2014 Farmington Dew Days Hunt

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on Wed, 06/18/2014 - 9:38 AM

The Hunt will be from Tuesday, June 17 until Saturday June 21.
The medallion is hidden on public land within Farmington. It will not be hidden on school district property.
A new clue will be posted at 12:00 noon each day from Tuesday to Saturday. The clues will be posted online at the Farmington Dew Days website, farmingtondewdays.com
Please be respectful towards public property. Pack out any garbage you bring into our beautiful parks. To find the medallion, you will not need to dig, climb, or go in water.
The prize for finding the medallion is $150. This amount is only awarded to a finder with a Dew Days button. A finder without a button will receive $50.
If the medallion is not found before Sunday morning June 22, the clue writer will make a decision to write one more clue (and posted the same way) or end the hunt.

If there are any questions, email Zack Mohlis, zmohlis@gmail.com (651-206-8298)

Hunt Information

Dates

Scheduled Dates

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Find Date

Friday, June 20, 2014

Finders

Name

Jacob Hovden

Hometown

Farmington

Name

Lisa Hovden

Hometown

Farmington

Name

Noah Hovden

Hometown

Farmington

Name

Isaac Hovden

Hometown

Farmington

Name

Hannah Hovden

Hometown

Farmington

Prize

Maximum Prize

$150

Awarded Prize

$150

Location

General Location

Prairie View Park

44.641224, -93.12561

Clues

Clue 1

Published Date

Monday, June 16, 2014, 7:00 PM

To all concerned visitors and residents of Farmington:

You may have heard about the current Farmington Research Rover project. We have designed and implemented a small robotic data gathering device-- The Rover-- that has been traveling throughout the city collecting valuable research data for local educational institutions, organizations, and governmental bodies. The hope is that this data will be studied and used for various environmental, geographical, and planning purposes as well as any other uses that may benefit from this valuable information.
There is just one problem-- the Rover has recently gone missing in action. Our communication link with the Rover has gone down and we are currently unable to locate the device. So we have come to you for help. Please form a search party and explore the public property in Farmington. The Rover was gathering data about public property within city limits, so you should limit your search to those areas.
We have distributed throughout the city several radio receivers in hopes of detecting a signal from the Rover. If we receive any data transmissions from the robot or any useful clues that could aid your search, we will share this information with you.

Your current mission:

* Seek and locate Farmington Research Rover robotic unit

Thanks for your help, and good luck!
-Farmington Research Initiative

The official meaning of the clue.

This clue introduces the hunt and the theme for the hunt. Hunters are informed that they are searching for the Rover robot.

Clue Rating

Clue 2

Published Date

Tuesday, June 17, 2014, 7:00 PM

Hello Hunters! This morning we received a transmission from the Research Rover but we were unable to track it. It seems to be some kind of observation report but we have so far been unable to comprehend the meaning of the message. The Rover has been sending confusing and cryptic reports.

Can you try to make some sense of this observation report and locate the Research Rover?

This is a land of waters replete
Where tree lines end but seldom meet
Where the sun always rises, round and gold
Upon hidden treasures and fortune untold

The official meaning of the clue.

"Waters replete" refers to the ponds in the park, stocked with Bluegills and Black Crappies by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. There are two long tree lines in the park that meet once in the southeast corner, but more importantly-- Hickory, Maple, Larch, Locust, Walnut, Spruce, Oak, and Elm Streets all end as they run into the park in the east. The sun always rises in the east, suggesting the Rover is in East Farmington.

Clue Rating

Clue 3

Published Date

Wednesday, June 18, 2014, 7:00 PM

Our records show that the Farmington Research Rover has recently activated its Time Travel Drive. We were lucky enough to get a summary of the Rover's research trip to the past and future before it went off the radar.

Time Travel Research Excursion:

Past-
Date: 1989
Notes: Agricultural, field planted with crops

Future-
Date: unknown
Notes: Street nearby, increased vehicular traffic

Findings: substantial new development

Can you think of a park that might fit this scenario?

The official meaning of the clue.

The neighborhood near the park, called Park Place, was developed in the nineties. Before being developed, the land was agricultural. The futuristic piece of the clue hints at the sign at the 213th Street entrance to the park, which states that a future extension to the street is planned, which will cause an increase in traffic. So if the Rover was to travel to the future from its hiding location, it would have likely been near a new street that does not currently exist.

If you would like more information on the history or future of Farmington's residential development, consider attending a meeting of the Heritage Preservation Commission or the Planning Commission.

Clue Rating

Clue 4

Published Date

Thursday, June 19, 2014, 7:00 PM

The Research Rover was equipped with a camera and we've just received a photographic uplink! Can you decipher anything from this photo that might suggest the Rover's location?

The official meaning of the clue.

This photo was taken on the path near the 213th Street entrance to the park where the path makes a turn before starting a long straight shot south. If you look at the photo, the Rover was hidden in the patch of tall grass between the group of trees on the right and a nearby pond.

Clue Rating