The First Day of the year is a chance to slow down, step outside, and reconnect with the places that ground us.
On January 1, 2026, visitors are invited to welcome the new year with a First Day Hike Scavenger Hunt at Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside. This self-guided experience encourages people of all ages to explore the trail at their own pace while noticing winter details, quiet moments, and the small features that make this place special in the Illinois Valley.
The scavenger hunt offers a simple way to engage with the trail at your own pace. There’s no competition, no required route, and no expectation to finish every prompt. Whether you spend ten minutes or a full afternoon at the Wayside, the experience is meant to encourage curiosity, reflection, and a deeper appreciation for this unique natural space in the Illinois Valley.
Participation does not require social media. For those who enjoy sharing photos or moments from the trail, optional hashtags are provided, but the scavenger hunt stands on its own as a personal, offline experience.
🔍 Your Scavenger Hunt Prompts
| 🐻 1. Pose With an Animal Bench Each bench on the trail is uniquely hand-carved and features animal friends like bears, salmon, elk, lizards, and wolves. Kids especially love these—sometimes giving the animals a pet or kiss, or pretending to be startled. ➡️ Find your favorite animal bench and strike a pose! Pet it, hug it, make a silly face, or act out a scene with your new woodland pal. |
| 🌳 2. Hug a Cool Tree Seek out a tree that stands out—maybe it’s twisty, tall, mossy, or shaped in an interesting way. ➡️ Give it a gentle hug and snap the moment. |
| 🪨 3. Find a Neat Rock Look for a rock with an unusual color, pattern, or shape. ➡️ Take a close-up photo or tell us what makes it special. |
| 🌿 4. Spot a Winter Plant Rough & Ready is known for rare botanical species—even in the colder months. ➡️ Photograph a plant that catches your eye. Notice its texture, color, or shape. |
| 🌀 6. Find Nature’s Shapes Search for natural shapes—a circle, spiral, heart, or even a letter hiding in branches or rocks. ➡️ Photograph the shape you discover. |
| 🌞 7. Capture the Sky Winter skies can be soft, moody, dramatic, or bright. ➡️ Take a photo looking up from the trail. |
| 🤩 8. Your “Wow” Moment Something unexpected? Funny? Beautiful? ➡️ Share the moment that made you say “wow” today. |
How the Scavenger Hunt Works
Visitors can access the scavenger hunt prompts by scanning a QR code posted at the Wayside or by visiting the linked page online. The prompts invite participants to notice details along the trail, including hand-carved benches, winter plants, natural shapes, and quiet moments that often go unnoticed.
There is no right or wrong way to participate. You can complete one prompt, a few prompts, or all of them. Families, individuals, and groups are all welcome to take part.
Optional sharing hashtags include:
#FirstDayHikeOregon
#FirstDayHikeIllinoisValley
#RoughAndReadyWayside
#ExploreIllinoisValley
#IVCanDO
About Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside
Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside is a special place within the Illinois Valley, known for its rare plant communities, scenic trails, and thoughtfully designed resting areas. In recent years, the Wayside has undergone meaningful updates that enhance accessibility, safety, and the overall visitor experience.
These improvements were made possible through community collaboration and long-term stewardship. You can learn more about the recent upgrades in this post:
Rough & Ready Improvements
>>>Click HERE for more information
IVCanDO and Parks Stewardship
Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside is one of the parks supported through IVCanDO’s Adopt-A-Park Program, which focuses on caring for shared spaces identified by the community as valuable and worth sustaining. Through partnerships, coordination, and long-term planning, IVCanDO helps ensure parks like Rough & Ready remain accessible, welcoming, and cared for.
This work falls within IVCanDO’s Parks & Recreation Program Area, which supports outdoor spaces that contribute to health, connection, and quality of life across the Illinois Valley.
Learn more here:
https://ivcdo.org/parks-rec/
Start the Year Outdoors
The First Day Hike Scavenger Hunt is an invitation to begin the year with intention, curiosity, and time spent outdoors. Whether you’re a long-time local or visiting the Illinois Valley for the first time, Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside offers a peaceful place to start.
