Notes - Games - 300

Objective:

1) Below is a list of games that requires listening or verbal communication. Grab a couple friends and play one of the listed games.

1- Bop It. A fast paced "simon says" game. Play with friends, and see how long you can keep your streak going. (Any version of Bop It is acceptable.)

2- Simon. Match the pattern through memory recall. 

3- Heads Up. Guess the word on your forehead as your team describes it to you. This game is also called Headbands. Note: This game also exists as a phone app!

4- Taboo. Describe words to your team, but don't use the taboo words. 

2) Post a photo of yourself playing your chosen listening game on Twitter or Instagram with the tags #QuestScouts and #NotesGame.

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.

Notes - DIY - 250

There is something about sharing our music, that for some who consider themselves less musically talented, feels intimidating. If that's you, then we encourage you not to skip this objective. Do your personal best then share it with the world.

Objective:

1) Create and record music.  This can be any self generated music, whether instrumental, vocal, or a combination.

IMPORTANT: Make sure your music is at least one minute long. (We know, that's a long time! Be brave- You can do it!)

2) Share your music with the Quest Scouts community by posting a link to it in the comments below.

Host the music anywhere you like. We suggest Youtube for video files, and Soundcloud for audio files. For some of you, this may be a learning experience. That's ok! Consider it part of your objective. (250 points is nothing to sneeze at!)

IMPORTANT: You have not completed this objective if you have not made your music accessible through a public link below. For most objectives, we're pretty loose about the posting requirements. This is not the case here. The purpose of the objective is as much the sharing as the creating. 

Notes - DIY - 300

Objective:

1) Construct a musical instrument. 

Like so many of our objectives, this one needs a bit of a reminder. It would be so easy to do this half heartedly! Don't do it! Don't take the easy way out. For 300 points, we're looking for something that takes more effort than a "shaker." Do something challenging! 

Need inspiration? Check out these DIY instruments:

-A diddlebow aka can-jo. (Google DIY canjo for plenty of tutorials.)

-Altoids tin pocket thumb piano.

-Beer (or pop) bottle xylophone.

-A shakere. (Kinda a shaker, but fancier! Origins from West Africa.)

2) Take a photograph of your instrument and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #DIYInstrument. 

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) Describe your instrument in the comments below. What instructions, if any, did you use? How did the instrument turn out.

4) (Optional) If you're interested, use your home made instrument to create music for the 250 point Notes DIY objective.

Notes - Art - 250

Objective:

1) Capture a still image sound wave. You may even want to collect multiple stills. Use your voice, a favorite song, or whatever you'd like. 

We suggest you use a virtual oscilloscope. However, you can use whatever works best for you.

Tips: 1- Hit the "freeze live input button for a still image. 2- Make sure you have a microphone and allow access to the microphone. If you're lost, ask a friend for help.

2) Save your images, and use them as a reference for your art. 

We're giving you free reign here to do what makes the most sense for you. Whatever you choose, at 250 points this objective invites between one and three hours of effort. Take your time and make something great!

3) Photograph your completed piece and post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #SoundWave.

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.

Notes - Travel - 300

1) Take in a live music performance. 

The nitty gritty:

-We're looking for something more than listening to kids sing in your living room or stopping for a busker. For this objective, you should go to a venue (whether that be a church, a concert hall, a coffee house, or someplace out) to take in a musical or music show. Music should be the purpose of the event. 

-Performers of any age are welcome! A children's performance, if that's your thing, is perfectly acceptable. 

2) Take a photo to document your experience. Post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tags #QuestScouts and #LiveMusic.

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.

3) Tell us about your experience in the comments below. Where did you go? Who did you see? How was it? 

Notes - Visit - 200

Objective:

1) Identify a store that primarily specializes in music.

This means that most of what the store sells, and what it focuses on, should be music. Ideas include instrument shops or music/record stores. 

Note: Don't choose a "variety store," like Walmart or its smaller counterparts, with a music section. That's not what we're going for here.

2) Visit the music store. Check out what they have to offer. Is there anything interesting there? Anything you didn't expect?

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

Notes - Visit - 250

Objective:

1) Identify and locate a location that holds historical significance to music. This may be a place where something musically significant happened, or a museum dedicated solely to music.

Examples Include:

Riot House, CA- Popularized by 60's string bands, including Led Zepplin. 

Mother-In-Law Lounge, LA- The music club of Ernie K. Doe. Now a museum of his life. (Plus, Usher helped rebuild it after hurricane Katrina!)

Stax Museum of American Soul, TN

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, OH

2) Visit the location you chose.

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

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 while completing this objective.

Notes - Literature - 150

Objective:

1) Watch both Rap Music As Poetry from  the youtube channel mrbruff, and How to Read Poetry from Warner Jordan Education.

As you watch, take notes (if necessary) about how to analyze poetry. 

2) Choose a song and print out its lyrics.

3) Referencing the notes you took previously, analyze your chosen lyrics as poetry.

4) In the comments below, publish a 2-5 paragraph micro essay analyzing your poem. If you're struggling, try separating your paragraphs into these categories: A) About the musician and/or songwriter/ context of song, B) Analysis of language and C) Structure and form of the song.

Notes - Literature - 300

"What’s best about “How Music Works” is that Byrne concentrates on his own experience, from a teenage geek splicing layers of guitar feedback on his father’s tape recorder (he had a mild self-diagnosed case of Asper­ger’s syndrome, he writes) to arty if neo-primitive rock star"

-John Rockwell, New York Times

Objective:

1) Read How Music Works by David Byrne. 

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 Byrne's work. 

Notes - Media - 150

Objective:

1) Watch any musical of your choice. 

The nitty gritty:

-Choose a musical that is not animated.

-While not required, we urge you to choose something you've never seen before.

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

Press Your Luck - Media - 150

The purpose of this objective is to leave your movie night pick to chance. Below are movies purposefully seleceted from multiple generes. Roll the die to figure out what you'll be watching. And do your best to find the best in the situation, even if you didn't get your first choice. 

Objective:

1) Grab a standard six sided die. 

2) Roll the die, and note the number you rolled. 

3) Watch the movie or documentary listed below that corrosponds with the number you rolled.

The nitty gritty:

-Roll the die only once! The number you get is the number you get. The point here is to push you to watch something you might not normally choose.

-If you have previously watched the movie/documentary that corresponds to the number you rolled, you may choose to reroll your die. 

4) In the comment below, let us know what you watched and what you thought of it.

ONE

Out of Luck. Directed by Bert Klasey.

Available from Amazon Instant and Youtube.

TWO

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971 version.) Directed by Mel Stuart.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

THREE

Lucky. Directed by Jeffrey Blitz.

Available from Amazon Instant and Youtube.

FOUR

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005 version.) Directed by Tim Burton.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

FIVE

It Could Happen to You. Directed by Bridget Fonda.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

Six

Just My Luck. Directed by Donald Petrie.

Available from Amazon Instant and Netflix DVD.

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.

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.