Community scavenger hunt is bigger than ever

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This article was published 07/02/2024 (495 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the calendar flips to February, what has become a local tradition is back and better than ever before thanks to the Steinbach Family Resource Centre and more than two dozen business sponsors.

Jo-Anne Dalton, executive director of the Family Resource Centre, said this year’s event will be more creative, fun and challenging than ever before.

While in the past, the hunt involved activities at every location, this year 25 activities will be part of five different styles of gameplay.

Each of the five games has a prize valued from $700 to $1,000, while a grand prize is valued at $2,500 and is a custom vacation package at Brereton Lake Resort.

Code Red

The Code Red contest takes place at Jake Epp Library. Participants will collect a special magnifying glass from the librarian and use it to reveal five hidden words on game posters located throughout the library.

They use those words to fill out a simple crossword, then unscramble specific letters to reveal a word that represents one of the family resource centre’s values. The resulting code will unlock the ballot box located at the library.

Pup Patrol

This game is all about the coordinates. Participants must enter a set of GPS coordinates and upon arrival at those locations, complete a riddle. When complete a code is generated that will open a ballot box outside the family resource centre.

Whodunnit?

This game operates on the premise that a crime spree has been committed at a series of businesses. Contestants will examine witness testimonies at each location to determine the perpetrator. The board of suspects is in the entrance lobby of Puzzler Escape Rooms.

Completion will result in a code that will open the ballot box outside the family resource centre.

For the Right Price

This game requires participants to find each store’s participating item and enter its price on the game card. A revealed code will open the ballot box outside the family resource centre.

Special Delivery

Five local businesses have a package that needs delivering. Help them achieve that task to receive your combination to unlock the ballot box at the family resource centre.

Last year’s contest resulted in 1,100 entries.

“We’re hoping to see a lot more this year because we think we’ve elevated the gameplay quite a bit,” Dalton said. “It is our biggest fundraiser of the year. The sponsors that come on board, they allow us to do the work that we’re doing.”

It’s also on opportunity to let potential users of the facility know they are there.

“The more people who play and participate and hear about it, the further our message reaches to families who might be in need of these essential programs and services and education we provide,” she said.

As recently as 2019, the Steinbach Family Resource Centre would host a New Year’s Eve gala as a major fundraiser.

In 2020, COVID restrictions made that impossible.

However the City of Steinbach hosted a Manitoba 150 celebration outdoors and the family resource centre created a very simple scavenger hunt which required people to check in on social media.

“It had incredible results,” Dalton said. “Our social media blew up and we thought why not turn this into something bigger?”

Game boards are available at participating businesses and the Steinbach Family Resource Centre.

For more information go to steinbachfrc.ca.