Above: SOLF is encouraging the public to look for their signs (and use their map) to get out on their properties, collect pieces of a puzzle, and earn a treat. (images edited from contributed photo and website)
Whether you’re trying to motivate yourself to connect with nature or inspire your family members to explore the outdoors with you, you might want to take part in the “Connecting with SOLF!” challenge.
The Southborough Open Land Foundation is offering prizes for anyone who completes their special hunt for hidden puzzle pieces. The challenge also offers a special prize to the first six to track down all 9 pieces. So get hunting soon!
Here is SOLF’s punny announcement they asked me to share:
Connecting with SOLF!
SOLF owns and cares for nearly 200 acres of open space in town, including the popular Beals Preserve, yet few have visited our other locations, all of which help us “preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources” in town. This puzzles us! So, we challenge you to visit 9 other SOLF properties! Look for our signs with the red rooster!
Here’s what you do: Using clues below, visit the 9 properties listed below and, at each, find a treasure box. Once you do, leave a message in the small notebook and take one unique, 3D-printed, puzzle piece. After you’ve collected all 9 unique pieces, assemble them and tell us what you see! Email a photo of the puzzle (and a few selfies from your visits!) to info@solf.org, and for completing the challenge, we’ll send you $15 towards a meal at Southborough House of Pizza or ice cream at Uhlman’s Ice Cream. You choose. You earned it! The first six people to complete the challenge get an additional promo item/coin from Uhlman’s!
Need help finding SOLF open spaces? Check out the Our Properties section on our website. Have questions or need help? Email us at info@solf.org.
Here are the locations and clues!
[Editor’s Note: I inserted links below to dedicated property pages on SOLF’s website. For the other properties, you can find a map and details here.]
Big Oak Woods: head toward the sign, take the path a short spell, then look back, behind the old rock wall where the huge tree fell!
Bigelow Wildlife Refuge: about 20 ft past the sign, you’ll find a prize in raspberries!
Clark Grove: as you climb the path, the box is at the top boulder!
Eastbrook Farmlands: go past the grapes, and take a path to the water!
Kallander Woods: take a walk past our Valley Rd rooster and look near the pond!
Lambert Corner: stop and look under the holly across from the stream!
Lynbrook Hollow: look behind the wall by the brook!
Nipmuc Trail Woods: walk the Nipmuc beaten path and find the boulder by the brook!
Templeman Woods: it’s back at the Watkins plaque!
SOLF is a non-profit dedicated to preserving and stewarding natural resources here in town. You can learn more at solf.org.
