Paneled - Travel -200

If you think comic book stores are a relic of the past, you're wrong. Not only are these stores going strong, they are the perfect place to check out what the world of comics has to offer you. Some of you will be old hat at the comic book store scene- if you are, this will be an easy objective! Others may be new to this. If you're feeling nervous about stepping through the front door, check out rapping artist Murs' tour of his favorite comic book shop. It may help remind you that comic books stores are, in fact, just stores! So go check one out!

Objective:

1) Identify and visit a comic book store. For our purposes, a comic book store is a store that specializes primarily in comic books.

2) Visit the comic book store. Check out what they have to offer. Often times the staff at these stores are very knowledgeable about comics, so feel free to ask questions.

3) Take a photograph of yourself in front of or inside the comic you visited. Post the photo to Twitter or Instagram with the tags #QuestScouts and #Comics.

Paneled - Literature - 150

Objective:

1) Create an autobiographical comic set in the future.

What does that mean? The comic should be about the future you! You can take this in a variety of ways. You can predict where you'll be in x amount of years, and make a comic about that. You can create an unlikely situation for your future self, and create a comic about that. Of course, you can also go somewhere between plausible and fanciful. The choice is yours! 

The nitty gritty:

-Your comment should be at least 3 panels, but can be more if you are so inspired. 

-As this objective is worth 150 points, we expect it to take you between 1-2 hours. Take your time to put detail into your stories and drawings.

-Your comic must contain both graphics and text. It should also include a title, and the year it represents.

2) Photograph and share your comic on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Comic. Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account with the tag #QuestScouts your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

Paneled - Literature - 100 each (500 max)

500 points for a single literature objective? It's a lot, but after all, this quest is about graphic novels! We want you to get out there and read some of what the comic book world has to offer.

Objective:

1) Read at least one, and up to five, graphic novels or comic books. 

“Graphic novels tell a story using sequential illustrations. Unlike comic books, they are published in book format, can be fiction or non-fiction and usually tell a stand-alone story with a complex plot. Some graphic novels bring together a series of comics and are sometimes conceived as novels with similar features such as character development and multiple story lines.”

-National Library

The nitty gritty:

-If you read more than one book/novel, each should be from a new series and/or author. No overlap.

-There are no length requirement, but you are encouraged to choose more meaty over thin books. Ofter times single issue comics are        compiled into one book, allowing for a longer story to be told. Look for these. (They're usually 1cm + thick.)

-Each book is worth 100 points, up to 500 points. For example, if you read 3 books, record 300 points. 

Comics/Graphic novels can be found local library, bought at your local comic or traditional bookstore, or ordered on Amazon.

2) In the comments below, tell us which books you chose to read. Let us know which your favorite was, and whether or not you would recommend it to the Quest Scouts community.

Paneled - Media - 150

Objective:

1) Watch one of the documentaries/movies listed.

2) Let us know which you watched and what you thought of it in the comments below.

Stripped. Directed by Dave Kellet and Frederick Schroeder.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix.

Legends of the Knight. Directed by Brett Culp.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix.

Paper Man. Directed by Kieren Mulroney.

Available from Amazon Instant Video and Netflix DVD.

Breakdown - Research - 150

Many of us know that we should be prepared in case of a natural or man-made disaster, but how many of us are? Use this objective as motivation to put an emergency preparedness plan in place for your household. 

Objective: 

1) Research emergency preparedness plans and create a list of questions you'd like to answer BEFORE any potential emergency. 

The Red Cross and Center for Disease Control are good places to start.

2) Take time to make a plan for what you would do during an emergency. If applicable, meet with the members of your household to co-create and or review your plan. 

3) Comment below letting us know you took actions toward being more prepared during an emergency.

Breakdown - Members Only Micro Quest - 50

Without member support Quest Scouts wouldn't exist. In order to show our appreciation for our members we provide a monthly Members Only Micro Quest worth 50 exclusive points. 

Objective:

1) Download and print the Breakdown MOMQ puzzle from our members only page, or use the back of the Breakdown quest card that Scout Pack Members will receive in the mail. 

