A College Photo Scavenger Hunt: A Fun Way to Stay Connected
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You’ve moved them in, made the bed, hung the photos, and bought the snacks. Then you drove home and tried to get used to a house that suddenly felt a little too quiet.
Your college student is settling into this chapter, and you’re trying to figure out how to stay connected without asking, “How’s it going?” every single day.
After 18 years of parenting, we don’t need a full report. Sometimes we just want a little reassurance that they’re eating, meeting people, and occasionally washing their clothes.
Whether they are a freshmen or a senior, those first few weeks of readjusting to the new semester can look different for every student. Some are homesick and spending more time in their room than they expected. Others are thoroughly enjoying their freedom, apparently forgetting their phone can also be used to text their parents. Some call several times a day. Others send three words and consider that a meaningful update.
Meanwhile, we’re at home trying to give them space while wondering how everything is going.
VIOLA --> college photo scavenger hunt
It’s a simple, fun way to encourage your student to explore campus, find helpful resources, and share a little of their new world with you. And yes, you will feel a bit more connected without being the one to prompt the text.
What Is a College Photo Scavenger Hunt?
Think of it as a college selfie challenge with a few practical parent requests mixed in.
You send your student a list of things to photograph: a favorite study spot, a ride on the campus bus, folded laundry, or a visit to the tutoring center. They send back photo proof, along with their face in the photo, and earn a small reward.
They get a reason to get out and explore. You get a glimpse into their college life.
The goal is to make it something they want to do. Keep it light, offer the challenge, and let them decide whether they’re in.
How to Set It Up
You can make this as simple or as creative as you want. A cute Canva page works, and I've certainly seen other sites about this who have created very elaborate pages in Canva, but a shared phone note works too. Your student probably cares more about the reward than your font choices! Personally, I used a share note in the NOTES app of my phone.
Choose your challenges.
Decide on the rewards.
Set a few simple rules.
Share the list.
Enjoy the photos.
College Photo Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Pick the ones that fit your student. You don’t need to send the entire list. This is supposed to be fun. Personally, we picked 20 things to send our kids and offered $5 per photo. Below our suggestions to get you thinking. The actual list we sent our kids is further down in the post.
Dorm Life
Your bed made.
A finished load of laundry, folded and ready to put away.
Taking out the trash.
Your favorite thing in your dorm room, with a sentence about why you love it.
Hanging out with your roommate, if they’re comfortable being in the photo.
Finding Your Way Around Campus
Filling your water bottle at a campus filling station.
The mailroom hours and a quick explanation of how package pickup works.
A student printer and how much it costs to print.
A favorite campus view.
Getting Ready for Class
A study spot you would actually use.
The tutoring or academic support center, or its appointment page.
A screenshot showing that you’ve collected your professors’ office hours in one place.
The library’s study room reservation page.
Your backpack packed and ready for class.
Meeting People and Having Fun
A club meeting or campus activity you decided to try.
A school sporting event, concert, performance, or other campus gathering.
A picture with a new friend or two.
You in the dining hall.
Something on campus that made you laugh.
Taking Care of Yourself
A visit to the recreation center or campus gym.
A walk around campus just because you felt like getting outside.
A meal with a fruit or vegetable involved.
Keep the Rules Simple
Offer a Reward
You know your student and what will get their attention. It doesn’t need to be expensive.
A few ideas:
A little spending money through Venmo.
A gift card for a favorite restaurant.
A pizza delivery.
A care package with their favorite snacks.
Homemade cookies.
Choose whatever works for your family and your budget.
What We Did
This is a copy and paste (with a few edits) of our shared notes page from the NOTES app:
YOUR LIST - EARN UP TO $100 IN THE COLLEGE PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT
DATES: September 2–September 23, 2026
MISSON: Explore. Have some fun. Make some memories. And, most importantly, give Mom & Dad photographic proof of life.
RULES:
• $5 per completed photo. (Complete the list and earn $100)
• Photos must be taken September 2–September 23.
• Send each photo to Mom & Dad in a group text to receive credit.
• Your face must be visible in the photo unless the challenge specifically makes that impossible, so selfies are fine or someone can take it for you.
• No old photos, screenshots or AI-generated/photoshopped photos. 😂
• One photo = one challenge.
• You may complete the challenges in any order and with friends.
• Safety first: Don't trespass, enter restricted areas, disturb wildlife or do anything dangerous for a photo.
• Mom & Dad have final say on whether a photo counts. 😎
• Final photo must be submitted no later than 9PM/EST on September 23rd.
📸 SCAVENGER HUNT ITEMS
1. THE STADIUM - Get a photo in front of or inside the Stadium.
2. MASCOT- Get a photo with your school mascot. (You could get creative here.)
3. FAMOUS BUILDING - Take a photo in front of (insert a famous building on campus).
4. STUDENT CENTER - Take a photo inside the Student Center with something that proves you're actually there.
5. ROOMMATE - Take a photo with your roommate (if you have more than one roommate, you can take a photo with all or one).
6. CLASS - Take a photo in front of a building where you have a class or take it of you in class. If you get a photo of you and your professor together, you can get paid $10 for this photo (or if you go to office hours - take a photo to impress your mom and dad - that would also pay $10).
7. SWAG - Take a photo of you wearing some School Swag
8. DOING LAUNDRY - No explanation needed.
9. NEW FRIEND - Take a photo of you and a new friend (“new friend” is defined as someone you met this semester)
10. YOUR FAVORITE STUDY SPOT - Take a photo at the place where you would actually choose to study or a photo of you actually studying.
11. NEVER DONE BEFORE - It could be anything from trying a new restaurant to going to a campus event to learning something new.
12. CAMPUS EVENT - Take a photo at a school event, club meeting, student activity or other campus event.
13. FIND SOMETHING WEIRD - Take a photo of something on campus that makes you stop and think, "Why is THAT on my campus?”
14. EXERCISE - Take a photo of you exercising (not walking to class but almost anything else will count if you are MOVING your body).
15. LIVING SPACE - Take a photo of your bed fully made that isn’t a photo from move-in day (remember, photos are from September 2nd or later). Or a photo of you cleaning your kitchen space. Or a photo of you cleaning your bathroom.
16. ROOM FAVORITE - Take a photo of your favorite thing in your room that was a surprise to you that you’d enjoy it so much.
17. CHURCH - Take a photo of you attending church or a church-related event in the next three weeks (cannot be the same photo that you use for #12).
18. LABOR DAY - This is your first day OFF from class. Take a photo of something not school related today. This photo can only be submitted on Labor Day, so don’t forget!
19. BROTHERS - Take a photo together, even if it’s an unplanned run-in on campus.
20. MAKE US JEALOUS - Take a picture of something you're doing that makes Mom & Dad wish they were in college again. 😂
We have two boys at the same college. One boy was all in on this and earned $85. The other son earned $5. Ha! So, it won't work as well for some students as it will for others. However, we loved getting the photos and hope to plan something like this in the future. From what our friends say, boys just aren't as good about communicating while in college. This helped!
