University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt
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The University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt (or Scav Hunt) is an annual four-day team-based scavenger hunt held at the University of Chicago in May. It is often called the largest scavenger hunt in the world. During Scav Hunt, teams compete to acquire items off a list of approximately 300 items, with each item assigned a point value. Items involve performances, construction, arts and crafts, research, travel and finding obscure objects. Lists typically include at least one item that takes place on the University's main quadrangles while students are in class, a party on Friday night, a cross-country road trip and Scav Olympics, which includes original games and athletic competitions.
Scav Hunt began in 1987, founded by Chris Straus, who organized the list and judged items with Cassie Scharff, Diane Kelly, Nolan McCarty, and Rick Jeffries.[citation needed] Perhaps the most notable item that has yet been completed was from the 1999 list; a breeder reactor in a shed was successfully built on the main quadrangle.[1] The item itself was a joke referring to the "Radioactive Boy Scout" David Hahn. The students irradiated thorium with thermal neutrons and observed traces of uranium and plutonium.[2]
In 2002, Scav Hunt was the subject of a documentary titled The Hunt. [3]
[edit] Notable items
- Coax Michael Jordan out of retirement. (4545 points.) This item was not completed.
- A team member's umbilical cord, to be eaten by that team member. (96 points) [4] Completed by the Max Palevsky team, 2004
- A real live, breathing elephant. 500 pts [5]. This item was completed, with team members also finding two monkeys (one in tiny S.W.A.T. gear) and a team of Hazmat waste removal experts complete with gear and truck.[citation needed]
- A breeder reactor built in a shed, and the boy scout badge to prove credit was given where boy scout credit was due. [500 points] This item was completed.
[edit] Past results
- 2006
- 1st: Max Palevsky
- 2nd: Snell-Hitchcock
- 3rd: The FIST
- 4th: Broover
- 5th: Shoreland
- 6th: Tie- MacPierce/Burton-Judson
- 8th: Broadview
- 9th: Vegan/Co-op/MacLab
- Previous winners
- 2005: Max Palevsky ties with Snell-Hitchcock
- 2004: Snell-Hitchcock
- 2003: Max Palevsky
- 2002: Max Palevsky
- 2001: Snell-Hitchcock
- 2000: Shoreland ties with Snell-Hitchcock
- 1999: Burton-Judson
- 1998: Shoreland
- 1997: Snell-Hitchcock (by default, after Shoreland was disqualified)
- 1996: Vincent House
- 1995: Snell-Hitchcock
- 1994: Snell-Hitchcock
- 1993: Snell-Hitchcock
- 1992: Lower Rickert House
- 1991: MUNUC (Model UN)
- 1990: Palmer House
- 1989: Talbot House
- 1988: Chamberlin House
- 1987: Chamberlin House
[edit] External links
- Official Scav Hunt website
- Yearly Results
- Periphrastic Films, creators of the 2002 documentary The Hunt.
- New York Times (19 May 1999) Cache of National section article on the U of C hunt mentioning the nuclear reactor
