Press Your Luck - Literature - 300

" Faster is a book about why cyclists do what they do, about what the riders, their coaches and the boffins get up to behind the scenes, and about why the whole idea of going faster is such an appealing, universal instinct for all of us."

-Bloomsbury Publishing

Objective:

1) Read Faster: The Obsession, Science and Luck Behind the World's Fastest Cyclists by Michael Hutchinson.

(The quest card misattributes authorship to Ian Buruma. Out apologies!) 

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. Include 3 things you learned from Hutchinson's work. 

Press Your Luck - Travel - 200

Objective:

1) Research wish worthy fountains in or around your area. Make sure this fountain is worth visiting; Something road trip worthy. 

Examples of great fountains to spur your imagination:

      Swann Memorial Fountain, Philadelphia, PA

      Crown Fountain, Chicago, IL 

      Town Lake Park Fountain, Austin, TX

      And, of course, any fountain near you that offers a fun time is worth visiting!

It would be really easy to complete this objective in a perfunctory manner. Don't cheat yourself out of what could be an amazing experience by taking the easy way out.

2) Travel to your fountain.

3) No need to throw a coin in, but make a wish! 

4) Take a photo at the fountain to document your experience. Post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Fountain.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

4) Tell us about your epic fountain experience in the comments below. Where did you go? Who did you go with? What fountain did you visit? Did you run into any problems along the way? What did you enjoy, or not enjoy, about your experience?

Press Your Luck - Visit - 200

A "blind bag" is an opaque, sealed bag whose contents (often a toy of figurine) are hidden until after you open it. We know, that for many of you, blind bags might be considered too frivolous for adults. Yes, they are arguably frivolous! They're also fun! (And hey, if it's really too much of a stretch for you, share the experience with your favorite kid!)

Objective:

1) Buy a bling bag! While called blind "bags," examples include bags, boxes or even trading cards. 

It's not required that you buy these at a brick and mortar store, but that might be more fun.

2) Open it up and see what you got!

3) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. Did your get what you wanted? 

4) Take a photo of your surprise and post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #blindbag.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

Press Your Luck - Research - 100

1) Read 8 Tips for Beating a Claw Machine from Mental_Floss.

2) Watch It's Not You. Claw Machines are Rigged from Vox. (Above)

3) (Optional) If you're still curious, look into/consume more sources of information about claw machines.

4) In the comments below, let us know whether or not you're likely to play a claw machine in the future. Explain why you've chosen to play, or not play, with these machines.

Press Your Luck - DIY - 200

“When life gives you lemons, chuck it right back.” 

-Bill Waterson

Objective:

1) Choose a fresh lemonade recipe. Pinterest is a great place to find one.

2) Gather the appropriate ingredients.

3) Make your lemonade! 

4) In the comments below, let us know what you thought of your lemony beverage. Was it worth the effort?

5) Take a photo to document this objective and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts and #Lemonade.

Press Your Luck - DIY - 300

Objective:

If you're a Quest Scouts member for October, your Scout Pack will contain a smaller version of the "Four Leaf Clover Kit" pictured above. Inside will be your Dutch White Clover seeds- you'll need to supply their home.

If you're a Quest Scouts member for October, your Scout Pack will contain a smaller version of the "Four Leaf Clover Kit" pictured above. Inside will be your Dutch White Clover seeds- you'll need to supply their home.

1) Gather your supplies. You'll need a pot, soil, and clover seeds. We suggest Dutch White Clover seeds, as they work well indoors, even during the winter. 

2) Plant and tend to your clovers. 

3) After the clovers grow, check and see if you managed to "get lucky" and grow a four leafer. 

4) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. Did your clovers turn out as you expected?

5) Take a picture of your clovers and post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #luckyclovers.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

Press Your Luck - Find - 200

Objective:

1) Identify a hide* where the previous searchers reported they could not make the find. 

The nitty gritty:

      For geocaches, try for a cache with at least three Did Not Finds (DNFs) reported. 

      For non-geocaching letterboxes, one previous report is enough for this objective. 

      You do not need to make the find to complete this objective. Searching without a find is enough.

2) Head to the hide location and make a strong effort to find it.

3) Take a photo to document your adventure and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts and #Geocaching or #Letterboxing. 

3) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. Which hide (include the GC#) did you search for? Where was it? Did you enjoy your experience?

*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. However, if you've never geocached or letterboxed, we highly suggest you start with a different find objective. 

Press Your Luck - Games - 250

1) Choose a Vegas style game. 

Suggestions include: Poker, Blackjack, Slots, BINGO, Keno, Roulette. Go with any game you would traditionally be able to play in a casino.

The nitty gritty:

Online games don't count. At 250 points, you'll need to play a physical game. 

While playing in an actual casino might be fun, you don't need to do so in order to complete this objective. 

2) If possible, take a photo of yourself and/or your friends playing the game and and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #CasinoGame.

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.

3) In the comments below, let us know how it went. What did you play? Who did you play with? Who won? Did you enjoy yourself?

Press Your Luck - Games - 250

 

Objective:

1) Grab some friends and play one of the following dice games listed below.

Note: Links in green bring you to a Board Game Geek description. Clicking on each game image will bring you to Amazon.*

 

-Zombie Dice. In this press your luck game, you're zombie, risking it all for those precious brains. 

-Skyline. Roll dice to build buildings. This is a lot of fun (and strategy) packed into a small game.

-Kingsburg. Compete for the attention of the royal court.