2) The puzzle contains a list of commonly discarded items and a blank timeline. Do your best to place the items in the timeline according to the time it takes them to decay.

3) When you've completed the puzzle, (or tried but given up,) you can check your answer with the puzzle key on the members only page. 

4) You're done! Leave a comment below telling us whether or not you completed the puzzle. If you'd like, let us know how many items you places in the correct timeline slot.

Breakdown - Games - 250

Most thrift stores have a healthy shelve of board games. The problem is, there is no guarantee that the games offered are complete. Depending on personality type, missing pieces are not an option. This objective challenges you to brave the "shelf of uncertainty" and tell the tale.

Objective:

1) Locate and travel to the second hand store of your choice.

Note: Don't choose a game store that sells second hand games. Instead, choose a store that sells a variety of used goods.

2) Locate and purchase a game of your choice. The level of "completeness" of the game is up to you. You could check and make sure every component is present, or choose a game that is clearly missing some parts.

3) Play the game that you have purchased to the best of your ability. If you're missing key components, you'll need to improvise!

4) Share a photograph of yourself playing the game on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #UsedGame.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account with the tag #QuestScouts your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

5) Answer the following questions in the comments below:

A- Where did you purchase your game?

B- What game did you choose?

C- What condition was the game in? Were all the pieces there? If not, how did you compensate?

D- Provide a short review of the game. Would you play it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Breakdown - Find - 150

While hide owners are responsible for keeping up with maintenance, a little help from their community can go a long way. Let's do our best to help keep the geocaches and letterboxes in our community happy and healthy.

Objective:

1) Identify and geocache or letterbox that needs maintenance.

You can do this in one of two ways. First, you could search the online logs of your preferred site for mentions of maintenance needs. Alternatively, you could simply make finds until you run across a hide that needs maintenance. 

2) Perform an act of maintenance! 

This may include drying out a wet container, adding duct tape to a cracked container, adding a new sheet of log paper (geocaches only,) or something else that helps maintain the hide.

Note: Maintenance may include replacing a container as well. However, you should always contact the hide owner before doing this. 

3) Tell us about your hide maintenance  in the comments below! If applicable, include the geocache/letterbox number. 

3) Document your maintenance with a photograph and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Geocaching or #Letterboxing.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account with the tag #QuestScouts your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

*A "find/hide" can be either a geocache or letterbox. Not familiar with either? Watch this video by Groundspeak, the #1 lister of geocaches or read about letterboxing from Atlas Quest.

Breakdown - Photography - 300

Objective:

1) Choose two or more photos that you have personally taken. Note: Unlike most quests, this portion of this objective may have been completed prior to the release of this quest.

2) Have the photos you've chosen printed, or print them yourself. 

Note: We want you to have physical copies of each photo to manipulate manually. Don't use software to combine your photos prior to printing.

3) Cut up and combine your photos to create a new, unique image. 

If you need inspiration, check out the work of Merve Ozaslan or Brno Del Zou. (Even if you don't, their work is awesome and worth a look!)

4) Take a photograph of your collage and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts.

Breakdown - DIY - 200

Pickling exists, in part, to prevent decay. While this method of food preservation has become less essential with modern technology, this ancient technique is both nutritious and delicious. 

Objective:

1) Watch History in a Jar: Pickles, from The History Channel. 

2) Create pickles of your own. You can do traditional pickles, or refrigerator pickles. (And no, you're not limited to pickled cucumbers!)

Members should expect Dill Pickle spices & a refrigerator pickle recipe from Souper Spices in their Scout Packs this month. 

3) Take a photograph of your finished pickles and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Pickles.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account with the tag #QuestScouts your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

4) Describe your pickling experience in the comments below. What recipe did you use? How did the pickles turn out?

Breakdown - Art - 300

People find the humor in my work and enjoy it, because there's not a lot of humor in the art world. I think it just comes as just a welcome relief to be able to just have a laugh.

-Wayne White

Objective:

1) Watch the video below from Oxford American and check out this article from Twisted Sifter. Each feature an artist who puts his own mark on paintings originally created by others. 

2) Go to a thrift store and buy a painting. The painting can be an original or a reproduction.

