Scavenger Hunt and Giving Back
Adventure awaits
It was a perfect morning for an adventure, and the kids of the Pine Barren Venom Jeep Club were ready for a big day. Not only was it their annual scavenger hunt, but the club was also hosting a food drive to help families in need. The kids had loaded their Jeeps with bags of canned goods, boxes of pasta, and jars of peanut butter to drop off at the collection site.
Mikey glanced over at Slither, who was perched proudly in the passenger seat of his Jeep. “You ready for a day of adventure, Slither?”
Slither nodded, his tail tapping the seat. “I’m ready. But Mikey, don’t forget—this day isn’t just about the scavenger hunt. It’s about helping others, too. Let’s make it count.”
At the starting point, the kids unloaded their donations. Gianna carefully stacked boxes into the big collection bin while Nicholle added a giant jar of pickles, looking proud of her contribution. Bailey wagged his tail happily, sniffing around the pile of food, and the pesky tree frog jumped onto the edge of the bin, making a show of “guarding” the donations.
Mikey grabbed his two-way radio and held it up. “Food drive: check! Now it’s time to dominate the scavenger hunt. Remember, keep those radios on, and let’s find those clues!”
The kids split up, each diving into the scavenger hunt with enthusiasm. Gianna and Slither searched near a patch of pines, Nicholle explored a patch of wildflowers with Bailey by her side, and Mikey headed for a rocky road where one of the clues was rumored to be hidden.
As the team worked their way through the hunt, Mikey suddenly picked up the radio and said, “Hey, guys, quick question. Why did the skeleton go to the party alone?”
Gianna rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Okay, Mikey, why?”
“Because he had no body to go with!” Mikey’s laughter echoed through the forest.
Slither groaned playfully through the radio. “That joke is so old, it’s practically a fossil.”
As everyone laughed, Nicholle called in. “I found the next clue! It was hidden under a pile of pinecones. Let’s meet up at the big oak tree!”
The team started regrouping, but just as Mikey arrived, he tripped on a tree root and landed with a thud. “I’m okay!” he called, but his knee was scraped.
Nicholle quickly grabbed her radio. “Mikey’s down near the oak tree. We need the first-aid kit!”
Slither nudged Gianna, who grabbed the kit from her Jeep. “Let’s go make sure Mikey’s all right.”
When they arrived, Bailey was already giving Mikey reassuring licks while the pesky tree frog perched on his shoulder, looking like a tiny medic. Gianna knelt down and gently cleaned the scrape with an antiseptic wipe before applying a bandage.
“All patched up, Mikey,” she said with a smile. “Good thing we’re always prepared.”
“Thanks, Gianna,” Mikey said, flexing his leg. “Guess I should’ve been looking where I was going instead of practicing my next joke.”
Slither nodded approvingly. “See? This is why being in the club matters. Whether it’s a scavenger hunt, a food drive, or helping a friend, we always have each other’s backs.”
With Mikey patched up and back in the game, the kids completed the scavenger hunt and returned to the food drive bin. By the end of the day, it was overflowing with donations, and everyone felt proud of what they’d accomplished.
As they packed up to head home, Nicholle grinned at Slither and the gang. “We helped a lot of people today and had fun doing it. This was the best club day ever!”
Slither, sitting contentedly in the passenger seat, flicked his tongue in approval. “Adventure, teamwork, and giving back. You kids are what this club is all about.”
Bailey settled into Gianna’s lap, and the pesky tree frog hopped onto Mikey’s head as they drove off, tired but happy from a day of fun and giving
