2007 Archive – The Great Park Pursuit

The Connecticut State Parks Family Adventure!

After an exciting day of activities and fun at Hopeville Pond State Park on June 23, teams competing in The Great Park Pursuit 2007 were definitely tired. You might say they were even wiped.

But that might be due to the fact that they were flinging toilet paper around in an attempt to win fabulous grand prize packages provided by North Cove Outfitters of Old Saybrook and Ski Market, with various locations throughout Connecticut.

Nearly 150 teams participating in The Great Park Pursuit 2007 had visited all seven parks on the game schedule, and were qualified as semi-finalists to compete for prizes. After taking a Great Park Pursuit quiz that tested teams on the parks they had visited, twenty teams emerged as top-scorers and moved on to the final competition.

This year’s finalists were armed with rolls of toilet paper loaded into a slingshot apparatus. Teams had to launch the rolls into (or closest to) an outhouse sitting in the field beyond. The teams that landed closest to the target won the grand prizes – an outdoor excursion package, kayak equipment, and a bicycle package.

WFSB meteorologist and Great Park Pursuit spokesman Scot Haney was on hand to assist families with their locking and loading. Unlike last year’s rainy Pursuit, the sun shone bright for every weekend of this year’s game. Having a weatherman involved with the game must have been good luck!

The teams were given one practice round followed by two recorded attempts. With impeccable aim, Team Picnic of Naugatuck landed their roll within 16 inches of the target, earning them the top spot in the Pursuit. Only 21 inches away from the outhouse was team Linden Family 3+2 of New Britain. The final grand prize winners were The Young Explorers of Monroe, who landed within 31 inches of the target.

After all the excitement of the day, teams did not have to go far to rest – overnight camping was offered at the park for interested families. Activities continued into the night, with evening canoeing, star gazing and fun around the campfire. In the end, all families that spent time outdoors and enjoying nature were winners!

FIRST PLACE – Outdoor Excursion Package
"Team Picnic" of Naugatuck
Walter, Deby, Emma and Atticus

SECOND PLACE – Kayak Package
"Linden Family 3+2" of New Britain
Michael, Jody, Anneliese, Kieran and Owen

THIRD PLACE – Bicycle Package
"The Young Explorers" of Monroe
Scott, Katie, Jeremy, Andrew, Becky, Bonnie and Bill

* All teams attending the finale received travel medical kits as well as water bottles from North Cove Outfitters.