What is yyseek?

yyseek is a local scavenger hunt across Calgary. Each team will be sent a list of clues/riddles and the team with the most correct answers by the end of the event wins!

What's the Wrap Up Event after the Hunt ends?

After the Hunt ends, teams should plan to come to yyseek's Wrap-Up Event starting on Sunday, June 9 at 6pm (specific location shared with participants). At the Wrap-Up, we'll share stories and Answers, announce the Winner, and present the Trophy. If necessary, we'll also do a live tie-breaker here

How much does it cost?

$60 per team of up to 4 people

Where does my money go?

Your registration fee will be used to cover administration costs like advertising and costs associated with the yyseek Wrap-Up Event

I'm low-income. Can I still participate?

Absolutely! Get in touch with the Event Host (Contact page) and we'll make sure you can access the event with no financial barrier

Are we donating to the Calgary Food Bank again?

Thank you for asking: yes! For lots of reasons, we've changed our model this year so that donations will be separate from the registration fee on a dedicated donation page. You (or your friends and family!) can donate on behalf of your team, helping you earn Progress Checks. You can also get a tax receipt from this format! 

How do we earn advantages by donating?

Donations made can be allocated to a specific yyseek Team. Each time a Team's total donations reaches a multiple of $50, they will be eligible to cash in on a Progress Check

What's a progress check?

This is new to yyseek 2024. When a Team earns a Progress Check, they are given the chance to send the Event Host information about a clue they're having trouble solving, and the Host will help them pinpoint where they're going astray. If you're on the right track, then you'll find that out, too. More details on how this works will be given on Progress Checks in the Handbook

Are donations the only way to earn a Progress Check?

Nope! This year will also have a Costume component. Any Team that meets the threshold of the optional Costume guidelines will earn one Progress Check. Teams can pursue donations and Costuming in order to earn multiple Progress Checks

What is the timeline of yyseek 2024?

yyseek 2024 is June 7-9! The hunt will begin at 2pm on Friday and run for 48 hours, ending at 2pm on Sunday. On Sunday evening at 6pm, the Wrap-Up Event will begin (see "What" tab)

Where are the clue locations?

Most locations will be concentrated in central Calgary, however, a small number of locations may be located beyond these boundaries but still within city limits. 

Do I have to start and end the hunt at a certain location?

Nope! You'll get the Hunt List digitally and you control when and where you hunt

Will yyseek lead me to locations in a specific order?

yyseek is non-linear, meaning that you can tackle the clues and their locations in any order

What if I already have plans for that weekend?

It depends on how much time you'll have available to hunt! We expect that your weekend will be full of clues if you want a chance at winning, but if you're not worried about coming in first place, you'll definitely be able to participate and keep your plans

How many people can be on a team?

A team should be made up of a maximum of 4 people. Some teams have succeeded in past years with only 1 member, but beware that it's a tough event even with a team! We recommend having at least 2 people

Can kids participate?

That's at the discretion of the caregivers. Clues are designed to be challenging for fully-developed brains, but kids are more than welcome to take part

I have accessibility concerns. Will I be able to take part?

That would be at the discretion of the individual and/or team. Inclusion is most encouraged, however, each person may have unique needs. Please feel free to contact the Event Host if you want to discuss your concerns. Please note that some hunt locations are "off-trail" or up stairs, etc. 

How do I know how we're doing compared to other teams?

The Leaderboard will be back, and with some exciting changes! You'll get updates more frequently and they will include more information. You can find out how you're ranked without finding out your exact score

How do I register for yyseek?

Registration is through Eventbrite

How do I know where to go for the answer?

The internet will be your best friend! Think of different resources and search, search, search

How do the clues work?

The most complex clues will have 2 levels: first, you'll have to deduce the location it's trying to lead you to. Next, you'll have to go to that location and try to find the specific answer once you're there. Some clues will be more straightforward and will give away the general location or the specific location, giving you less to solve

How hard are the clues?

We won't lie; they can be pretty difficult. We've had some very dedicated and clever teams compete in past years and want to ensure the difficulty level is high enough that we don't have multiple teams tie for first place

How will I know if I can do it?

Check out the Previous Clues page and try out some of those

How do I submit the answers?

Teams will submit answers via Google Form (full instructions will be in the yyseek 2024 Handbook)

Is there a prize?

Yes, the yyseek Trophy! The winning team will get their team name engraved, and will hang on to the Trophy for a year until 2025, when the next winning team will take possession

How many riddles/clues will there be?

The number is still being finalized! Expect there to be more clues than you can complete within 48 hours. We designed it this way to ensure that multiple teams don't end up tying with 100% correct

Will I need a car?

Technically, no. However, we'll be honest that if you want a chance at winning, it would be tough to rely only on public transportation. If you're looking for a fun weekend activity to do at your leisure, then walk, bike, scoot, train away!

How is the winner chosen?

Teams all submit their answers by the deadline, and the Event Host will tabulate who got the most answers correct. Submitting your answers earlier in the weekend has no bearing on your likelihood to win

What if there's a tie?

Great question! The Event Host has a tie-breaker ready just in case. This will be completed at the yyseek Wrap-Up Event, meaning that if a team was in line for a tie and they opt not to attend the Wrap-Up Event, they'll automatically not be eligible to fight for the winning spot

Who runs yyseek?

yyseek is run single-handedly by a local Calgarian

How did yyseek start?

yyseek's creator combined an interest in making puzzles and games with a growing interest in local history and culture. Always a small, grassroots event, yyseek was born in 2021 following a few smaller scavenger hunt events held under a different name

How are the clues made?

yyseek's Event Host has spent the last 5+ years scouring central Calgary for seldom-noticed details and cool spots. Countless walks and hundreds of photos led to a vast collection of material from which the clues are made