Let’s Get Ready to Scramble!

by Mary Jo on June 10th, 2008

Have you ever come across something that seems like fun, and said, I want to do that? And then, a day goes by. And then another. And before you know it, you’ve forgotten about the idea completely.

That’s what happened to me with the idea of Street Scramble. But I came across the information again a couple days ago, and began my research all over again.

What is Street Scramble? It’s an urban orienteering event where teams race against the clock to find pre-determined locations on a map. There are a variety of themes for the scrambles, they come in various durations of time, and they seem to be held in a variety of Seattle area neighborhoods.

Here’s basically how it works:

You can register online or on the day of the event, showing up at a starting location. You can come on foot, bicycle, and if you are mobility impaired, come with your wheelchair or scooter. Families, adults, kids, all ages are welcome. Some level of fitness and ability to read a map are helpful, but like all teams, if you lack these skills yourself, put together a team that complements one another.

A half hour before starting time, the teams are given a map that is marked with about 30 selected locations. Each location is given a point value (rounded down to the nearest value of ten). Along with your map, you are also given a scorecard which must be filled out when you visit the various locations. There will a question on the scorecard which can only be answered by visiting the spot - so NO cheating!

With map and scorecard in hand, you will use that half hour of time to plot out your plan of attack. The goal - to score the most points and return to your starting point within the time allowed. Do you go for the high value spots, seeking quality over quantity? Or, just as in presidential politics, do you grab up the little ones and keep moving? These are decisions that the team must make — oh, and the team must keep together the entire time.

At the end of the specified time, score cards are tallied while participants enjoy some food and beverage. Don’t be late though, as penalties are assessed for late returns.

That’s a good overview of the event, but you can refer to the official rules for precise details and information.

Does it sound like fun yet? Keep reading for more info!

Upcoming Scramble Dates:

June 28 2008, Saturday, 9:30 am – Port Orchard Chamber Street Scramble, 2 hours
July 4 2008, Friday, 1:30 pm – Family 4th Street Scramble – Gasworks Park, there will be a 90-minute and a 3-hour option.
July 19 2008, Saturday 3:30 pm – Seattle Night & Day Challenge. A BIG event with 60 checkpoints spanning 16 hours, although 7-hour and 3-hour options are available. This is the grand daddy of the events! Competitive and casual participants are both welcome.
August 1, 2008, Friday - Cle Elum, a one hour scramble.
September 21, 2008, Sunday 10:00am – Fremont, 90-minutes for on foot participants only.
December 13, 2008, Saturday 9:30am - Pike Place Market, another on foot scramble, 2 hours.

Registration is fairly modest, starting at FREE for kids under 5 and topping out for $15 for adults. Onsite registration is usually $5 more.

Now, doesn’t this sound like fun?

I think this sounds like a terrific way to explore the city and have a great time, too.

If anyone is interested in putting together a team (bloggers anyone?), please give me a shout. I have good on foot stamina, do a reasonably good job reading a map, have good analytical and strategic skills, and can be as competitive (or not) as the situation requires. I’d be a good addition to your team — but would probably prefer a team looking for FUN (as opposed to competition) on my first attempt.

I’d love to hear from any of you who have done this? Is it as much fun as it sounds?

Photo credit: SXC

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Tags: city blogs, destination blogs, orienteering, seattle, Seattle attractions. Street Scramble, Seattle tourism, Seattle travel, seattle-traveler, the-seattle-traveler, travel, vacation, Washington, Washington-State

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