Treasure Hunt Sprucelands Style

Friday evening we had a challenging evening program. The staff asked me to plan out one of my age-old treasure hunts and so plan a treasure hunt is what I did. Great fun on a Friday night.

It took me a week to put the hunt together because there were ten teams and ten clues. The clues were rhymes I wrote and they were placed in envelopes at ten different locations in camp. Each team consisted of 4-5 individuals who were handed their first clue and then progressed from there. The first clues of course sent all ten teams to a different place.

We started at 7:30 instead of 8:00 p.m. Everyone was supposed to report back to the lodge by 9:00 p.m. even if they didn't finish. Darkness is an issue this time in the summer.

Because I wanted the treasure hunt to coincide with our Seussical theme, some of Dr. Seuss's favorite sayings were included with the clues, and the end event was an ice cream social with Julie singing "Anything is Possible" from Seussical. Interestingly, all teams were busy until 9 p.m.

If you're a camper wanting to know a few of the clues, I will share. See if you can figure these out on your own. I'll put the answers at the end of this post. Of course, they'll only work if you know your way around Sprucelands. Have fun. Go on your own hunt right here. Nope. No tips. Giggle. Giggle.

(1) Colored flowers near white/Eileen's path and to the right/ You'll see a picket sight/That points upward at night. Hmmm....tell me where that takes you.

(2) Crafts and beads and games are fun/Long and brown with seats for you/This is a cool place for everyone/Especially if you have a trunk. Tee hee hee. Get it?

(3) Reaching for the sky/I listen to you play/And stand tall/Ready to catch/Whatever you toss my way. Now that one is simple, don't you think?

(4) I'm alone for another year/Feeling sad and abandoned/Wish the kids loved me/And my little critters/'Cause I love them. Not hard really, but easier if you were here in 3rd or 4th session.

(5) Sometimes I get hot/I hear challenges that warm/Our hearts and souls/There's talk of making a difference/For little and big, young and old. This riddle tricked many. Can you get it?

(6) I am big/I am smart/I open my stall/And I have a sign/On a tree/That celebrates me. I dare you to figure this one out in a hurry. Where would you go first?

(7) Once upon a time/I was a horse at Sprucelands/Now I have a cabin that guards a famous trail/So all who pass me by are safe. I love these, don't you?

(8) Roses are red, violets are blue/I'm in the village that once was Pooh. I quietly watch over/Campers who sleep/or sometimes I see/you sing and eat.

(9) In an emergency/I stand ready for you/Sometimes Flirty helps me. Other times Hill Parents linger about. Now you should get this one in a jiffy.

(10) Jump, jump, jump./High, high, higher./I'm talking #1 here./A standard for kids/Who trust enough/To reach the stars.

So let me know if you figured them out. I'll be interested to hear what you think. As a result of my riddles and the clues given on Wednesday night for the cookout, we asked our Trail Pace riders to write a riddle Saturday morning as they were doing their trail pace ride. Made the ride a bit interesting actually.

Well, I know you want the clue answers. See if you figured them out. (1) White picket fence at Eileen's house; (2) Horton's Hut; (3) basketball nets on tennis court; (4) Dolly's Dollhouse which has no campers in it 4th session; (5) Fireplace in the lodge; (6) Boomer's Boys sign on boys hill; (7) Jaime's cabin, General's View; (8) Rose Bed Cabin in lower village; (9) Emergency Doors by Jaime's desk in the lodge; (10) Jump standard in Ring #1 at the barn.

How did you do? Was it fun? We had an awesome time running around camp. Everyone liked the treasure hunt, even me, because I got to watch the adventure and give tips on the clues.