Small World - Find - 150

Often abundant in urban areas, micros allow for hides where larger containers would not normally fit. Some are "evil," others are an easy find that point out unique locations. Go find one!

Objective:

Locate a micro sized geocache or letterbox.

Details:

1) Locate a micro sized geocache or letterbox.*

The geocaching community calls them "Micros" while letterboxers call them "Microboxes," but in both cases these hides are described as the size of a film can or smaller. While less room for trade items or larger stamps, micros can still bring you to awesome locations and are often hidden in fun, innovative ways. 

Note: This objective should not be overlapped with another objective "find" objective. 

2) Tell us about your experience making the find in the comments below! If applicable, include the geocache/letterbox number. 

3) Document your find with a photo and post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts. Alternatively, you can also share your experience in our Facebook group.

*Not familiar with location based games? Watch this video by Groundspeak about geocaching or read about letterboxing from Atlas Quest. 

Small World - Photography - 100

Macro photography captures images in which the subject is extremely close-up to the camera lens. No matter what tools you use, this objective will have you noticing details that are often overlooked.

Objective:

Capture and share an image that utilizes macro photography.

Details:

1) Watch the above video from Mike Brown for a short introduction to macro photography. If you'd like to go more in depth, this introduction to macro photography from Tim Cooper and B & H is also great.

2) Take a walk around the neighborhood and experiment with macro photography. The more shots you take the better!

3) Share your best macro photo on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts. You can also share your experiences in our Facebook group.

Small World - DIY - 300

Some may call it a terrarium, but isn't it more fun to think of it as your own,  tiny world? What type of world will you create?

Objective:

Make your own "small world" in a bottle.

Details:

1) Gather your supplies! All terrariums are different, so supplies vary. Generally speaking, you'll need the following things:

A Clear Container: Traditional terrariums are sealed, but the definition has (debatably) loosened up over the years. 

Soil and Small Rocks: Layer the small rocks underneath the soil for drainage. Some people also add charcoal to their terrariums.

Moss: You can gather your moss from nature, but be warned- Often times gathering moss from the outdoors means your terrarium will end up harboring bugs. (There are some gross stories out there.) Alternatively, you can grow your own moss! 

Small Plant(s): In addition to moss, many people choose to add small plants to their terrarium. 

Mini Figurines: Adding "inhabitants" to your terrarium takes it from a plant vessel to a "small world." Check out this Star Wars themed terrarium, or this prehistoric terrarium, for inspiration.

2) Assemble your terrarium. If you need some guidance, start with these tutorials from Happy Co Lucky and Amanda Wang. It might also be helpful to check out an instructional book from your local library.

3) Take a photograph of your terrarium and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts. You can also share your experiences in our Facebook group.

Small World - Art - 250

While sometimes thought of as a kid's medium, shrink plastic has the ability to be elevated to the next level. Take this opportunity to push the medium to places you've never taken it before.

Objective:

Create a small work of art using shrink film.

Details:

1) Gather your supplies! You'll need permanent markers and a sheet of shrink plastic. 

2) Create your shrink plastic masterpiece. (Here's a helpful, but slightly cheesy, tutorial.)

If you need inspiration, check out:

State Love Pendants from Doodlecraft

Ghosts from Allison Sommers

Shrink Plastic Ring Bowl from Alisa Burke

and more on Pinterest!

3) Take a photograph of your shrink art and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts. You can also share your art in our Facebook group.

Small World - Visit - 250

Replica [rep-li-kuh]  (noun)

1. a copy or reproduction of a work of art produced by the maker of the original or under his or her supervision.

2. any close or exact copy or reproduction.

Objective:

Locate and visit a three dimensional replica of a building or landscape.

Details:

1) Identify and locate a replica of a building or landscape you'd like to visit.

2) Travel to the replica that you chose. 

3) Document your visit with a photograph and post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts. You can also share your

4) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. What replica did you visit? What level of detail did it contain? 

Small World - Literature - 300

People all over the world have begun taking the curation and loaning of books into their own hands with "Free Little Libraries." Just like their large counterparts, these sidewalk structures host books for anyone to borrow. 

Objective:

Borrow a book from a Little Free Library.

Details:

1) Locate an active Little Free Library you'd like to visit.

2) Visit the Little Free Library you chose.

3) (Optional) Borrow a book from the Little Free Library

4) Take a photo that documents your visit and post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts. You can also share your experiences in our Facebook group.

5) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. Where was your Little Free Library? Who did you visit the library with? What did the library look like? What book, if any, did you borrow? 

Small World - Travel - 300

Most museums curate a wide range of objects focusing on a single theme, like "art," or "history." Then there are those whose singular focus borders on obsessive. Let's go find them!

Objective:

Visit a museum that has a "micro focus."

Details:

1) Identify a museum with a "micro focus." 

A micro is most easily described as focus is a collection of a single item or memorabilia that depicts a single franchise.

Examples include:

Vacuum Cleaner Museum

Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia

Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Museum

The World's Largest Display of Harry Potter Memorabilia

Do your best to keep the heart of this objective in mind when choosing your museum.

2) Visit the "micro focus" museum you chose.

3) Document your visit with a photograph and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts. You can also share your experiences in our Facebook group.

4) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. Be sure to include 3 facts you learned and/or interesting things you saw while at the museum. 

Small World - Literature - 150

When we read to a child we are given to tap into a genre we don't normally frequent as adults. As a bonus, we also help the young person develop a love for reading. So grab a book, grab a kid and get reading!

Objective:

Read a children's book aloud to a small human. (Or to a kid at heart!)

Details: 

1) Find a kid and a good place to read! Remember that even if you don't have any young people in your life, many schools and libraries host after school literacy programs that are often looking for volunteers. 

If you're unable to find a child to read to, you could also elect to read aloud to a kid at heart! (However, we strongly encourage you to find a young person.)

2) Read a book (or a chapter of a larger book) aloud to the child you chose.

3) After reading, write a book review with your co-reader. Together, answer the following questions in the comments below.

Book Review Questions:

-What book did you read? 

-Why did you choose that book?

-What did you like about the book?

-Is there anything you didn't like about it?

It might be helpful to describe a bit about your c0-reader/reviewer, such as age and likes/dislikes, as this could help other know if the review is applicable to the kids in their life!