Large Scale Treasure Hunt Achievement Party, AKA My Former Students Dress Up in Sweet Costumes and No One Can Figure Out Who They Are

For our last achievement party of the year, we chose a treasure hunt.  First, the students were put into groups and took tests to see which group could score the highest.  The highest scoring group got to leave the school first, followed two minutes later by the second highest scoring group, etc., until all six groups had run to their cars and received their first clue from their teacher/driver.  Each group had already read instructions on safety and politeness which they were to follow the entire night.

Then, they were off.  There were seventeen sets of envelopes at different locations all around our little borough of Terre Hill and East Earl township, including "someone at Martin's Trailside who needed  help with her car."  


My favorite clue was inside the Shady Maple Gift Shop.  They were instructed to go to the chocolate candy counter and ask for "The Best Box of Chocolate That You Have."  Each group received a real box of chocolate with the clue inside.  That clue told them to go upstairs to the foyer of the buffet, and to get their next clue from someone that they knew.  What they didn't know was that the people they knew were dressed up like two old ladies.  It took one group over ten minutes to figure it out.


















At Weaver's Store in Fivepointville, they were instructed to buy the "donut special" at the cafe.  As my carload of students drove off to get our next clue, I handed a donut out the window to our principal as our cars passed in the parking lot.  The students were running around and laughing, and we were too.



 Inside Good's Store they also had to find someone they knew to get their clue.  At one point three groups were inside the store and none of the students could find them.  Two of my students from last year were dressed up like Old Order Mennonites ladies.  (We live in a large Anabaptist community with all different flavors of Amish and Mennonites.)   


  One of the clues was under a lilac bush in a huge nursery. 

  

  
The hunt ended at the Terre Hill Park where some of my amazing students' amazing parents had a picnic prepared with red and white checkered tablecloths and flowers on the tables.  It was lovely and yummy. 




 
We played games and enjoyed each others' company for a few hours.  It was a great way to celebrate good grades at the end of the year.   Everyone who helped with the evening was invited to the picnic -- even the old ladies.   



























Here is how some of my ninth grade helpers are usually dressed. 
The two old ladies are on the left, and the two Old Order Mennonite ladies are on the right.  
     Thanks to Susanna Nolt, art teacher extraordinaire, for taking most of these pictures and driving, to Miss Fisher and Miss Kaitlyn for driving, and to Sensenig's Auto, Good's Store, Weaver's Store and Cafe, Conestoga Nursery, Eby's General Store, the Terre Hill Restaurant, the Ringlers, the Horsts, Martin's Trailside, and Martin's Flooring for letting us put clues somewhere inside your establishments.  And, I cannot forget our super helpers, Briana Nolt and Sarah Martin (the two old ladies), Maria Martin and Ariana Weaver (the horse and buggy Mennonite ladies), Danon Rutt, Adrik Burkholder, Mary Swanson, Kalynn Burkholder, Angela Sensenig, and Rachel and Earl Martin. 
From the 7th and 8th grade teachers--
Mr. Caleb, principal Mr. Dervin Martin, and me (Deana Swanson)