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The Treasure Hunt Game
A Modern Adventure Inspired by Childhood Wonder
The Genesis: Where It All Began
Whatever happened to buried treasures?
It is the romance of adventure that leads to the search for treasure.
Robert Louis Stevenson once remarked that a man who had not hunted treasure as a boy — was never a child.
My adventure began in 1969.
I was eleven years old when I found my first treasure. I had been playing with friends in my backyard on Bacon Street when I started digging near a group of oak trees. After several minutes of digging, I found it — an 1867 Indian Head Penny. Over 100 years old. I had never seen anything like it before. My friends marveled at the coin’s beauty and remarkable condition.
From that moment forward, something changed. We were always on the lookout for new treasures. We jumped on our Stingray bikes and searched all over Winchester — old houses, the Fells, Sandy Beach, Manchester Field, downtown streets.
Sometimes we drew treasure maps and buried marbles, keys, secret notes, or baseball cards in glass jars to recover on another day.
That playful search — that childlike quest — never truly leaves us. Even as we grow older, most of us secretly hold onto the dream that one day we might uncover something magical. A treasure chest. Gold coins. A hidden fortune. Something extraordinary.
In 1983, the world felt that magic again when a children’s book called Masquerade detailed clues to a hidden golden hare. It became a worldwide hunt. People everywhere followed the clues, deciphered riddles, and searched the countryside. That spirit never left me.
In 2004, I wrote a book called The Buried Treasure Game. $50,000 was hidden. Participants from over 30 countries joined the hunt. Over 10,000 books were sold and the game became a viral sensation.
But today, we bring the hunt into a new era and it’s a real world adventure with purpose. Hosted by Top Secret Kids Corporation – a 32 year old national public charity – The Treasure Hunt Game combines mystery, exploration, community impact and STEM education.
What Is The Treasure Hunt Game?
The Treasure Hunt Game is a short adventure where participants follow 25 carefully crafted clues to locate a real treasure. Each edition of the game is town-specific (for example, Woburn Edition, Stoneham Edition, Winchester Edition, and more). The treasure location is somewhere within that city or town.
Participants receive:
For 5 consecutive days
5 clues per day
A total of 25 clues
The clues build upon each other. Each day reveals more detail.
Each riddle narrows the search.
By the end of the fifth day, a sharp mind and persistent spirit will be able to determine the exact location.
This is not random guessing.
This is strategic, layered, puzzle-solving fun.
Current / Upcoming Towns
| Town | Start of Game | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Woburn, Massachusetts | July 1, 2026 | TBD |
| 2. Stoneham, Massachusetts | July 1, 2026 | TBD |
| 3. Winchester, Massachusetts | July 1, 2026 | TBD |
| 4. Reading, Massachusetts | July 1, 2026 | TBD |
| 5. Burlington, Massachusetts | July 1, 2026 | TBD |
| 6. Andover, Massachusetts | September 1, 2026 | TBD |
| 7. North Andover, Massachusetts | September 1, 2026 | TBD |
| 8. Billerica, Massachusetts | September 1, 2026 | TBD |
| 9. Chelmsford, Massachusetts | September 1, 2026 | TBD |
| 10. Wilmington, Massachusetts | September 1, 2026 | TBD |
Important: Nothing Is Buried
The treasure location is publicly accessible, and won once properly identified. The treasure location can be many things including a sign, monument, part of a building, etc.
Participants must respect:
All local laws
Public property
Private property
Historical landmarks
Nature and environment
Let’s be clear about something very important.
Nothing is buried.
There is:
No digging
No defacing property
No vandalism
No trespassing
The hunt is about intelligence, deduction, and exploration, not excavation.
Participants register online for their local edition of The Treasure Hunt Game.
The cost is $9.99. You can register anytime before or after the start of the game. Once registered, you’ll receive confirmation and instructions to begin your five-day challenge.
For five days, you will receive 5 clues per day via email (25 total).
