Statewide winter scavenger hunt, Checkpoint MN, offering $40,000+ in prizes
Contacts:
Alyssa Ebel
Explore Minnesota Tourism
651-757-1857
Statewide Winter Scavenger Hunt, Checkpoint MN,
Offers $40,000+ In Prizes
Community/Site Name Selected as one of 10 Hosts
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Dec. XX, 2013) Explore Minnesota Tourism, in partnership with Minneapolis-based Monopoint Media (owners of GearJunkie.com), launched statewide scavenger hunt to encourage winter getaways. Called Checkpoint MN, the project will include 10 checkpoint signs placed at iconic Minnesota winter destinations, including community name. The event is free and runs Dec. 10 through Feb. 7, aiming to mobilize thousands of participants over the course of eight weeks with $40,000+ in prizes, including winter gear, snow bikes, GPS devices, getaway packages, and more.
Community name was chosen as a location to host one of the checkpoints. The checkpoint sign will be installed at the site name. Room to incorporate local detail or quote in this paragraph.
Checkpoint MN locations include two national monuments, a ski resort, a speed-skating rink, a Minneapolis commuter bike trail, a famous ice fishing destination, and more. A dedicated website at CheckpointMN.com will feature contest registration, a map of the checkpoints, prize information, and a gallery of photos posted by participants. The 10 checkpoints are:
- Grand Portage National Monument
- Lutsen Mountains Ski Area
- Sandstone Ice Park (Robinson Quarry)
- Lake Mille Lacs via Hunters Point Lodge
- Bemidji's Paul Bunyan & Babe Statues
- Roseville Oval Ice- Skating Rink
- Minneapolis Greenway Bike Path
- Hyland Cross-Country Ski Trail, Three Rivers Park, Bloomington
- Colvill Park, Red Wing
- Pipestone National Monument
Participants are encouraged to participate via social media by using #CheckpointMN and following along as the action unfolds on Explore Minnesota Tourism Facebook, Twitter (@exploreminn) and Instagram (@exploreminnesota) accounts.
Minnesota is a premier winter travel destination and were excited to kick off a great season with Checkpoint MN, said John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota Tourism. Outdoor winter activities are a great way for travelers to explore the state, and the 10 checkpoint locations will showcase the diverse winter opportunities available, Edman added.
Each participant automatically earns a prize by reaching their first checkpoint. Participants can earn more prizes the more places they check in, including camping equipment, hiking boots, jackets and outdoors apparel. The first four people to check in at all 10 checkpoints will earn a Grand Prize Gear Pack, valued at more than $1,000. One additional Grand Prize Gear Pack will be awarded via a random drawing. An array of popular Minnesota brands will serve as prize sponsors, including: Holiday Stationstores, FITSOK, By The Yard Outdoor Furniture, The-House.com, and Vasque. In addition, more than 20 outdoor gear companies have donated prizes for the event.
"Every Checkpoint MN participant will get a prize; there are thousands of dollars worth of gear available," said Stephen Regenold, a partner at Monopoint Media and editor and founder of GearJunkie.com. "Along the way you'll see some of the most iconic places Minnesota has to offer.
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ABOUT MONOPOINT MEDIA
Monopoint Media LLC, founded in 2006, is a creative agency focused on outdoor, sports, and active lifestyle brands. The company (MonopointMedia.com) is based in Minneapolis and works with brands to build video, stories, micro-sites, social-media projects, and custom events. Monopoint Media owns and operates GearJunkie.com, a top publication in the outdoor-adventure world.
ABOUT EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM
As the state's tourism office, Explore Minnesota Tourism pursues an entrepreneurial approach, leveraging the state's tourism investment with increased involvement by the private sector. A council of representatives from the state's tourism industry strongly connects Explore Minnesota Tourism with tourism businesses and organizations. Tourism is an $11.9 billion industry in Minnesota, a key sector of the states economy. The leisure and hospitality industry, a major provider of tourism services, employs almost 240,000, representing 11 percent of private sector employment. Leisure and hospitality also generates 17 percent of state sales tax revenues.
