but many people set out in search of something and end up lost because they really don’t know how to read a map.

If this has ever happened to you, don’t feel bad! Reading a map and using a compass to follow its directions are not always easy. It is best to take an orienteering course, offered by many outdoors clubs, before you begin your treasure hunt. This is especially important if your map will take you away from residential areas and into the woods or an unknown territory.

Maps of treasure lost in a body of water pose their own challenges. Only an experienced sailor should attempt to follow a map on water. If you aren’t sure exactly where you need to be, or have limited experience operating a boat, hire a guide. You could even charter a boat, if you are willing to pay the expense. It could be worth it if you find your treasure!

Peter Bankss asked:

The tools and methods you will use to find treasure under water really depend on what you’re looking for. Most recreational treasure hunters will find that sifting works best for them.

As with other treasure hunting methods, it’s good to have a plan in mind as you begin your search. You can mark out your search area with stakes in shallow water, or buoys in deeper areas. Deep water treasure hunting is an activity that you should never attempt on your own. Always take a treasure hunting friend with you, and notify someone else where you are going, what time you plan to be back, etc.

For the purpose of this guide, we will focus on treasure hunting methods that can be done in shallow water. While experienced Scuba divers can certainly venture into other territories, the average recreational treasure hunter will probably have more luck skimming the shoreline for jewelry, coins and other valuable lost at the beach. A snorkel kit is a great tool for any underwater treasure hunter. Snorkeling allows you to keep your eyes on the ocean or lake floor as you carefully tread over top, searching for treasures. You can use an underwater metal detector as you snorkel, sweeping the coil over the bottom as you move along.

If you’ve ever snorkeled, you already know why marking out your search area is necessary. You can quickly get off track with only the ocean floor to guide you. Pick a natural landmark if you must, and look up often to be sure you are on track. In cooler water, a wet suit is a must. It will protect you from the cold water and keep you warm all day. In warmer climates, a wet suit is unnecessary but you will still need to wear gloves. There may be sharp cans, rocks or other objects just below the surface of the sand that could hurt your hands if you grabbed hold of one.

What would you be searching for underwater? Well, people lose all kinds of items at the beach. It is an area that can be searched often, as there is a constant supply of new treasures from forgetful and unfortunate swimmers who’ve lost their rings, necklaces, cell phones, earrings, watches and more. Coins are another popular find at the beach, though you are more likely to find new coins that were lost recently than you are to find valuable old relics.

Underwater treasure hunting poses its own unique dangers, even in shallow water. Before setting out, it is important to do a bit of research about the fish and plant life that live in the body of water you are searching. You may want to avoid certain areas at specific times of the year. If there are poisonous fish or plants, you must be able to recognize and avoid them.

Some treasure hunters simply use a sifter to search the top inch or two of the sand on the ocean floor. Others use a magnet to seek out any metallic objects.