Safe, fun family treasure hunts and more!
This way, Matey!
Captain Evie and First Mate Sawyer
Ahoy, Matey! Welcome to HoCo Pirate Adventures!
First and foremost, please join our crew on Facebook! This is where all the information will be put out for hunts and other activities!
Every month, a roughly 1-mile path somewhere in Howard County, Maryland transforms into a trail of clues left by Captain Evie and First Mate Sawyer - the most cunning pirates on the high seas - and leads to adventure and treasure for kids of all ages!
You start with a print-it-yourself mission and map, and end with treasure and memories that will last a lifetime! Just follow the directions on the map, look for the clues hidden along the trail, use problem-solving and critical thinking skills to decipher the codes, and end at a secret treasure chest! We provide two levels of clues - one for the little mates who swab the deck (ages 3-7) and those who square the sails and trim the sheets (ages 8 and over).
The trail is available for approximately 10 days every month, April through December. You can go on the hunt at any time during daylight hours while the hunt is open - no reservations or time slots! We strongly encourage dressing in your favorite pirate costumes or HoCo Pirate Adventures gear and taking lots of photos to share on our Facebook page.
Thanks for stopping by. May you have fair winds and following seas!
We are a 501c3 non-profit organization and donate to a local, Howard County charity or organization every month! #PiratesGiveBack
EIN: 87-1566910
$5.00 PER FAMILY (or more), $20.00 PER ORGANIZATION (up to 20 pirates)
GIVE A LITTLE EXTRA TO SUPPORT THE HUNTS AND THE CREW - PAY WHAT YOU WANT AT CHECKOUT!!
AVAILABLE MAY 13th through MAY 22nd at dusk! You can do the hunt 24/7 between those dates - no reservations or scheduling!
The Spring weather is calling all young pirates to adventure! And what do pirate's love?!?! COOKIES! What else do they love? The open sea! So we'll get as close as we can by hunting around two giant ponds! Beware the sleeping sea monsters - it be best not to wake them! Avoid the notice of the dreaded, hissing cobra chickens! Seek out the five clues and test your knowledge of polychromatic integration! Brave the rickety planks of Octopus Dock and Sea Monster Lookout! Investigate the Old Oak for clues! Batten Down Bridge doesn't share it's secrets with just anyone - will you reveal what it's hiding?
This hunt is in Sewell's Orchard close to Jeffers Hill Elementary School and Blandair Park. There is no prescribed path for this hunt - pirates can navigate to the clues in any way they wish! Test their critical thinking skills to see if they can plan the most efficient route! The hunt is of variable length, depending on the route you take, but shouldn't be much over a mile and could be much less. It is very flat and all on paved trails or wooden docks, so strollers and wheelchairs will do just fine! Please keep a respectful distance from the Canadian geese and their goslings - they are...unpleasant.
If you're able, please consider bringing a trash bag and gloves to clean up a few pieces of litter along the way. Let's leave these neighborhoods better than we found them! #ProjectReiner
The best way to get started is to join our Facebook Group - all the information and announcements will be put out there! As a bonus, we have an amazing community of people that are happy to help new crew members!
Get the "How To Do A HoCo Pirate Treasure Hunt!" guide in the store for all the nitty-gritty details on the hunts.
Please help support the treasure hunts! There are several ways to make sure these hunts stay great:
Invite all of your friends, family, and neighbors to our Facebook Group or share our Facebook Page with them!
Give us five stars and a glowing review on Google!
When buying the monthly hunt, choose the "Pay What You Want" option and give a few extra dollars to keep the treasure chest full!
Send us treasure from our Amazon Wishlist or Oriental Trading Company Wishlist: We keep the list updated throughout the year to reflect special events and holidays. You can suggest new items in the Facebook group too!
Donate via PayPal: Always helpful and always appreciated!
Purchases and Tips: The store on this site sells the monthly hunts, "Anytime Adventures", and HoCo Pirate Adventures merchandise (Booty!). On some items you can “Pay What You Want” for any amount! (Tips keep ya from havin' to walk the plank!)
HOCO Pirate Treasure hunts provided a safe, fun, and educational adventure outside! Our kids (ages 6.5 and 3.5 now) LOVED doing this last spring, summer, and fall. With different levels of difficulty, both kids could actively participate! They’re anxiously awaiting the next hunt!
The Pirate Treasure Hunts are well thought out and so much fun, even for me the parent! From the Facebook group, to the printable map, the actual hunt and treasure box with prizes at the end. Each treasure hunt is in a different location, so every hunt is new and different from the last. We are so lucky to be apart of Captain Evie’s crew and look forward to all the adventures to come!!
Capt. Evie’s treasure hunts have been a highlight of the pandemic! We have thoroughly enjoyed exploring new pathways and parks in the county as we follow the clues. The Fuchs family does an amazing job finding routes with fun landmarks and sights along the way. Each month, they have introduced new and creative ideas to keep it fresh. They do this in their spare time and for the benefit of the community — they are the true treasure!