I remember back a quarter century ago when my high school friends would organize "scavenger hunts." We'd get a list and drive around Omaha looking for the disparate items.
It was fun. We had no means of communication, but we'd meet up later to see how everyone did, and find out whether or not we'd procured the assigned loot.
Fast forward to 2017.
My brother-in-law turned us onto a Twitter account called @NBFindersKeeper. It just popped up recently, and sends curious seekers (basically teens and college students) on a "treasure hunt" in the Omaha-metro area. The excursions happen on weekend evenings.
The Twitter account will tweet out a general destination. Then, additional clues will roll out until someone finds the prize (generally money hidden in a clever place). The individual who finds the prize shouts it out, and tweets a selfie holding their loot.
So, our nieces wanted to play last night.
We were just coming off a depressing UNO Hockey loss at Baxter Arena, and headed home from the game. Bridget received a Twitter notification that the game was afoot.
The area will be around 144th and center. Details to come in about 15 minutes.— Finders Keepers (@nbfinderskeeper) February 11, 2017
I declared, "adventure!"
We veered off course, hopped on the interstate, and journeyed out to Millard.
We learned the "gift" (as the account calls it) would be near 144th and Center. So we drove to AMC Oakview 24 and waited for the next clue.
Lo said, "I've never played this game before..."
Vic's Corn Popper was tweeted as the specific destination where the loot was hidden -- nearby, not on the building itself.
"GO, GO, GO!" Lo shouted, doing her best "action-movie-chase-sequence" impression.
There is a @Vicspopcorn store in the strip mall on NW corner of 144th and center. It's in the lot in front of Vic's. Retweet when found.— Finders Keepers (@nbfinderskeeper) February 11, 2017
As cars descended on the location, and participants scurried about, it reminded me of the movie "Cannonball Run."
We hit the parking lot by the popcorn place. Julia flipped forward the seat I was sitting in and squeezed her way out of the back of the car. Lo and Bridge did the same thing on the other side, and set about hunting the money (in this instance, a $20 bill) down.
The Andrew Jackson was hidden on a tree.
This is where the previous one was hidden. pic.twitter.com/i6ZeqW5Th7— Finders Keepers (@nbfinderskeeper) February 11, 2017
After the winner was identified, and the players dispersed, we soon got a clue about another hidden prize. The initial clue proved to be a red herring, and took us away from the resting place of the next $20 bill.
But we were soon back on the scent, and found out the prize was located behind the Red Lobster near Oakview Mall.
There's a store for gamers called @TradepostEnt behind red lobster on center street. It's in that parking lot. Not on buildings!!!!!!!— Finders Keepers (@nbfinderskeeper) February 11, 2017
Julia, Lo and Bridge ran around the parking lot with the other crazies. Before we knew it, a picture of the bus bench up on West Center was tweeted, and someone found the $20 bill.
Lauren climbed a tree, and managed to break a nail.
We decided to get some sustenance after the second bout of mayhem, and stopped at the Winchell's Donuts by 120th and Center. We ate our treats, laughed about the night's activities, and tried to gear down.
As fate would have it, users voted on the @NBFindersKeeper account to have two more treasure hunts. We had given up by then, and we're headed back home in midtown.
But, just as we were moving east along I-80 near 72nd Street, a notification popped up on our iPhones that the next prize would be in Aksarben Village.
We couldn't give up then! Not only was the destination close to home, it is a locale we know all too well.
So we drove to the village. I decided to brave the cold, get out of the car, and search for the treasure this time.
We learned the money was hidden near Eat Fit Go. We parked along the street and started rooting around every bench, lamppost and planting bed in the area.
There is a store in Aksarben called @EatFitGo it will be in that area. Not on the buildings or businesses. Retweet and will give specifics.— Finders Keepers (@nbfinderskeeper) February 11, 2017
The four of us initially dispersed in our search. Then, after a few minutes, Julia and I met up. As we pondered our next move, a black truck slowly rolled north on 67th, and the driver poked his head out the window and said, "Hey...you wanna know where the money is hidden?"
He proceeded to tell the two of us that it was on top of one of the orange construction cones across the street from Eat Fit Go.
Julia and I were kinda freaked out at that point, but we headed across the street anyway. She soon found the $20 bill -- on the aforementioned construction cone -- and the hunt was over for the evening (it was 12:30 at that point, and the Twitter account was calling it a night).
It has been found. https://t.co/0sSmB5fKD6— Finders Keepers (@nbfinderskeeper) February 11, 2017
It was a peculiar experience. It kind of reminded us of a simpler version of the social media game played in the movie "Nerve" (if you haven't seen that movie, check it out.)
The concept itself is pretty retro, but with the hyper-connected world we live creates interesting implications and opportunities for something like this.
