From the Author
The National Geographic Society's recent Roper Poll testing geographic literacy in young people in 15 western nations, put Sweden at the top while the USA just edged out Mexico to keep out of the basement. Sweden (and many other European countries) have included Orienteering in their national curriculum and the hypothesis is that orienteering games and its inherent skills lead to greater geographic awareness.
More US young adults could identify the island where the last "Survivor" was filmed than they could find Israel on the map.
"The Great Central Park Treasure Hunt" offers millions of New Yorkers, including the hundreds of thousands of students that reside within a walk or subway ride, a fantasitic adventure in geographic fun and awareness. AND EVERYONE CAN EARN TREASURE!!!
About the Author
Chris Cassone, the heart of Treasure Hunt Adventures, has brought orienteering-based programs to the NY metro area since 1982. He developed the Treasure Hunt for Scouts who were having problems learning map skills. Soon, schools were asking for his multi-day sessions on interdisciplinary orienteering. In 1990 he produced his first corporate event for Pepsico and since then has led over 10,000 corporate leaders in team builders.
But it was his friendship with the late Bjorn Kjellstrom that inspired THA. Bjorn, who participated in the invention of the modern day liquid-filled compass and is called the "Father of American Orienteering," sent Chris to Sweden in 1991 to learn from the world's best in teaching navigation skills. In a National Geographic Society/Gallup Poll testing geographic awareness and skills in young adults in the industrialized nations, Sweden (who mandated Orienteering as part of its national curriculum) claimed first while the U.S., sadly, placed last. Chris learned from the "Swedish model" which teaches orienteering in a micro-to-macro way (class to campus to forest.)
His biggest success to date has been the town-wide school system-based "West Orange 2000 Family Treasure Hunt". Over 1500 parents and children searched with a map over a two week period for clues around the town that would make them eligible for the grand prize. This last August he led over 800 incoming MBA candidates at Harvard Business School's Orientation Day on a campus-wide treasure hunt.
An experienced facilitator, a nationally competitive orienteer, a video and music producer and an entertainer with a knack for pizzazz, Chris lives in Carmel, NY with his wife and children.
