Duluth Scavenger Hunts
Above is KBJR-TV video from the Duluth Citywide Scavenger Hunt of 2004. Last month Scavaganza was put on by Youth for Duluth. What other scavenger hunts can you recall from day’s past?
A few that turn up in the PDD archives are: the Conley Family Scavenger Hunt of 1998, the Big Day Cloquet Scavenger/Treasure Hunt of 2007, the Wacko Yard-art Photo Scavenger Hunt of 2009, the YMCA’s Duluth City Cycling Scavenger Hunt of 2010 and the Rhubarb Festival Smartphone Scavenger Hunt of 2011.
What I can say from my scavenger experiences is that the hunts are fun as hell, but I always am left thinking about the poor suckers who went through all the work to set it up and then can’t be part of it. True sacrifice.
I can also say I’m proud of going from worst to first, having been on the last-place team in the Conley hunt of 1998 and the first-place team in the citywide affair in 2004.
Photojournalist Mark Gartman? And do I hear but not see Lefty?
Indeed. The esteemed Mr. Gartman was once a photojournalist. And the Citywide Scavenger Hunt was put on by Lefty Johnson, Lumpy G and Adam Guggemos.
And Bill Meier. I forgot all about that interview.
My team name was: Easily Intimidated. We amassed 5,012 points.
Somehow we turned in a blue-frosted cake in the shape of Lake Superior for 120 points, though I have no memory of how we did it. Probably one of us called someone and instructed him or her to bake it, then picked it up at the deadline. Or maybe we bought a plain cake and applied frosting in the shape of Lake Superior. I really have no idea.
It was worth 180 points to persuade a Duluth City Councilor to sit in the NorShor Theatre for half an hour. Then-councilor, now-senator Roger Reinert came through in the clutch for us.
I think I was part of that scavenger hunt, when my friend asked me, “Can I borrow a Star Trek uniform?”
No “Do you have a Star Trek uniform I could borrow?”, just the assumption that I did (for the record, I didn’t). However, I was able to send her on her way with a pile of female action figures, so I think it balanced out in the end.
July 13 to 20:
Superior Scavenge: Follow the Flow
Remember when interviews on the local news weren’t close-ups with bad lighting? Or is that just me?