Hillsborough Awarded For Outer Space Emergency Prep Scavenger Hunt

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough Parks and Recreation was awarded recently for its unique campaign that included a scavenger hunt at township parks while helping to promote emergency preparedness.

The Agency Showcase Award for Video Production was presented at the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association (NJRPA) Annual Awards Ceremony at the Harrah’s Waterfront Convention Center in Atlantic City on March 14.

The award was accepted by Annette Henderson, Office Administrator and Bob Wagner, Recreation and Parks Director for Hillsborough Parks & Recreation.

The Hillsborough Recreation Department’s Outer Space Task Force Emergency Prep Scavenger Hunt video promotion aimed to promote and kick off their Emergency Prep Scavenger Hunt.

The Recreation Department staff, Mayor, Police Chief, Public Information Officer, Fire Safety Staff, and the Video Media team emulated a news briefing to report about an outer space creature sighting that led their residents to clues in local parks that would help decipher a secret code.

The scavenger hunt was part of an Emergency Preparation campaign where residents received items to start Emergency Kits such as a flashlight, duct tape, toilet paper, and other Emergency Planning materials.

There was no cost to produce the video material. All the items distributed to residents were donated from various departments in the town, such as Fire Safety, Social Services, and Building.

The informational materials are included free of charge from the FEMA website. They promoted the video on the Recreation Department’s website, the township website, and at Township Committee meetings. They also posted on their Facebook page.

This campaign was a unique way to not only inform the residents about the Scavenger Hunt with a fun video but also help the Public Information Officer, Mayor, Police Chief, and Fire Safety Staff to practice properly holding a news conference according to standard guidelines.

There were around 200 families that participated in the Scavenger Hunt. Some families even
reported that they enjoyed finding new parks and trails to visit in town while learning how to prepare for an emergency.

The New Jersey Recreation and Park Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting parks and recreation; enhancing the professional development of its members; advocating sound policy and stewardship related to parks, recreation, resource management, and leisure services; and increasing awareness of the value of play and preservation of the environment to interested citizens and the public.

The purpose of the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association’s Awards Program is to honor and
identify dedicated leaders, employees, and volunteers in the field of Parks and Recreation, and to
recognize the State’s outstanding Recreation and Park agencies for excellence in programming,
publicity, and facility design.

The goal of the Awards Program is to focus State attention on the achievement of Park and Recreation agencies, to recognize the continuing efforts of staff and volunteers, and to acknowledge support extended by member agencies.