Rogers Education Center begins summer scavenger hunt
The grounds of the Rogers Environmental Education Center are open and every Monday until Labor day they will post a hint for something that can be found in the park for their scavenger hunt. Above, a resident walks into the Rogers' visitor center on Wednesday. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)
SHERBURNE – On June 8, Friends of Rogers announced the start of a new activity for the education center, a summer scavenger hunt.
Every Monday morning up until Labor day, Rogers Environmental Education Center will post a hint for something that can be found in the park. Hunters must take a picture of what they think the answer will be and post it to Facebook with the hashtag #RogersScavengerHunt2020. The group will then announce the answer each Sunday evening.
Executive Director Simon Solomon said that as the hunt progresses, they will start to offer intensives for participating.
"As we progress through June, July, and August we will begin to offer incentives for uploading or tagging photos of the answer to our various social media outlets. This being our first week we are evaluating the interest behind the hunt."
Based upon interest and community participation the education enter may opt to continue into the fall.
"Nobody really knows how long this pandemic will last therefore we are in the midst of trying to set ourselves up for success in the future by being ready for whatever the upcoming fall and winter brings," said Solomon.
The hunt is geared toward anyone who has access and the ability to get to Rogers Center.
"The general public as a whole, youth, teens, young adults, seniors, birders, you name it should go on an adventure at Rogers. If you enjoy a natural hunt follow the clues and come explore property. Just today I witnessed three snapping turtles the size of a car hood cross my path, so even if you don't find this week's answer you'll see something neat," said Solomon.
Due to COVID-19 Rogers Environmental Education Center has had to cancel their entire schedule through July. This includes their annual Spring Frolic Fundraiser, the Family Fun Program, and the Story time and Hike series.
The center traditionally hosts over 1,500 children between the months of April and June for school field trips. With schools closed and The Rogers Summer Adventure Camp program canceled, the center hasn't seen the same foot traffic as they typically do in the summer months.
"It was unfortunate when the decision was made to cancel our Rogers Summer Adventure Camp, which is geared toward children ages 3 to 14. We traditionally host 45 children daily Monday through Friday for eight weeks during the summer. With so much uncertainty with protocol and guidelines, social distancing, mask wearing, numbers allowed in the building and having to reach phase 4 before we could even begin the new normal, it just wasn't feasible. Fortunately our organization had goals and initiatives in the works pre-Covid," said Solomon.
"We realized since the Rogers Center property was going to still be accessible to the public, we better alter our approach and promote some form of diverse programing outside of what we typically do. In addition to a list of other program opportunities we are working on virtual school field trip programs, underwater videos of pond life and offering a community scavenger hunt on a weekly basis only seemed natural," he said.
Looking forward, Rogers is looking for ways to continue to provide the public with new opportunities to explore and learn on the property.
"We are continuing to promote the use of the property for families and individuals to get out in nature. The outdoors can act as our classroom even without entry into the Visitor Center. Let's be honest, this is unchartered territory for many of us unless you were doing business back in 1920. Everyone has had to rethink their business model, reevaluate how they operate while continuing to offer their services. The staff and board at Rogers Center are just now at the tip of the iceberg," said Solomon.
"Opening back up the Visitor Center to the public is goal number one and how we will do this in a safe manner for both staff and our guests. After that it's longer term in how we successfully navigate and progress through the remainder of 2020 and 2021. We are thinking long-term fall 2020, what will winter and spring 2021 look like not to mention summer 2021."
Solomon said it's been tough because the center is an event based organization. Many fundraisers have been canceled. However currently the Friends of Rogers organization is currently raffling off a Tesla Model S for just $5 a ticket for $20 for 5 tickets. Tickets will be sold until October 14, 2020.
"The end of 2020 and 2021 will certainly be interesting, hopefully this will only make the Rogers Center organization stronger going forward, time will tell," said Solomon.