- Local history
- Geography
- Landmarks
- Symbolism
- Wordplay
- Coordinates
- Visual riddles
When you believe you have found the treasure location, email your submission to:
michael@thetreasurehuntgame.com
Include:
- A selfie of you at the treasure location
- A physical photo of the treasure location
- Your name and contact information
The first correct submission wins. There is a maximum of 5 submissions per person per town.
The Prize
There is one winner for each game (town).
The prize consists of:
Five (5) pure silver coins (Morgan silver dollars 1878 - 1921)
Retail value approximately $500
These are real, tangible, valuable coins.
The winner will be officially recognized and awarded the prize at: The local Town or City Hall Photos will be taken at the time of winning for official documentation and promotional purposes.
One treasure.
One winner.
One unforgettable moment.
The Duration
Each edition of The Treasure Hunt Game will continue for:
-Up to 1 year -Or until the treasure is found -Whichever comes first
If the treasure is not found within one year, the game concludes and details of the location will be revealed.
Why Treasure Hunting Still Matters
Hunting treasure is not work — it is a fascinating kind of play.
It appeals to the strain of childish wonder in all of us. Even the most serious, conservative adult still remembers that inner voice that once whispered: “What if?”
The folklore of almost every culture is rich with buried treasure stories. Pirates and sea chests. Hidden hoards. Sunken ships. Lost gold.
Treasure hunting is active and alive today.
As you read this, expeditions all over the world are searching coastlines, exploring wreck sites, scanning forests, and chasing legends.
But here’s the difference:
The Treasure Hunt Game is safe.
It is structured. It is fair. It is community-based. It is treasure hunting reimagined for modern times.
The Spirit Behind the Hunt
Many pleasures of treasure hunting are derived from within. It is the anticipation of what one might find that makes the search
electric. It is that inner voice that urges you past the time to quit.
That whisper that says:
“Look again.”
“Think harder.” “Don’t give up.”
To listen to that voice is to understand what it means to feel like a
child again.
Helen Keller once said:
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
The Treasure Hunt Game invites you to live that daring adventure right in your own town.
Be a Dreamer
That is the first step.
Then comes research.
Then comes excitement.
Then comes the search.
Be skeptical — the clues won’t be easy.
Be prepared — you’ll learn local history and geography along the
way.
Be careful — respect property and people.
Be persistent — treasures are carefully hidden.
Be a believer — confidence and imagination are part of the journey.
And remember…
When an adventure is played for its own sake at the behest of that vigorous play spirit inherited from our ancestors it yields rewards far beyond silver coins.
It yields:
Family time
Outdoor exploration
Shared problem solving
Laughter
Anticipation
Community excitement
Who Can Participate?
Why This Game Is Different
Unlike fictional treasure stories
- The treasure exists.
- The clues are solvable.
- The prize is real.
- The timeline is defined.
- The winner is recognized publicly.
Unlike traditional buried treasure legends
- No dangerous excavation.
- No secret pirate chart passed down through generations.
- No digging holes in forests.
This is adventure without destruction.
This is mystery with integrity.
A Final Word
Opportunity knocks at the door.
Treasure hunting may seem like fiction — but it is alive and well.
Mysterious schooners once flitted from port to port, guided by
tattered charts.
Today, modern explorers use GPS satellites and Google Maps.
But the spirit is the same.
That same inner drive. That same hope.
That same childlike anticipation. And when you look for treasure do it with your children.
Because they are life’s true treasure. Godspeed. And may the hunt begin.
The Treasure Hunt Game is a skill-based puzzle competition.
This is not a lottery, raffle, or sweepstakes.
Winning is determined solely by a participant’s ability to:
- Interpret and analyze clues
- Conduct independent research
- Correctly determine the physical treasure location
- Submit accurate photographic proof
The first participant to correctly solve the clues and submit a valid claim in accordance with the official rules is declared the winner.
The $9.99 entry fee provides access to the puzzle materials and does not increase or decrease the likelihood of success beyond participant skill, reasoning, and effort.
Because the outcome is determined by skill and not chance, The Treasure Hunt Game is structured as a skill-based contest under applicable laws. Participants are responsible for ensuring participation is lawful in their jurisdiction.