JAY — The Jay Recreation Committee and the Androscoggin Land Trust combined forces to promote an educational activity at French Falls Park Aug. 10.

Environthon teacher Rob Taylor set up a challenging 10-station scavenger hunt for participants to solve using their cellphones as GPS units. Using smartphone apps, participants were able to get within 10 meters of hidden bottles that contained clues to answer a challenging puzzle.

Around two dozen parents and children traveled over the 1½ miles of trails in the park to search. A fast-paced game developed as participants ran from one hiding spot to another. After all 10 letters were located, teams gathered around the table to develop their answer to the puzzle.

Debbie Charest, director of the Androscoggin Land Trust, provided prizes to all the participants who solved the puzzle, which was “sugar maple.”

The French Falls trails are open to the public from dawn to dusk year-round. The trails are well-marked and travel along a forested ridge overlooking the east side of the Androscoggin River. Historical evidence is still there from log drives of long ago.

Access to the trails is found at the parking lot for the Whistle Stop Trail across Main Street from the Spruce Mountain Schools.


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