CAZENOVIA — This summer, Cazenovia Area Community Development Association (CACDA) is launching the GoCaz Adventure Challenge, an active journey that will guide participants through the hills and valleys of Cazenovia.

The free challenge will go live on July 1 and run through Sept. 6, 2021.

Participants will work to solve clues and riddles leading them to 11 different sites, which can be accessed via 20-plus miles of trails and sidewalks in the Village of Cazenovia. A bonus site at the end will require transportation by car or bike.

According to CACDA Executive Director Lauren Lines, a committee of CACDA board members and local residents organized the challenge with the goal of encouraging people to discover or rediscover some of the unique aspects of Cazenovia’s parks, trails and local history.

“The [board] has discussed doing this for several years,” said Lines. “We thought that launching it this year would be ideal since we didn’t know what kind of COVID-related restrictions would be in place and this is an activity that doesn’t require a large gathering. There also seems to be a renewed interest in outdoor activity due to the pandemic . . . Even people who know the area very well will likely discover something new. We also hope to attract more visitors to Cazenovia this summer.”

The challenge requires a mobile phone with a data plan and access to email. A link will be provided via email, which will allow participants to begin, pause and continue the challenge at their convenience.

At each site, they will work to solve a riddle to receive the clue to the next site.

For added adventure, participants can hike or bike the trails to get from site to site, and CACDA will provide suggestions along the way. The local trail system is also available for viewing at GoCaz.com.

There are no rules against asking for help; participants are encouraged to stop in at a local business or the library for assistance if needed. Searching the internet is also allowed.

Depending on each person’s speed, the challenge could be completed in one very long day, or over the course of several days or weeks.

Participants can pause and come back to continue their journeys as many times as they like.

“People don’t need to complete the whole challenge to enjoy it,” said Lines. “It’s designed so that participants can work on it at their leisure throughout the summer.”

Everyone who completes in the GoCaz Adventure Challenge will be entered into a drawing for a $1,000 cash prize.

If participants enter as a team, each individual on the team will be entered into the drawing. For each bonus (photo ops and one extra location) completed, an individual will receive an additional entry into the drawing. The winner will be selected after the challenge is complete on Sept. 6, 2021.

Register, beginning July 1, at GoCaz.com to begin the adventure.

Additional details and instructions are available at cacda.net/ga_challenge_rules.html.

Questions regarding the GoCaz Adventure Challenge should be directed to [email protected].

CACDA is an independent, not-for-profit, community-based organization representing a broad cross-section of stakeholders in the Greater Cazenovia Area. It was formed to provide assistance to local organizations, governments and residents by helping them accomplish their goals and objectives through consensus building, planning, cooperative efforts, networking, locating funding sources, grant writing, project implementation, and educational public programs.

For more information, visit cacda.net.