Scavenger Hunt 2002

Friday, June 14, 2002 at 5pm through Saturday, June 15, 2002 at 6pm

Before the Event

Here you will find the list of things to look for during the Tenth Annual Greater New York Mensa Scavenger Hunt. ‘The Scavenger List' will be revealed only after 5:00 PM on Friday, June 14, 2002.
Refreshing this page at that time (click your browser's refresh button) will call up the updated page with the new rules and this year's List.

Contact Greg Draves at greg.draves@gnym.org to reserve your place in GNYM Scavenger Hunt history. May the best new team win!

refer to past events

The 2000 Scavenger Hunt

The 1999 Scavenger Hunt

During the Event

Good Hunting!
Scroll down for The Scavenger List!

The Rules

This year's Scavenger List contains 15 items created in, inspired by, or related to the finishing date of this year's Hunt, June 15. Some will be easy to find, some hard, and some absurd. Remember, you are not expected to have every item, and the idea is to have fun. We're looking for a healthy mixture of frustration and laughter here.

1. Teams will consist of 1 to 5 Hunters. At least one member of each team must be a current member in good standing of Greater New York Mensa. Non-members are welcome to participate, but only teams including a member are eligible to win.

2. Each date on the list is followed by a description of the item(s) that we will accept for credit. Some descriptions are narrow; others are broad. Within the scope of each description, we encourage creativity and lateral thinking. Puns and humor may triumph where brute force fails, especially if no team can supply the precise item required.

3. You may bring several items to try to get credit for a single date. If you're not sure that a given item fills the requirements, bring backups. In no case will credit be given more than once for matching a single item.

Special Note: For dates stating “An Item Which No Other Team Has Brought,” credit will only be given if a team can show an item that no other team has. If more than one team presents the same (or sufficiently similar) item, then all items of that description presented by any team will not count for credit.

4. Definitions:

a) Prerecorded means just that - when purchased the media in question must have already contained the required content. Proof of this will be ascertained by examining the packaging or labeling of the item.

b) Pre-existing means that the item was not created or prepared for the purposes of this Hunt. It must have existed in its submitted form prior to the start of the Hunt.

c) 3-D means, "not flat." When a 3-D item is requested, no flat representation will be accepted. Books, magazines, and newspapers do not count as 3D, as the pages are flat. Likewise, silk-screened or otherwise printed clothing is not 3D, as the printing/silk-screening is flat. A physical object is acceptable - any type of printing on that object is not.

d) Original means no reproductions. You must bring a professionally created or printed item, not a photocopy or replica. When a creator is specified, an original must be an item created by the specified person or group.

5. Computer printouts will not be accepted for any item for any reason. No exceptions!

6. If a date lists more than one item, all items listed must be provided to receive credit.

7. Scoring. Some items are clearly more difficult than others, but some are easier than they seem, and some harder. Nevertheless, all dates are of equal value. Each successfully satisfied date is worth one point, unless otherwise marked.

8. Decisions of the judges are, as always, arbitrary, capricious, and final.

Greetings Hunters

This is a message meant for those who intend to attend the dinner / judging party at the end of this year's GNYM Scavenger Hunt. Some of you are hunting, some just observing what is always a really fun affair. Here's the details.

The dinner party will begin at 8:00 PM on Saturday June 15, 2002. We'll be meeting at the:

See you there!

Past Events

Want to know more about the "Coveted Godfrey Award"? Well, its unique origins and history are explained at each year's closing dinner, so we hope to see you next time!

The 2000 Scavenger Hunt

The 1999 Scavenger Hunt

For pictures of Mensans at play
visit the Greater New York Mensa
Photo Album

Scavenger Hunt 2002

Friday, June 14, 2002 at 5pm through Saturday, June 15, 2002 at 6pm

"June 15 in History"

(created by Greg Draves, Leon Feingold, Stacey Greenberg, Ryan Martin)

The Scavenger List:

_____   1. June 15, 1215 - King John of England agrees to the Magna Carta, beginning the English tradition that even the sovereign is subject to the rule of law.
A legible copy of the Magna Carta, written in Old English.

_____   2. June 15, 1752 - Benjamin Franklin performs his experiment confirming lightning as electricity.
A flight-worthy kite (judges may ask team to prove it flies…!) and an antique metal key. A suitable key will have square teeth and a cylindrical shaft.

_____   3. June 15, 1776 - Delaware declares its separation from England, celebrated now as Separation Day.
Any valid, pre-existing document executed by a court or lawyer in the State of Delaware, which involves separation (to be voted on by all present), i.e. order of separation, divorce, corporate dissolution, restraining order, cease-and-desist letter, etc.

_____   4. June 15, 1836 - Arkansas becomes 25th state.
Any original Arkansas state souvenir.

_____   5. June 15, 1844 - Charles Goodyear patents vulcanization of rubber.
The actual 3D insignia or name from a Goodyear tire. You must bring an actual tire or piece of tire for credit.

_____   6. June 15, 1846 - Oregon Treaty signed, setting US-Canada boundary at 49° N.
Any ticket stub, program, or other original item from any professional game between two sports franchises, at least one of which has in its history been based both in a Canadian and in an American city. BONUS - if BOTH teams meet this description you get an extra point!

_____   7. June 15, 1928 - Hoover is nominated as the Republican candidate for the Presidency.
Any original Herbert Hoover campaign memorabilia.

_____   8. June 15, 1932 - b. Mario Cuomo, politician, Governor of New York (Dem).
Any original document or letterhead issued by the State of New York with former Gov. Mario Cuomo's printed name or signature on it (not added on behalf of Mensans desperate for a point).

_____   9. June 15, 1954 - b. Jim Belushi, Chicago IL, comedian, actor; brother of John.
Any prerecorded movie starring Jim Belushi THAT NO OTHER TEAM HAS BROUGHT.

_____   10. June 15, 1963 - A Japanese song captivated American music buyers and starting today, stayed at the top of the "Billboard" pop chart for three weeks.
Actual performance (sung and/or played) of at least two lines of 'Sukiyaki' by Kyu Sakamoto. No recordings!

_____   11. June 15, 1977 - Spain's first democratic elections in decades are held.
Any original campaign or election material printed solely in Spanish (not bilingual).

_____   12. June 15, 1992 - Vice President Dan Quayle erroneously instructs a Trenton, NJ elementary student to spell "potatoe” during spelling bee.
An original, preexisting, graded, and dated elementary school written spelling test.

_____   13. June 15, 1995 - O.J. tries on leather gloves linked to killings, barely squeezing them onto his hands; tells jury, "They don't fit."
A pair of Isotoner gloves THAT DO NOT FIT ANY MEMBER OF YOUR TEAM.

_____   14. June 15, 1995 - d. John Atanasoff, co- inventor of the first electronic computer with vacuum tubes.
An intact vacuum tube (the electronic type, not the housecleaning kind).

_____   15. June 15, 2000 - Mets and Yankees play 2^nd of 3-game series at Shea Stadium in annual matchup between cross-town rivals.
Any original, official Mets/Yankees '2000 subway series' memorabilia (must have 2000 and both team names and/or logos printed on it).

Tiebreaker: In the event of a tie, the winner will be the team that can produce the oldest government-issued ID showing someone's date of birth as June 15^th. If no ID reads June 15, the one(s) closest to June 15 will be considered.

GOOD LUCK!