3) Inspired by the work of Wayne White, Chris McMahon and Thryza Segal (see number one,) paint an image into your painting. 

4) Take a photograph of your co-created painting and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #ThriftReno.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account with the tag #QuestScouts your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

Breakdown - Visit - 250

In 1893 the first elongated coin was born in Chicago, IL. It was a pressed penny with the "Columbian Exposition" printed on it. Since that time, elongated coins have exploded in popularity, and can be found at tourist destinations across the world. Instead of ignoring these machines, this objective asks you to intentionally seek them out. 

Objective:

1) Identify and locate an elongated coin machine.

Penny Collector is a good place to start, but is not exhaustive.

Not sure what an elongated coin is? Check Wikipedia!

2) Visit the elongated coin machine of your choice.

3) Press a coin!

3) Document your visit with a photograph and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #ElongatedCoin.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account with the tag #QuestScouts your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

4) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. 

Breakdown - Travel - 300

Ruin (roo-in)

noun

1. the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay:

We visited the ruins of ancient Greece.

2. a destroyed or decayed building, town, etc.

Objective:

1) Identify and locate a set of ruins you'd like to visit.

What counts as "ruins." Any structure or former structure that has fallen into a state of disrepair. 

Do your best to keep the heart of this objective in mind when choosing your ruins. Think "ruined," not just abandoned. You want to find a place where only foundations, stairs, and pieces of pillar are leftover- for example.

As always, use your best judgement and challenge yourself when deciding on your destination.

2) Visit the ruins you chose.

3) Document your visit with a photograph and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Ruins.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account with the tag #QuestScouts your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to view and interact with.

4) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. Where did you go? Did you have a good time? Did anything fun or unexpected happen during your visit?

Breakdown - Literature - 100

Most of us have read Ray Bradbury's classic novel, Farenheit 451, Lets take a moment to read a short story about one couple's reaction to the end of the world.

Objective:

1) Read the short story The Last Night of the World by Ray Bradbury. 

You can find it through Esquire Magazine, where it was originally printed in 1951.

2) Tell us what you thought of the short story in the comments below.

Breakdown - Literature - 300

"In his morbidly fascinating nonfiction eco-thriller, “The World Without Us,” Weisman imagines what would happen if the earth’s most invasive species — ourselves — were suddenly and completely wiped out."

-Jennifer Schuessler, New Your Times

Objective:

1) Read The World Without Us by Alan Weisman. 

Check out the book from you local library, buy it at your local bookstore or get it on Amazon.

Prefer listening over reading? Grab the book on Audible!

2) Write a book review and post it in the comments below. 

Breakdown - Media - 150

Objective:

1) Watch one of the documentaries/movies listed below.

2) Let us know which you watched and what you thought of it in the comments below.

Farenheit 451. Directed by Francois Truffaut. 

Available from Netflix DVD and Amazon Instant Video.

Looper. Directed by Rian Johnson.

Available from Netflix DVD and Amazon Instant Video.

1984. Directed by Michael Radford.

Available from Netflix DVD and Amazon Instant Video.

The Hunger Games. Directed by Gary Ross.

Available from Netflix DVD and Amazon Instant Video.

Secrets of Archaeology. Directed by Robert Yuhas.

Available from Amazon. (As of Apr 1, select episodes were also available through Youtube.)

Note: This is a television series. Choose 2+ episodes to watch. 

Small World - Members Only Micro Quest - 50

Without member support Quest Scouts wouldn't exist. In order to show our appreciation for our members we provide a monthly Members Only Micro Quest worth 50 exclusive points. 

Objective:

1) Download and print the Small World MOMQ puzzle from our members only page, or use the back of the Small World quest card that Scout Pack Member's will receive in the mail. 

2) The puzzle contains two quotes with a "small" theme. Do your best to unscramble the letters and reveal the quotes.

3) When you've completed the puzzle, (or tried but given up,) you can check your answer with the puzzle key on the members only page. 

4) You're done! Leave a comment below telling us whether or not you completed the puzzle. If you'd like, let us know how many items you places in the correct timeline slot.