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DCIO events roundup: Scavenger Hunt, Block Walk Challenge, and Treats & Trivia

DCIO employees take part in a scavenger hunt in downtown Salt Lake City on June 12, 2024. 

DCIO employees pose by the "Stream of Life" bronze statue in City Creek Center, which commemorates Utah wildlife and depicts several official state animals, as part of a scavenger hunt in downtown Salt Lake City on June 12, 2024. 

About 40 Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) organization employees sleuthed their way around downtown Salt Lake City as part a timed scavenger hunt for a chance at prizes.

“Please don’t Google anything, you know, pretend it’s the ’70s,” Tammy Mabey, member of the DCIO Smells Like Team Spirit Committee, told eager explorers assembled in the 102 Tower lobby.

Around 11 a.m., four-person teams set out around a two-block radius around 102 Tower in unseasonably hot weather (temperatures topped out at 99 degrees that afternoon) to find and photograph 20 common objects like “something that begins with the letter Z,” as well as five more challenging clues hinted at by riddles like “lanterns glow and dragons might venture there for a delicious bite.” (Answer: A sidewalk plaque on Regent Street marking the location of the city’s Chinatown district settled in the 1880s).

If not for arule against any single object representing more than one clue, some eagle-eyed participants spotted three in one — the Stream of Life bronze sculpture in City Creek Center checked off “statue,” “bird,” and “beehive.” Even without shortcuts, teams returned to 102 Tower having found most or all the items on their lists.

After DCIO staff replenished with boxed lunches from Apple Spice Catering Co., the winners were announced:

  • Mike Hess, Ryan Bahmanyar, Niel Mejia, and Scott Wilgar: U of U camping chairs (grand prize)
  • Robert Crawford, Seth Brown, Lihong Yu, and Namita Mahtta: U of U tumblers
  • John Fresco, Reed Dow, Bryce Saldajeno, and Wentao Zhang: U of U mugs
  • David Sexton, David Lake, Rob Lake, and CS McMillan: Stickers and candy
  • Keegan Spencer, Ari Lacanienta, Jordan Ainslie, and Shane Washburn: Stress relief balls
  • Susan Schaefer, Erin Otterstrom, Andrew Nelson, and Nikhila Kasha: Stickers
  • Val Olds, Max Rodgers, and Justin Stowe: U of U mugs
  • Bret Pehrson, Mike Andrade, Sasha Castillo, and Ray Daurelle: U of U umbrellas

Thanks to the DCIO Smells Like Team Spirit Committee for organizing and managing the scavenger hunt.

Some DCIO employees walked the block around 102 Tower twice a week as part of a six-week walking challenge.

DCIO employees walk the block around 102 Tower on July 3, 2024, as part of a six-week walking challenge.

Block Walk Challenge

On July 1, 2024, the DCIO organization began a six-week walking challenge to fosterteam building and support healthy lifestyles with a walk around the block surrounding 102 Tower. Since its kickoff, about two dozen DCIO staff have regularly joined the group walks at 102 Tower, which are scheduled every Monday and Wednesday. Participants must walk a half-mile three times per week (18 total) and log their progress to complete the challenge and receive WellU credit. The challenge ends August 9.

Treats & Trivia

Amid persistent triple-digit temperatures, DCIO employees welcomed the Treats & Trivia event on July 22, 2024, which featured popsicles and ice cream. Trivia, once again led by Technical Writer Patrick Harris, included questions about the Olympics, science, and pop culture — usually whatever strikes his fancy at the time. Two teams tied for first place with a score of 15 out of 20.

Group 1: Garth Devries, Ed Fresco, Nelson LeDuc, Aimee Morgan, and Jim Urry

Group 2: Kevon Balls, Seth Brown, Justin Stowe, and Val Olds

Thanks to the DCIO Smells Like Team Spirit Committee for organizing and managing the scavenger hunt, walking challenge, and treats and trivia time.

Below are photos from the events:

 

 

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Last Updated: 10/17/24