In 2002 the Concord, Assabet, and Sudbury Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council (try fitting that on a business card) thought it would be a good idea to celebrate our local rivers each year with “RiverFest”.
Some bright people in OAR (The Organization for the Assabet River) thought up a way for families to explore the wild and scenic portion of the Assabet River with a bit of a scavenger/treasure hunt by paddling down the river with a map of clues and finding the answers which have been placed along the shoreline.
After an initial survey of the river, followed up by clues written by Ron McAdow (and others), we created the first “Assabet River Quest”. I’ve photographed this event each year (since I need to get down the river a bit to get ready for the participants, I’m also the guy who places the little buckets of stickers along the way — although that means paddling back upstream quite a ways).
It was designed to educate and engage young children, but a woman in her 30’s paddled by me and said “here I am all grown up and I’m excited about a little treasure hunt”. Friends and families having a great time, on a gorgeous day in June, on a beautiful river. It’s hard to take anything but good photos.
To see more, head on over the OAR web site: http://www.assabetriver.org/riverpics/arq2007