Houstonfest - Scavenger Hunt Rules

News and Updates

Contest promo video #1 (students from one school tell why they love contest)

Contest promo video #2 (one student tells why she loves contest)

Contest promo video #3 (hilarious 2024 State-winning submission from our own Klein Oak High School!)

Contest promo video #4 (2025 State-winning submission from Cedar Ridge High School)

Contest promo video #5 (fun 2026 State-winning submission from our own Jordan High School!)

Important Dates

Mon., Jan. 11, 2027, 4:00 p.m.: Provided we receive funding from the Houston Saengerbund, the application for transportation grants opens; link will be sent to teachers.

Fri., Jan. 15, 2027, 11:59 p.m.: Transportation-grant application closes.

Wed., Jan. 20, 2027, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for regular price of $15/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/1).

Wed., Jan. 27, 2027, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for late price of $20/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/1).

Sat., Jan. 30, 2027, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual Houstonfest events due (get the link to the Google Form from your teacher).

Mon., Feb. 1, 2027: deadline to postmark payment for registration fees (or pay electronically).

Tue., Feb. 2, 2027, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual Houstonfest events ends.

Wed., Feb. 3, 2027, 10:00 p.m.: Houstonfest changes (adds, drops, substitutions) due. After this point, no more changes will be allowed.

Sat., Feb. 6, 2027: Houstonfest, Heights High School, Houston.

Fri., Feb. 12, 2027, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for regular price of $15/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/xx).

Wed., Feb. 17, 2027, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for late price of $20/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/xx).

Sat., Feb. 20, 2027, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual State events due (get the link to a Google Form from your teacher). Also, Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship and Sandra Dieckman GTHS Memorial Scholarship applications due (to submit an application, get the link to a Google Form from your teacher).

Mon., Feb. 22, 2027, 8:00 p.m.: Entries in State promotional video contest due (link to submission form typically emailed to teachers 1-2 weeks in advance).

Tue., Feb. 23, 2027, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual State events ends.

Sat., Feb. 27, 2027: Texas State German Contest, Texas State University, San Marcos.

Sat., Mar. 6, 2027, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest Scholarship applications due.

Sun., Mar. 14, 2027: Gail Cope State Scholarship applications due (link to application form is typically sent to teachers a few days after State contest).

between Fri., Jan. 1 and Fri., Apr. 30, 2027: submit Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications.

Rules: Scavenger Hunt

Entry Limit: 1 team per school; 2 to 4 contestants (4 is highly recommended); a team may have 1 upper-level student (German III or above) IF the team consists of 4 members but NOT if the team consists of 2 or 3 members, and no advantaged speakers may be on a team.

Time Limit: The time limit for both parts combined is 1 hour. Teams may split their time between Parts One and Two in any way, but 35 minutes for Part One and 25 minutes for Part Two are recommended. Time Penalties: For each team member who exceeds the 1-hour time limit up to 5 minutes, 20 points will be deducted from their quiz score. If any team member exceeds the time limit by more than 5 minutes, the entire team will be disqualified.

There are TWO parts to the event. Team members will work together on Part One but individually on Part Two. All team members must be present for all of both parts. Each team should have at least one SmartPhone or tablet (iPad, etc.) with a digital QR-code reader app already installed, but it is recommended that each team member have their own such device along with earbuds or headphones.

Part One: Follow written German directions to find four QR codes posted around the contest venue. At each of the four stations, teams will use their devices to access a video (max. 3 minutes per video). All team members should view all videos. (See General Instructions for more details.) Total video running time is about 12 minutes.

Part Two: Each team member will complete a written quiz independently. The quiz will have 4 multiple-choice questions and 1 question requiring a written German response based on each of the 4 videos that have been viewed (20 items total). The questions are in German. (See General Instructions for more details.) All team members' scores will be averaged to obtain the team's final score.

Download General Instructions.

Download helpful vocabulary.

Download critique sheet.