A selection of scavenger hunt team photos.
Marketing scavenger hunt creatively engages students
Introducing new methods of collaboration and learning into the classroom is one of the many ways Ivy College of Business professors go above and beyond. A perfect example of this is Peg Mattison, lecturer in marketing, introducing scavenger hunts into her curriculum.
In addition to her role at Ivy, Mattison is a small marketing business owner and a member of the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce, near Des Moines, Iowa. Through her work, she is constantly finding ways to think outside the box on new methods to find and market clients.
“I got the idea through seeing all the scavenger hunt social media posts from my son’s music program at Southwestern Community College,” said Mattison. “It was a way to have the students bond and get to know each other since they were going to be collaborating throughout the school year.”
The activity was easily transferable to her Marketing 3610: Social Media Marketing Strategy course, making for a perfect addition to the curriculum.
“It’s an effective way to encourage team building and strategizing how to organize the photos with the variety of different spots in the Gerdin Business Building,” said Mattison. “In the marketing world, we are always using points that clients want to be featured on their social media and online presence.”
The first scavenger hunt took place at the beginning of the semester. Students were split into randomly assigned teams and assigned various destinations at which they would have to take a group photo. Extra credit was offered to the first group to complete the assignment, creating a fun and collaborative effort and making for the perfect introductory exercise.
“Being able to do activities like scavenger hunts makes classes more engaging and interactive,” said Leah Channell, a junior honors student in marketing and management. “It’s a fun break from the typical structure and helps us get to know each other better!”
The activity also laid a foundation for the course, introducing students to collaborative social media discussion. Students were tasked with posting the photos online utilizing a social media platform of their choosing, and the group with the most likes also received extra credit.
“I had a lot of fun participating in this scavenger hunt with my group. It helped me engage in a way that applied what we’ve been learning in class. It also helped me see how social marketing concepts work in real-life situations, like teamwork and communication. It definitely made the class experience fun and exciting.”
— Kayla Bulseco
Stemming from the success of the first scavenger hunt, Mattison decided to incorporate another one into the course, this time with a more centralized focus. Students were tasked with using CapCut (a free video editing platform) to develop an engaging video using the photos from their scavenger hunt, which they then posted to TikTok.
Once again, the group that received the most likes was awarded extra credit.
By holding all groups to a common platform, the focus was put on the ability of the students to create an engaging piece of media. Imitating the work of social media professionals, this collaborative effort provided a real-world experience for students and allowed them to utilize what they had been learning in the course.
“It was great to see the growth and team building between the two hunts,” said Mattison. “I appreciate their hard work and willingness to collaborate on these assignments. Most of all, I am hopeful they had a fun and memorable learning experience.”
These types of activities help make the learning experiences special for students and often allow them to develop a deeper understanding of the material.
“I had a lot of fun participating in this scavenger hunt with my group. It helped me engage in a way that applied what we’ve been learning in class,” said Kayla Bulseco, a sophomore in marketing. “It also helped me see how social marketing concepts work in real-life situations, like teamwork and communication. It definitely made the class experience fun and exciting.”
See more images from the scavenger hunt on LinkedIn.
A bright future ahead
What you learn in the classroom will help you shine outside it, help you with internship opportunities, and prepare you for a bright future, no matter which area of marketing you specialize in.
June 11, 2025
