Quilt Scavenger Hunt

Suggested Group(s): Young/Middle/Teen

Purpose: To allow the group members to interact with each other and to share their quilt squares in an ongoing group or to discuss quilts in general in an introductory group.

Task/need: Acknowledging the reality of the loss, approaching the pain of the loss

Activity Setup Ideas:

• In an Ongoing Group, begin by having the group members reflect on their quilt experience. Talk about when and how the quilt making happened.
• In an Introductory Group where this activity happens before quilt night, begin by talking about the upcoming quilt night and the need to give thought about what will be included on their quilt squares.

Notes:

• This is a version of the scavenger hunt that can be done with an Ongoing Group who may have done a different scavenger hunt in their Introductory Session. The questions are geared to someone who has completed an Introductory Session.
• Before doing this activity, make sure that the group members’ quilts are still hanging at your site. If not, inquire in advance with staff as to whether they can be available for the evening—if not, it may be best to pass on this activity.
• If used in an Introductory Session, the questions can encourage the group members to consider how families approach the quilt squares and prepare for some of the feelings that may arise during quilt making.

Materials:

• A list of questions drawn from the quilts hanging in your facility (with answers for the facilitators)
• Paper
• Video Camera

Description: Formulate 10 or 12 questions based on the content of the quilts currently hanging in the hallways and Activities Room.

Some general questions may be:

• "How many quilts have borders with the color blue in the Activities Room?"
• "Find the square of the oldest person on the quilt by the fish tank. What hobbies did he/she have?"
• "How many sports fans do you think there were in the quilt square near ______________ (location)?"

Some questions/directions for an Introductory Group may include:

• "How do you think that the family of the people on the quilt by the Expressions Room felt when they heard the news that their family member had died?"
• "How do you think you will feel when completing the quilt square?"
• "Find a quilt square that has something you would like to put on the quilt square for your person who died."
• "Talk as a group about the types of things that you’d like to include."

Some questions/directions for an Ongoing Group may include:

• "Find the location of the quilt squares completed by each member of your group."
• "Discuss how each family completed the square."
• "Talk about the feeling that came up when completing the square."
• "Did your quilt squares have anything in common?"

Divide the group into teams if it is a large group. If it is a small group, they can all work together on the answers. Allow them to search the hallways and Activities Room to find the answers to the scavenger hunt questions. Have them write their answers on paper. Be sure to assign volunteers to assist with the process and be available for support, safety and to facilitate discussion during the hunt.

Digital Addition: Each group can use a video camera to document their scavenger hunt. Allow them to use the camera to film their answers, instead of writing them down. Review the hunt by watching the filmed answers of each group and discussing what items they found that were similar and what ones where different along with their reactions.

Activity Wrap Up Ideas:

• Ask how the experience went.
• Was it difficult?
• Were there any commonalities in the quilts?
• Thank the group for sharing.