What is GISHWHES, you ask? (pronounced: Â GISH-WHIZ)
Well, in simple terms, it is:
the G.reatest I.nternational S.cavenger H.unt the W.orld H.as E.ver S.eenÂ
Trust me when I say, it is the opposite of simple, however.
GISHWHES is the largest scavenger hunt in the world, annually taking place in multiple countries across the globe, with thousands of participants, and hundreds of teams, during the first week of August.
Founded by the well-known actor, Misha Collins, who plays the beloved character, Castiel, on CW’s hit show, Supernatural, this event holds a world record for being the largest scavenger hunt on the planet. It’s also been the prime motivator in the completion of several other world records, via some of the challenges offered during past scavenger hunts.
What started in 2011 as a publicity stunt, has since turned into one of the most incredible events in history, bringing people from all over the world together, with some pretty simple, common goals.
Be weird. Be silly. Be creative. Be crazy. Be young at heart. Be kind.
Misha Collins riding a motorcycle, wearing a suit made entirely of cheese.
I first heard about GISHWHES in its 5th year, in the late spring of 2015. After reading more about it, I spent weeks trying to convince my busy friends and family to team up with me, to no avail. After seeing the pictures of the scavenger hunt that year, I was disappointed, to say the least, so I promised myself I would register the following year, no matter what.
When 2016 rolled around, I was ready to go at the start of registration. I was also really excited that three of my friends had also decided to team up with me, and thus began our small, ragtag team known as; AimToMisbehave. A nod to one of my own favorite fictional “teams”.
One of the coolest things about GISHWHES is having the opportunity to have teammates from all over the world. This can actually come in quite handy when some of your challenges involve international locations. Teams are made up of 15 people, so if your team, for example, only has a few people on it, the GISHWHES staff will match you with other partial teams and individuals, to create a complete team.
Most teammates communicate through Google Hangouts, Skype, or some other sort of web service. This allows team members to keep in touch, so they can offer any encouragement or help needed, no matter where in the world they are.
Once the list of tasks has been posted on the GISHWHES site, team members pick and choose which challenges they would like to complete, and the team has seven days to complete those tasks, and document it via image or video.
GISHWHES: the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen
Maybe, if there weren’t over a hundred challenges available, and only seven days to do as many as you can, in the most creative way possible, capturing it as beautifully as you can, via image or video. Plus, the list changes daily, as items are added, removed, or changed.
Some of these challenges also require a lot of creativity, crafting, and time to complete if you’re really in it to win it. If you are, though, the grand prize is definitely one for the bucket lists. This year, Misha Collins is taking the winning team to Iceland. Winning teams in the past have had the opportunity to accompany Misha to places like Scotland, Rome, Vancouver, Croatia and Costa Rica.
Even if you’re not “in it to win it”, you’re still guaranteed to win from the experiences and the fun you are sure to have. Needless to say, after seeing the previous years’ challenges, we were all really excited to get 2016’s list of tasks, and when we did, we were not left disappointed.
Some were absurd, some were hilarious, some were specifically to make the world a better place, and help others, but all of them were original, silly or creative, and meant to benefit everyone involved.
Found my calling…. #Born2BeFae
If I’m being honest, at the age of 34, it’s pretty easy for me not to give a flip what other people think about me, or how they perceive me. I’ve been comfortable in my own skin for quite a while now, but GISHWHES still challenged me to get in touch with my “inner lost boy”, and reminded me that maturity is overrated.
I created my own fairy costume, spending hours gluing candy to a tank top, and making yellow tutus, reminiscent of cupcakes. I skipped around my hometown with friends, dressed up like a candy-covered fairy in combat boots, delivering ice cream to the local Fire Department. During that particular challenge, I learned something about myself. I was born to be a fairy. Seriously, I think I may have found my calling.
I decorated a couple of bras with glitter glue, paper butterflies, and messages of hope, in the fight against breast cancer, and rocked it in public like a boss b*tch, with my best friend by my side.
I wrote my own rap song, about the first female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut, which surprisingly turned out to be a pretty empowering song about how men often underestimate women, to their own detriment. I’m gonna keep my day job, but, point for feminism, yeah!
I finally dressed up like a Jedi! Then I pretended to use the Force to make Darth Vader bring me a root beer float, at a shiny little diner in Cary, NC.
I painted my teeth the different colors of the rainbow and actually thought they looked better. Time to get a rainbow grill!
I packed myself in a box, slapped a label on my mouth, and decided to take a different approach to traveling the world.
I actually L.A.R.P.ed in the park. I made my own costume designed to look like a thundercloud, with rain coming out of it, and skipped around making thunderstorm noises, spraying my friends, who were dressed up like Zeus and Thor, with water, while they pretended to battle each other in the park, as a metaphor for a thunderstorm.
The Pokemon Go players didn’t know what to think!
I was reminded that I still had some firsts to come.
I was reminded that no matter how old you get, playing outside with your friends will never get old, and you’re never too old to do it.
I was reminded that committing acts of kindness were often a benefit to me, as much as they were the recipient.
I was reminded that playing “dress-up” doesn’t just have to happen during Halloween.
I was reminded that “adulting” is so overrated, and SO IS NORMALCY!
I am so incredibly grateful to my team, AimToMisbehave, along with the members of our collective team, and the entire GISHWHES crew.
This was an unforgettable, whimsical, hilarious, inspiring experience, and I truly can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2017!
GISHWHES 2016: And Here I Thought Most of my Firsts Were Over What is GISHWHES, you ask? (pronounced:  GISH-WHIZ) Well, in simple terms, it is: the G.reatestÂ
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