The ‘Wall of Hope” mural, which was painted in downtown Franklin in 2022, will be part of The CHASE, a wellness scavenger hunt being planned by Upstream Prevention. Participants complete challenges related to whole-body wellness between May 6-13, and can win prizes for their efforts.
RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL
Throughout early May, the quest is on.
People will spread out throughout the county solving puzzles and connecting with other people. As clues come together, they earn points to qualify them for prizes.
The treasure at the end of this hunt is not just rewards and fun, though — it’s better mental health.
Upstream Prevention, a local organization aimed at promoting public health, has planned a community-wide wellness scavenger hunt it’s calling The CHASE. The aim is challenging people to focus on their whole-body health — melding physical health and mental health to best benefit local residents.
Using a smartphone application known as Goosechase, people will be directed throughout the county from May 6 to 13 to complete challenges related to wellness. Participants earn points for completing the missions, and can be entered to win prizes ranging from fitness passes in Franklin or Greenwood to gift cards from community businesses.
“We hope people learn something, because woven in, there are opportunities to learn about wellness. They can set a small goal for themselves, to work towards to improve their wellness,” said Hope Thompson, project coodinator for Upstream Prevention. “And then we hope they have fun engaging in an activity that promotes wellness.”
May is Mental Health Awareness Month throughout the nation, with organizations and communities coming together to promote postive mental health, fight stigma and advocate. Upstream Prevention focuses on different aspects of public health, with specific attention paid to prevention and reduction of youth substance use, improved mental health of the community, and creating an environment conducive to healthy behaviors for all citizens.
The organization regularly plans activities, public awareness events and more during the month as it pushes to make mental health more visible. This year, they wanted to do something unique to get people thinking about all aspects of health.
“Mental health and physical health are directly related, so we wanted to focus on something that hit on whole-body wellness,” Thompson said. “But we also wanted to do something fun.”
The basis for The CHASE is a framework known as the “Eight Dimensions of Wellness.” In order to be healthy in all aspects of life, experts have identified different areas that impact our health, such as intellectual, social, environmental, spiritual and occupational health, in addition to physical and mental health.
Doing some research, Upstream staff found the Goosechase app, which allows users to create and take part in unique interactive experiences. After playing around with it, they decided it would make for a perfect way to do a big activity that also focused on health.
“Every mission ties back to one of the dimensions of wellness, whether that’s social, emotional, financial, spiritual — everything connects back to one of those, sometimes more than one,” Thompson said.
To play, participants should download the Goosechase app on their smartphones, and either create a free account or participate as a guest. They can find the Upstream hunt by searching “The CHASE,” and on May 6, the clues will emerge.
Missions will take people all over the county. People can play by themselves, or go out as a group.
“It’s self-paced. We did that on purpose, spreading it over a week’s period, because everyone is busy, and it might be hard to take half a day to run around the county and do this,” Thompson said. “It’s going to be a start-and-stop as you can throughout the week.”
At midnight May 13, whoever has the highest point totals from achieving the missions will be entered for the prizes. Organizers have put together a variety of wellness-related donated rewards, including family membership and fitness center passes to Franklin Parks and Recreation, as well a Greenwood Parks and Recreation Parks pack with passes for Freedom Springs, the Field House, KiD CiTY, and the Community Center.
Other prizes include an opportunity to win gift cards for various community businesses such as 10 Pins and Canary Creek Cinema, and a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.
“It’s fun stuff that’s also healthy. Hopefully, there’s something for everybody,” Thompson said.
