The Chanhassen City Council presented details about an upcoming scavenger hunt event called the Nomadic Gnome that will take participants through 15 city parks to solve puzzles, take photos, and compete for prizes while learning about local nature.

The Chanhassen City Council discussed the Nomadic Gnome Scavenger Hunt, a community event designed to get residents exploring the city's parks while engaging with nature. Participants will visit 15 Chanhassen parks to complete the scavenger hunt, which involves solving puzzles and taking photos with special figurines at designated locations.

The event kicks off at the Garden by Dvood's Garden Center, where participants can pick up a code book, a guide called "The Green Thumb Poem," and a figurine needed to begin the hunt. As they progress through the parks, participants can earn rewards: The Garden by the Woods will give five free native Minnesota plants for every five photos collected during the scavenger hunt.

The grand prize for completing the entire challenge is $500 worth of free mulch, awarded to those who solve a final code. The council also noted that a home version of the event's guide will be available for download after Earth Day, allowing people who cannot participate in the full scavenger hunt to engage with the activity from home.

The event appears designed to combine recreation, environmental education, and community engagement by encouraging residents to visit multiple parks and learn about Minnesota's native plants and natural features. No formal votes were recorded in the meeting materials, suggesting the council was primarily promoting and discussing the event rather than taking official action on it.