Scavenger hunt presented in downtown Elkins by Our Town – The Inter-Mountain
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ELKINS — More than 40 children and their families helped celebrate West Virginia’s 159th birthday by taking part in a Scavenger Hunt in downtown Elkins.
The event, which was spearheaded by Our Town Inc., allowed those participating to learn more about the state of West Virginia, and receive some gifts along the way. Each prize handed out included a written description of its significance in relation to the Mountain State.
The scavenger hunt began when participants picked up bags donated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Each bag contained pencils, fishing lures and plastic fish, all which represented recreational activities in the state.
“Smokey the Bear” offered a warm welcome to those taking part in the hunt, and representatives from the U.S. Forest Service handed out bookmarks and pencils to the children.
Volunteer Cindy Stemple provided clues for the scavenger hunt that featured 11 different locations around the downtown area. At each stop children were given something to add to their goody bag.
“We would like to give a special thanks to Cindy Stemple for presenting this idea to the group and making it a reality,” Our Town volunteer Bobbi Trimiboli said. “A great appreciation also goes to all merchants, donors and participating individuals, plus Smokey the Bear and his friends from the U.S. Forest Service.”
Businesses taking part in the hunt included: Guilty Pleasures Sweet Shop (gave sugar maple candy to represent the state tree and state maple syrup industry); Wyld Lyfe Apothecary (gave monarch butterfly magnets to represent state butterfly); the Elkins Sewing Center (gave West Virginia State Flags; Fancy Paws (gave “coal” cookies to represent the coal industry); Byrd’s House of Donuts (gave honey sticks to represent the state insect, the honey bee); the Welcome Center and Train Depot (gave West Virginia postcards and train decals; Delmonte Market (provided pepperoni rolls to represent the state sandwich); the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA (gave salt packets to represent the salt industry in the Kanawha Valley — donated by the J.Q. Dickenson Salt-Works) and (WV State Seal Pins donated by Priscilla Gay); Dollar General (gave marbles to represent the glass industry — donated by Marble King, Inc, Paden City); and Seven Performance (Gace Golden Delicious apples re represent state apple — donated by Vickie Keller).
Each hunter also had the opportunity to have their photo taken with City of Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco on the steps of City Hall, where West Virginia minted quarters donated by Davis Trust Company were handed out. At the end of the hunt, all the participants returned to the former Henry G’s location on Third Street for a birthday cupcake baked and designed by Guilty Pleasures Sweet Shop.