-Alien Frontiers. Create the best space colony and win! While a bit more advanced, this game is amazing!

-Lords of Vegas. Can you build the most profitable casino?

 

 

2) Post a photo of yourself playing the luck themed game you chose on Twitter or Instagram with the tags #QuestScouts and #BoardGame.

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

*We encourage you to reach out to your community before buying new games. Maybe your neighbor's brother is a gamer and would love to teach you to play Lords of Vegas. Or, if you're lucky enough to have a Friendly Local Gaming store, they probably have a couple of these titles for you to try before you buy. However, if that's not an option, clicking on any of the game images will bring you to an Amazon page. If you use our link, Quest Scouts gets a very small kick back. So, if you're going to buy online anyway, consider using our links!

Press Your Luck - Games - 300

 

Sunny days are meant for the park! Grab some friends, grab some "lawn games" and head to your nearest grassy oasis. 

Objective:

1) Head to a park with a prexisting horseshoe pit or set up a mobile version.

2) Review the rules.

You can do this using any resources you'd like. We found this blog post from The Stir to be helpful and easy to understand.

3) Play a game of horseshoes.

4) Take a photo of yourself and/or your friends playing the game and and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Horseshoes.

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) In the comments below, let us know how it went. Where did you play? Who did you play with? Did you use traditional metal horseshoes or an alternative created strictly for gameplay? Who won? Did you enjoy yourself?

Press Your Luck - 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. And if you're not a member yet, consider becoming one today!

Objective:

1) Download and print the "Find Your Luck" coloring page from our member files page, or use the back of the Press Your Luck quest card from October's Scout Pack. (We suggest printing your own, as you'll be able to use a wider array of mediums with less risk of smearing.)

2) Gather the coloring whatever coloring materials you prefer. Markers, colored pencils, crayons... Whatever you'd like!

3) Set yourself up in a relaxing spot. A cafe? Next to a roaring fire? 

4) Complete the coloring page!

5) Photograph and share your completed page and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Coloring.

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.

6) Let us know you completed the objective in the comments below.

7) (Optional) Usually we do a puzzle for our Members Only Micro Quests, but we decided to mix it up this time. Tell us if you'd like to see more coloring pages in the future. Or, what would you like to see in an upcoming Members Only Micro Quest?

Four Oh - 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.

The Life and Time of Rosie The Riveter. Directed by Connie Field.

Available from Amazon.

Note: The War, including the below trailer, graphically depicts realities of war.

The War. Directed by Ken Burns. (Watch any episode of your choice.)

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

Forest Gump. Directed by Robert Nemeckis.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix.

Julie & Julia. Directed by Nora Ephron.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

Four Oh - Media - 150

1) Browse either of the following lists of the 100 most popular films of the 1940’s:

2) Choose any film from the list and watch it. 

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

4) Also in the comments, explain what norms or actions you observed in the film that differ from today.

Four Oh - Literature - 300

"Ian Buruma’s lively new history, “Year Zero,” is about the various ways in which the aftermath of the Good War turned out badly for many people, and splendidly for some who didn’t deserve it."

-Adam Hochschild, New Your Times

Objective:

1) Read Year Zero: A History of 195 by Ian Buruma. 

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!

Note: This is an emotionally heavy, yet important book. It talks honestly about realities of war. For more detail, check out Adam Hochschild's full review.

2) Write a book review and post it in the comments below. Include 3 things you learned from Buruma's work. 

Four Oh - Travel - 300

Objective:

1) Identify and locate a location related to WWII.

This location could be historically significant, or a memorial/statue related to WWII.

Examples Include:

Do your best to keep the heart of this objective in mind when choosing your location. It's 300 points, so think big!

2) Visit the WWII related location you chose.

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

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. Be sure to include 3 facts you learned and/or interesting things you saw.

Four Oh - Visit - 300

Objective:

1) Locate a business that was established in the 1940's. 

The nitty gritty:

      A- The business, not the building, should have been established in the 194o's. Location changes are permitted.

      B- Pre-1940's businesses are ok, but 1940's are preferred.

      C- The business should still exist OR still maintain remnants of it's original form. (For instance, a sign w/ it's name on it.)

      C- Yep! This may be a tough one and require travel. We hope it leads you on a great adventure.

2) Travel to the business and take a look around. 

3) Take a photograph that marks your adventure and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts.

4) Let us know about your experience in the comments below. Was it a challenge? How far did you travel? Who did you go with? What business did you visit? If possible, tell us a bit about the history of the business.

Four 0h - Art - 200

Objective:

1) Spend at least 30 minutes browsing WWII propaganda posters. Take a look at as many posters as you can, in order to recognize stylistic patterns. 

Pay specific attention to:

Imagery: What is depicted in the posters? What colors are used? How many colors? Are the images simple or complex? Cartoon like or realistic? 

Wording: Do the posters use short slogans or longer text? How does the text relate to the imagery? (Is it directly related, or more of a metaphor?)

2) Choose an issue you'd like to promote. The sky is the limit here. (Just keep it PG.) Save the whales! Take more vacation days! Pick up after your dog!

3) Using what you learned during your research, design a WWII style propaganda poster for your issue.

3) Tell us about your experience making your poster in the comments below. What country's propaganda style did you mimic? What did you learn for your research and incorporate into your poster? What "issue" did you decide to promote?

4) Take a picture of your finished poster and post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #Propaganda.

Remember, if you post to a public Instagram or Twitter account your photo will show up on our Scout Board for other Quest Scouts to enjoy and comment on.

Cart (0)