What is a Quest?

Turn a walk into a treasure hunt while exploring the outdoors!

On the South Shore of Boston there are many outdoor treasure hunts for families and small groups to enjoy. Each quest brings you to an outdoor trail where you can enjoy nature while looking for clues.

Quests start at a marked beginning point and include several clues hidden along the way. The last clue of each quest is a box containing a small guest book, a stamp pad, a rubber stamp, and answers to questions asked by curious "Questers". Once the box is found, participants stamp the back page of their Quest book (as proof of accomplishment), and may write or stamp in the guest book.

Each spring volunteers place the clues and boxes along the trails where they remain until late fall. Please let us know if a clue is missing by sending an email to admin@southshorequests.org.

Click here to see the locations of the quests.

Quest Books

2011 South Shore Quests books containing all of our quests will be available April 15th for $6.00:

Braintree
Fuzion Sports Club 288 Wood Road 781-849-0444

Hingham
Hingham Public Library, 66 Leavitt Street 781-741-1405

Marshfield
South Shore Audubon Society, 2000 Main Street 781-837-9400

Norwell
South Shore Natural Science Center, Jacobs Lane 781-659-2559

Randolph
The Turner Free Library, 2 North Main Street 781-961-0932

Weymouth
New England Wildlife Center, 500 Columbian Street 781-682-4878

2011 Season: April 15 - November 15

New Challenge for all Questers! Receive FREE membership to SSNSC. Learn more (.pdf)

Two trails are open year round:
On Beyond Bridges at the SSNSC in Norwell
Squantum Point Park in Quincy

Trail updates for 2011

Before doing a quest, check below to see if there are any trail updates since the Quest book was published.

General Trail Updates

Please be aware that there may be fallen trees and branches on any of the quests due to hurricane Irene. Some paths may be blocked and some clues may be inaccessible. Enjoy the quests, just look out for trail damage. Let us know if you find paths or clues blocked or missing.

Poke Along Ponkapoag Pond Quest - missing clue sign

On Pg 49 of 2011 South Shore Quests Book, second column, last complete paragraph, which begins:

"As you walk toward the pond, notice the tree with a sign..." This sign containing 4 clues has been
taken down. The letters for the "missing clues" are: Clue 20 = U; Clue 22; = D; Clues 21 & 15 = L

New Englabnd Wildlife Center Quest - update

When you have collected Clues #13 and #4 at the trailhead sign, you will have all the clues necessary to locate the box. However, because of the rainy weather last month, the trail is overgrown with vegetation and is rather buggy. So weʼll skip the nature trail for the rest of the summer. Donʼt worry, you will still find the box and be able to stamp your Quest booklet. Go to the lower parking lot and stand with your back to the Center building. Go to the far left corner of the parking lot and follow the path through the long grass. You will soon see the object described in the Clues. Look under the near right hand corner. Youʼll have to reach pretty far, as we did not want the box location to be too obvious.