The center is looking for volunteers to walk the property and pick up litter, rake leaves, or pick up sticks. If interested in becoming involved, email Simon Solomon at execdir@FriendsofRogers.org or the general email info@FriendsofRogers.org for more information.
Every Monday morning up until Labor day, Rogers Environmental Education Center will post a hint for something that can be found in the park. Hunters must take a picture of what they think the answer will be and post it to Facebook with the hashtag #RogersScavengerHunt2020. The group will then announce the answer each Sunday evening.
Executive Director Simon Solomon said that as the hunt progresses, they will start to offer intensives for participating.
"As we progress through June, July, and August we will begin to offer incentives for uploading or tagging photos of the answer to our various social media outlets. This being our first week we are evaluating the interest behind the hunt."
Based upon interest and community participation the education enter may opt to continue into the fall.
"Nobody really knows how long this pandemic will last therefore we are in the midst of trying to set ourselves up for success in the future by being ready for whatever the upcoming fall and winter brings," said Solomon.
The hunt is geared toward anyone who has access and the ability to get to Rogers Center.
"The general public as a whole, youth, teens, young adults, seniors, birders, you name it should go on an adventure at Rogers. If you enjoy a natural hunt follow the clues and come explore property. Just today I witnessed three snapping turtles the size of a car hood cross my path, so even if you don't find this week's answer you'll see something neat," said Solomon.
Due to COVID-19 Rogers Environmental Education Center has had to cancel their entire schedule through July. This includes their annual Spring Frolic Fundraiser, the Family Fun Program, and the Story time and Hike series.
The center traditionally hosts over 1,500 children between the months of April and June for school field trips. With schools closed and The Rogers Summer Adventure Camp program canceled, the center hasn't seen the same foot traffic as they typically do in the summer months.
"It was unfortunate when the decision was made to cancel our Rogers Summer Adventure Camp, which is geared toward children ages 3 to 14. We traditionally host 45 children daily Monday through Friday for eight weeks during the summer. With so much uncertainty with protocol and guidelines, social distancing, mask wearing, numbers allowed in the building and having to reach phase 4 before we could even begin the new normal, it just wasn't feasible. Fortunately our organization had goals and initiatives in the works pre-Covid," said Solomon.
"We realized since the Rogers Center property was going to still be accessible to the public, we better alter our approach and promote some form of diverse programing outside of what we typically do. In addition to a list of other program opportunities we are working on virtual school field trip programs, underwater videos of pond life and offering a community scavenger hunt on a weekly basis only seemed natural," he said.
Looking forward, Rogers is looking for ways to continue to provide the public with new opportunities to explore and learn on the property.
"We are continuing to promote the use of the property for families and individuals to get out in nature. The outdoors can act as our classroom even without entry into the Visitor Center. Let's be honest, this is unchartered territory for many of us unless you were doing business back in 1920. Everyone has had to rethink their business model, reevaluate how they operate while continuing to offer their services. The staff and board at Rogers Center are just now at the tip of the iceberg," said Solomon.
"Opening back up the Visitor Center to the public is goal number one and how we will do this in a safe manner for both staff and our guests. After that it's longer term in how we successfully navigate and progress through the remainder of 2020 and 2021. We are thinking long-term fall 2020, what will winter and spring 2021 look like not to mention summer 2021."
Solomon said it's been tough because the center is an event based organization. Many fundraisers have been canceled. However currently the Friends of Rogers organization is currently raffling off a Tesla Model S for just $5 a ticket for $20 for 5 tickets. Tickets will be sold until October 14, 2020.
"The end of 2020 and 2021 will certainly be interesting, hopefully this will only make the Rogers Center organization stronger going forward, time will tell," said Solomon.
The center is looking for volunteers to walk the property and pick up litter, rake leaves, or pick up sticks. If interested in becoming involved, email Simon Solomon at execdir@FriendsofRogers.org or the general email info@FriendsofRogers.org for more information.
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