By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
ROBBINSVILLE — The leaves will have begun to change color and it’s likely to be a beautiful fall weekend just perfect for a walk around town.
Families who would like to go on an adventure and explore Robbinsville will gather at the gazebo near Town Center Lake at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, for the township’s first annual Scavenger Hunt. Teams of parents and their kids will be given clues to lead them to a dozen destinations in Town Center and Foxmoor Plaza. Once they reach each destination, they will receive an item that proves that they were there, and in many cases will receive free samples of food or other items or enjoy a fun activity.
The event will wrap up at 2 p.m. back at the gazebo, where participants will enjoy prizes, music, food, and displays by local businesses.
Robbinsville’s Economic Development Advisory and Recreation Committees have partnered to organize the event. Dan Schuberth, chairman of Robbinsville Economic Development Advisory Committee, said Councilman Ron Witt approached him with the idea for the scavenger hunt earlier this year.
"Ron serves as the council liaison to the township Recreation Committee and wanted to create an event that would be a lot of fun for local kids and parents, much like the township’s annual Father’s Day Fishing Derby," Chairman Schuberth said. "We thought that an event like a scavenger hunt would be neat for the kids, and a wonderful way to introduce parents to some of the small businesses around Foxmoor and Town Center that they are unfamiliar with."
He also said the township wanted to help its small businesses, which work hard and spend lots of money in advertising to attract new customers to their locations.
"We wanted to put together an event that would bring dozens of potential new customers right through their front doors," Chairman Schuberth said. "Business owners will have a great opportunity to introduce themselves personally to the kids and parents participating in the scavenger hunt, and we think that there’s a good chance that these folks will keep coming back once they experience some of the fantastic shops we have here in town."
The township has a great group of businesses lined up in Foxmoor and Town Center that will be "destinations" for the kids and parents to visit.
"We’re still looking for businesses located elsewhere in Robbinsville who are interested in donating small prizes for the kids who finish the hunt, and who are interested in setting up tables at the gazebo by the Town Center lake," Chairman Schuberth said. "We’ll gather together at the gazebo after the hunt for some food and music, and this would be a great opportunity for businesses outside of Foxmoor and Town Center to gain some exposure."
A strong local business community is a vital part of any growing municipality, according to Chairman Schuberth.
The all-volunteer Economic Development Advisory Committee has focused its efforts during the past year on supporting the local business community through a series of activities that include quarterly networking events, ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new businesses, a website that provides links to educational programs, and free "Business Spotlight" ads on the township website at www.robbinsville-twp.org/Economic%20Development/economicdevelopment.html.
"We are hoping to add this scavenger hunt to the list of events we put on regularly to support local businesses," Chairman Schuberth said.
For more information about the scavenger hunt or to have a business participate in the event, contact Dan Schuberth at [email protected].

