ACC Lakeside Sitka’s treasure hunts encourage Sitkans to stay active and have fun while staying socially distant.

Thanks to a creative idea from the Alaska Commercial Company (ACC) store in Sitka, Alaska, people can now find an “excuse” to go outside for a discovery walk – while still staying six feet apart from one another.

Self-isolating is helpful to reduce the spread of COVID-19, yet it can have detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of humans. Using a mobile application called Actionbound, ACC Lakeside has introduced a small “treasure hunt” where participants can engage in a 45-minute or longer walk around downtown Sitka, discovering some “Sitka Hidden Gems” and other interesting attractions.

A new quest is available every two weeks. Using the QR code provided, participants will find more route information and instructions to complete the mission. There are even trivia questions to keep participants on their toes between challenges. Selfies and photos are gladly welcomed and will be shared online for those who would like a peek at the outside world.

This fun physical activity is a great way for people to stay active. Since its launch, the treasure hunt has garnered much popularity and praise from the community. Sitka Chamber of Commerce’s tourist branch even gave the ACC store’s initiative a shout-out in their e-newsletter.

“I designed [the treasure hunt] to help the community to stay active with a little fun featuring awesome places to see Sitka’s ‘Hidden Gems,’” shared Vince Winter, ACC Lakeside Store Manager. “All the missions are carefully tested before they are published by our team. From what I’ve seen, people are loving the challenge since it gives people a reason to be excited about and go out to enjoy some fresh air. As I’ve been posting our catchphrase over the past few weeks – Stay Safe, Stay Active, Stay Strong... Sitka Strong.”

ACC Lakeside Sitka also reminds everyone to maintain a six-foot distance while conquering the treasure hunt.