It was hard to miss the flurry of activity on a sunny Saturday, June 15th, in the Honeoye Falls and Lima Community. It was not unusual seeing teams of families or friends (some in scout shirts) running from business to business and park to park gathering items or taking photos for points for the inaugural Honeoye Falls Community Scavenger Hunt. The hunt was hosted by Troops 10 and 410 based out of Honeoye Falls. These Troops are a sponsored program from the Honeoye Falls-Mendon Rotary.
The 21 registered teams hiked up and down the streets of Honeoye Falls and Lima solving clues and gathering items (or pictures). The crazier or more creative the teams’ photos were the more points were awarded. “The hunt was so much fun,” said Roberta Spezzano laughing.
Spezzano and her team of five were among the 21 teams vying for prizes in the hunt. The hunt included getting items like anything from a roll of toilet paper to a picture with a State Trooper, Robert Hoyt, in Lima doing something creative (her team actually had a video of them playing Duck, Duck, Goose with Trooper Hoyt) to reenacting a Kung-Fu Battle to Bowling at Miller Lanes. Spezzano adds that “[She] enjoyed the time with [her] family doing something different and [they] can’t wait until next year.”
The event was organized by Honeoye Falls based Troops 10 and 410 with the assistance from their parent organization – the Honeoye Falls – Mendon Rotary. “We needed an event that reflected the fun that scouting can be while including families in our community that was outdoors,” said David Knab, the Scoutmaster for Troop 10 and an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 410. Knab added that the event was the brainchild of a committee created to help with fundraising for both troops while involving the community at-large (both businesses as sponsors and teams as participants).
Each participating team paid to enter the Scavenger Hunt and ended the afternoon with a pizza party at Miller Lanes. During the pizza party each team had many chances to win prizes such as a large screen TV, family board games and a family of four season pass to the Rochester Museum and Science Center.
“(The Scavenger Hunt) is outside, family oriented and just plain fun” said Mark Spezzano. Spezzano is the Chartered Organization Representative who acts as a liaison between Troops 10, 410, Pack 10 and the Rotary. Spezzano also was a co-chair of the Scavenger Hunt Committee along with Don Knab. Spezzano adds that “we put a lot of thought and excitement into the hunt in order to get the community as a whole to benefit each other – businesses, scouts and families of the greater Honeoye Falls community. And by looking at all the great photos with smiling families – we think it was mission accomplished!” Spezzano adds that “we hope to have an even bigger crowd next year having just as much fun and to make this an annual event.”
Finally, Spezzano adds that the Scouts and the Scavenger Hunt Committee would like to thank the following sponsors for their financial (or in-kind) assistance to make this a successful event: New Horizons of the Genesee Valley, Inc., Miller Lanes, Dunkin’ Donuts, Canandaigua National Bank, Five Star Bank, Southco, Mendon Mental Health, MHFL Sentinel, Copy Town Enterprise, Townline Garage, Mason Lodge #320, American Precision Construction, Pinehurst Senior Living, Pittsford Credit Union, Weiders’ Ace Hardware, Odonata Sanctuary, Dr. Barry Kissick, Alex Greenspon – TD Ameritrade, Sheldon Boyce – Attorney, Bartnett Marine Services, Corby’s Collision, Oasis Pool & Spa, T&L Excavation and Paving, and a special thanks to the NY State Trooper Robert Hoyt, from the Lima Substation, for allowing many zany photos and videos taken with him throughout the day!
