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NFM Chamber Great Community Treasure Hunt live event July 30

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ANDREA GALABINSKI A “pirate puppy” wearing a skull and crossbones bandanna getting ready for Best Pirate Doggie Costume Contest, part of The Great Community Treasure Hunt event, with Chamber Executive Director Kim Constantine.

For 40-plus days, the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has been holding the online phase of its second annual Great Community Treasure Hunt, with literally thousands playing.

At stake are great prizes for those who get the clues to lead to the local “treasure” — a plethora of prizes donated by local businesses.

On Saturday, July 30, the popular live festival, with an actual treasure hunt with clues, more prizes and giveaways and announcement of the winners, will be held on Saturday, July 30, at the Shell Factory & Nature Park. The live event starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

“Thousands of people have already registered to win these wonderful treasures from the business community,” said Chamber Executive Director Kim Constantine. “Last year we had 10,000 participants play online and last year’s festival brought over 500 people to enjoy prizes and giveaways.”

The Breeze Newspapers and North Fort Myers Neighbor are a Title Sponsor, and will cover the event.

Constantine said one of the most popular parts of the live event last year was a back to school backpack distribution to the first 150 children there.

The Chamber Foundation provided the backpacks.

“The backpacks have arrived and Marco Office Supply just delivered all the school supplies. Our Chamber is looking forward to handing out school backpacks and wish the best to our future business leaders in the upcoming school year.”

At the event, participants will have a clue sheet, where they will have to scour the Shell Factory & Nature Park grounds to answer, to be eligible for prizes.

A new addition this year is the Best Pirate Doggie Costume Contest, which will be held at 11:45 a.m. at the Shell Factory’s new Doggy Heaven Pet Sports Park.

Prizes include:

— Ellsworth Heating & Cooling, Inc.

Free air conditioner, includes installation

— Belk Department Store

Back to school shopping spree

— LCEC

Power Surge Unit

— Costco

Grocery cart full of necessities

— Walmart

$100 Visa card

— BJ’s Whole Sale

$100 Gas Card

— Middleton One hour Air

Four $250 coupons for air conditioning service

— Pat Huffmaster

Free singing lessons from Huffmaster Music school

3 months value at $285

— Cape Coral Eye Center

10 Free eye exams for children 18 or younger at the Bayshore Road Office

— Serv Pro

Free spot cleaning kit

— Sun Splash Waterpark

Family tickets for 8

— Country View Gardens

$100 Walmart card

— Edison Ford Estates

Family Four Package tickets to Edison Ford Estates

— Bill’s Carpet Cleaning

1,000 square feet cleaning of tile

— North Pointe Dental

Free Youth Teeth Exam and cleaning and more.

There will also be a large Business Exposition with giveaways.

“The Shell Factory will also provide discounted family package for all to enjoy fun in the park. The first 150 kids arriving to the event will receive the Back to School Backpack from North Fort Myers Honorary Mayor, Michelle Brisendine,” Constantine said.

Best Buy will have an “Experience Station” set up in the Capt’n Fishbones Dolphin room, for fun and play for everyone.

Event Schedule

11 a.m. to noon Kids register for backpacks at welcome center

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Last Chance for treasure hunting to win. Play hunt that day and drop in prize box at welcome center

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local Business expo

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. register for giveaways and play 50/50 raffle (win cash)

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Best Buy Experience Station

11 a.m. register “Best Dressed Pirate Dog” 11:45 a.m. contest begins “Win a Pet Smart Dog card and more”

12:30 p.m. Backpack presentation with North Fort Myers Honorary Mayor Michelle Brisendine & Marco Office Supply

1:30 p.m. Treasure hunt drawings – Must be present to win

2 p.m. 50/50 cash drawing and winner announced. Must be present to win.

Constantine and Chamber Board of Director’s Dick Collins came up with the idea last year, thinking a treasure hunt would be a fun way to learn about the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and it would be fitting since pirates are a big part of the area’s early days.

“History stories go that there are 10 treasure chests, which were buried in various places throughout the North Fort Myers/Fort Myers region in the 1800s,” said Constantine.

This community treasure hunt highlights area business members.

The online Treasure Hunt continues through Saturday, July 30. Answers to clues about the North Fort Myers Chamber and members can be found either on chamber website, member website, or local businesses.

To play, go to nfmchamber.org. For information, call the chamber at 997-9111.