The location. Tillicum House at Ferndale's Pioneer Park,
located at the posted coordinates (near the corner of Front and
Cherry Streets).
The date. Saturday, October 23, 2010, starting at 6:00
p.m.
You'll be on your own for dinner, either before you arrive or as
you roam the town during the evening (you'll pass plenty of
fast-food joints in your travels). Please bring a potluck dessert
item to share afterward as you recount your adventures! This is a
family-friendly event, suitable for all ages and physical
abilities.
Feeling faint of heart? You can hang out at the Tillicum
House and keep Half-Canadian company! There's no charge to come and
enjoy the cozy environs of the event location.
Feeling more adventurous? When you arrive at the Tillicum
House, you'll receive a game card with instructions for your part
in a role-playing game that will involve plenty of high-tech
action. This will work best in teams of four people, though your
team can be as few as two or as many as six people, as you assume
the role of one of several individuals who are trying to solve the
long-ago murder of one of Ferndale's best-loved citizens. You can
either assemble your team ahead of time, or join up with folks at
the event venue if you prefer. There's no cost to partcipate in
this part of the event, either -- just the equipment listed below,
phone airtime or texting charges, and the $5.00 mystery item
purchase.
In order to solve the mystery, you will need to complete all the
items on your game card, which includes finding temporary
geocaches, locating passwords to access special websites
constructed for this event and unlock clues, photographing your
team at various locations around town, and completing a special
mystery challenge project.
Curious what this symbol is? Download
a free QR Reader app to your smart phone and watch the magic
appear! You'll be a step ahead of the competition at the
event.
In order to complete this challenge, your team will need the
following:
- At least one iPhone, Droid, Blackberry or other "smart phone"
that is web-enabled and can send and receive text messages and
photos. You can also use a laptop or netbook and a digital camera,
but you may lose valuable time trying to find the killer if you
have to stop and search for wifi access!
- NEW: If you have a pair of the FRS
short range family "walkie talkies", bring them along! You'll be
able to contact other team members and plan your strategies while
you're underway.
- Warm clothing and footwear, suitable for outdoor sleuthing
after dark.
- A flashlight or headlamp, small notebook, and writing
instrument for each team member.
- A $5.00 bill (or credit card) that you'll use to purchase a
small item during the evening's hunt.
- A vehicle and at least half a tank or so of gas to transport
your team to various locations around Ferndale.
- At least one GPS with a full battery charge
Don't let the lack of a smart phone keep
you from attending the event! We'll make sure that you're paired up
with someone that does have one before the teams leave the event so
that everyone can participate in all the fun!
The first team that returns with the correct proof of the
murderer will receive fabulous prizes! You'll need to return to the
Tillicum House no later than 8:30 p.m., even if you haven't
finished the challenge. If no team completes the entire challenge
by 8:30, the team that has successfully finished the most items on
the game card by 8:30 will be declared the winner. The decision of
the judge(s) will be final!!
From 8:30 - 9:30, you can share your team's adventure stories
while enjoying the potluck dessert items. Hot coffee, cider, plates
and cutlery will be furnished. At 9:30, we'll all pitch in for a
quick clean up and wrap things up at 10:00 p.m.
This high-tech role-playing adventure will be lots of fun!
Everyone is welcome to attend, and new geocachers are especially
welcome! Geocaching events like this are a great way to meet fellow
geocachers in the area, and maybe find a buddy to go caching with!
Please be sure to post a "will attend" note to the cache page --
we'll need to know how many will be coming in order to have enough
game cards and other supplies for everyone!