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Scavenger hunts set for Northern Panhandle towns

At this time of summer, with the new school year still weeks away, it’s not uncommon for parents of teens and pre-teens to hear the familiar phrase, “I”m bored.”

“There’s nothing to do. It’s something we hear a lot,” said Rita Hawkins of the Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Center, who has worked with the agency’s youth council to stage an event next week that could be described as a cross between a scavenger hunt and television’s “Amazing Race.”

Open to area residents of all ages, the event will challenge participants to solve riddles leading to five locations in each of five cities: Chester on Monday, Follansbee on Tuesday, Weirton on Wednesday, Wellsburg on Thursday and New Cumberland on Friday.

Visitors to each site must perform a given task, then post a picture on social media to receive the clue to their next location. The individual or team that completes the last task will receive a DVD copy of “Alice in Wonderland” and another prize in keeping with the hunt’s “Wonderland” theme.

There also will be smaller prizes for all participants.

Hawkins said individuals or teams of up to five members may participate in as many of the hunts as they choose.

Held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the hunts will begin at the Lynn Murray Memorial Public Library in Chester, Follansbee Branch Library, Mary H. Weir Public Library in Weirton, Brooke County Public Library in Wellsburg and Swaney Memorial Public Library in New Cumberland.

The cost to participate in each hunt is $5 per person and $15 per team, with proceeds going to efforts by the Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network to educate the public, particularly youth, about the dangers of drug abuse.

Individuals and teams may register for each hunt at 5:30 p.m. that day or online at www.brookehancockfrn.org/wonderland.

Hawkins said each hunt could make for a fun family outing but the stops also are close enough to each other that a driver shouldn’t be needed for teens and pre-teens to reach them on their own.

She expressed thanks to library officials and leaders of the five cities who suggested public places of interest to serve as destinations.

Hawkins said the idea of a scavenger hunt was suggested by the Family Resource Network’s Youth Council. Comprised of youth in Brooke and Hancock counties, ages 12-21, the group is involved in producing public service ads and other measures aimed at reducing drug addiction.

For information about the group or the scavenger hunts, call (304) 748-7850.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

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