About the Treasure Hunt
Information on previous Hunts:

Treasure Hunt 2010

Keys to Joining the Hunt

  1. There is no fee to participate in Treasure Hunt Five ("TH5"). We encourage you to make a tax-deductible donation to the ThanksUSA scholarship fund to ensure that this year's scholarship goals are met.
  2. This is a "virtual" treasure hunt, so you research the questions and find the answers using books and the Internet. The idea behind each chapter of the "hunt" is to follow the clues in the puzzles or questions as they lead you to the final answer.
  3. All the clues to find the correct answers are in the 2010 Official ThanksUSA Treasure Hunt Clue Book and at our Web site: http://www.ThanksUSA.org.
  4. All chapters can be accessed and played online on the Web site, once you have registered. You can also download the 2010 Official ThanksUSA Treasure Hunt Clue Book as a PDF file from the Web site. Alternatively, you can send a 9"x12" envelope to:

    ThanksUSA Clues
    1390 Chain Bridge Road, #260
    McLean, VA 22101

    Please send $7.50 to cover the cost of shipping and handling. Larger contributions are always welcome, since they will help us "thank" the troops by funding scholarships for their spouses and children.
  5. Registration

    Individual Players:

    1. Complete the online registration form on the Web site: http://www.ThanksUSA.org. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may submit your final answer via mail following the instructions in the Official Rules.
    2. If you registered for TH1, TH2, TH3, or TH4, you DO NOT NEED to register again to play TH5. You can simply sign in using your information from the previous year. If you have forgotten your username or password, please refer to the Web site for instructions on how to request a reminder or to assign a new password.
    3. If you are age 14 or under, you must have the "Parental Approval" box checked by your parent or guardian.
    4. If you are not a citizen of the United States, you can still register to play the game, but you must select "no" when asked if you are a "U.S Citizen." Non-citizens who take part in the contest will not be eligible to claim prizes.

    Classrooms and Schools:

    1. Teachers and their students can team up to win prizes as a class. A teacher registers his/her class at our Web site just as he/she would as an individual; rather than selecting "individual" during the registration process, select "classroom" and provide the school contact information. (Teachers and students can register and play as individuals, in addition to being part of a registered class. This does not count as registering twice.))
    2. Any K-12 class can register to play, including a home-school class, as long as the teacher registers.
    3. On behalf of the class, the teacher will submit the final answer for a given chapter or chapters.

    Youth Groups:

    1. Youth groups can sign up to win prizes. The adult supervisor registers his/her youth group at our Web site just as he/she would as an individual; rather than selecting "individual" during the registration process, select "youth group" and provide the youth group contact information. (Adults and youth can register and play as individuals, in addition to being part of a registered youth group. This does not count as registering twice.)
    2. Any youth group can register to play, as long as the adult supervisor registers. c. On behalf of the youth group, the adult will submit the final answer for a given chapter or chapters.
    3. On behalf of the youth group, the adult will submit the final answer for a given chapter or chapters.
  6. You can answer one chapter, two chapters, or more, or answer all seven chapters, but no entrant can win a prize for more than one chapter per phase of the Treasure Hunt. To be eligible for the Grand Prize, you must submit the correct answers for all seven chapters. You can win a chapter prize and the grand prize.
  7. Winners will be selected randomly from those entrants who submitted correct answers.

  8. Entry Deadlines

    1. TH5 begins Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009, and ends August 15, 2010. We will award prizes in two different phases. During Phase I, we will draw winners from the schools and youth group entries. During Phase II, we will draw winners from the individual entries.
    2. Entries must be submitted online (or postmarked if you submit them by mail) by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the entry deadline found on the chart below for each phase of the hunt.

      3. Prize Schedule

      Phase Chapter Entry Deadline Date Of Drawing Eligible Winner
      I 1-2 February 18, 2010 February 19, 2010 Schools/Youth Group
      I 3-4 March 18, 2010 March 19, 2010 Schools/Youth Group
      I 5-7 May 20, 2010 May 21, 2010 Schools/Youth Group
       
      II 1-7 August 15, 2010 September 30, 2010 Individual
      II Grand prize August 15, 2010 September 30, 2010 Individual

For a more detailed description of the rules including eligibility requirements, please consult the "Official Rules."

What else do I need to know? Look at the Keys to Joining the Hunt.

Keys to Joining the Hunt (PDF)

Where do I find the fine print? Please refer to the Official Rules for specific information about eligibility.

Official Rules (PDF)