Following a successful event with ‘The Trainline’ in 2010, BlueSky Experiences were challenged to come up with an equally exhilarating event for 2011. The solution – a team treasure hunt, run using mobile phone technology, in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
After a morning meeting and lunch, at ‘Our Dynamic Earth’, Holyrood Road, in Edinburgh, the group reassembled in the main conference room, to receive their instructions for the afternoon. The 20 teams, each with 5 – 6 members, and named on a piratical theme (e.g. Long John Silver, Captain Hook), were issued with a mobile phone, a local map, and a ‘Virtually Impossible Treasure Hunt’ booklet. Their challenge – to be the first team to find the solution to defuse the bomb, protecting the treasure.
The teams set off to navigate to around 40 different locations, up and down the Royal Mile. Along the way, they had to answer a variety of questions, either from the booklet, or when prompted to, by their phone. Clues ranged from the historical (‘which King is referenced on the plaque at this location?’), to the more modern (‘what word is missing from this picture, outside the Scottish Parliament?’), to the slightly less serious (‘take a picture of a can of Irn Bru – you have only 2 minutes to do so’). Teams also had to photograph themselves in a variety of poses, at some of the locations. 
With a fixed return time, all teams reassembled at ‘Our Dynamic Earth’ to see who would unlock the treasure. The team who had correctly answered the most questions, were given the first opportunity. Collating information from some of the treasure clues, they successfully defused the bomb, and released the treasure.
And the team who managed to defuse the bomb on time and release the treasure …… team “Tiger Lilly”.
Bill Hopkins, Operations Director commented “The aim was to create a team building event which people of all ages and varying levels of fitness could evenly compete against each other and have fun. The BlueSky treasure hunt successfully achieved both of these goals and provided a guided tour of Edinburgh at the same time. A great success”
