Inaugural Scavenger Hunt Raises
$55,000 for the Center

On August 21st, more than 100 amateur sleuths gathered in Ketchum to compete in the inaugural Lee Pesky Learning Center Scavenger Hunt.  For two hours, participants honed their teamwork and word association skills as they raced around the city by foot, talking to local merchants and Ketchum residents.  Armed with a list of 64 Ketchum businesses and the phone number of a help line, 21 teams searched for the solutions to ten challenging clues. 

Each team began their search with a different clue and, once they found the person in the store representing the “solution” to their clue, received their next puzzle.  Some teams split up to conduct their search, communicating with the other members by cell phone.  Others decided to skip the clue solving process altogether, instead running from business to business in search of the volunteers giving out clues.  And others meticulously discussed potential solutions before approaching stores.  Despite their different strategies – and occasional frustration with the clues – most hunters agreed that the Scavenger Hunt should return to Ketchum next year.  One participant remarked, “Thank you for holding a fundraising event that was actually fun.”

Only two teams solved all ten clues in the time allowed.  And the winning team of Mats and Sonya Wilander, J.B. and Gwen Rogers, and Leigh and James Everitt finished the hunt without consulting the help line.  The second place team of Wendy Jaquet, Ruth Lieder, Ollie Cossman, Norma Douglas and Jamie and Jim Dutcher crossed the finish line just a few minutes after the winning team.  The winners were recognized and provided with champagne for their efforts.

At the conclusion of the hunt, 170 weary sleuths and Center supporters mingled at the Community School in Sun Valley for a barbeque and auction.  Part-time Ketchum resident Saul Turteltaub, a well-known comedy writer, auctioned off twelve unique items including trips, pieces of art, and a Yamaha motor scooter.   At the conclusion of the day’s festivities, $55,000 was raised for the Lee Pesky Learning Center.

The idea for a unique fundraiser surfaced at the Center’s 2001 Board Retreat when member Ariel Blair suggested a scavenger hunt.  Development Director Elise Lufkin researched the idea by recruiting a team to compete in Jayson Wechter’s Chinese New Year’s Treasure Hunt, held annually in San Francisco.  The team returned full of ideas and enthusiasm, and Wendy Pesky gathered a committee of board members and Ketchum residents to organize the event.  Despite Wendy’s exhaustion, plans are underway for next year’s event.