Eastern Illinois University’s Civic Engagement and Volunteerism Office hosted their EIU Adventure yesterday.

This is the second annual year that the CEVO has been doing this special event with the students of EIU. According to Beth Gillespie, director of CEVO, it started in fall 2019.

EIU Adventure is an event where students participate in scavenger hunts to find clues around campus.

Students had to find the clues in a certain time frame and take selfies of themselves at the adventure locations on campus. Due to bad weather conditions, this year’s adventure was strictly online.

“With the weather, who knew what February 2nd would look like…. we decided to move it online for today’s event,” Gillespie said.

This adventure was based on Groundhog’s Day, so all of the games and challenges were focused on groundhogs’ attributes.

“They will have to take a picture of themselves with or without a shadow. Another challenge is that they are going to have to find something in their living space that represents their favorite season,” Gillespie said. “And there is going to be a challenge to replicate what a groundhog sounds like. And the very last challenge is we found an online puzzle that has 15 pieces and they will put that together and all challenges, once they are done, will be posted to their stories.”

When talking to Gillespie and Crystal Brown, assistant director of CEVO they were glad to do this event, especially due to the current pandemic that everyone is in. They also felt as if this special event is a great way for people to have fun and enjoy themselves.

“We are excited to find and give people something to do, but do it in a safe way,” Brown said. “It’s just exciting to do a new program to engage our students that they seem to enjoy.”

“I am most excited to hear people’s replication of what a groundhog sounds like,” Gillespie said.

The winner of the adventure challenges will receive 25 EIU Dining Dollars that they can use when eating at the campus dining halls.

As for upcoming EIU Adventures, there is one that will take place sometime in the month of April.

For more information on CEVO’s EIU Adventure and other special events visit https://www.eiu.edu/volunteer/assistantship.php, call the CEVO office number 217-581-3967, or check out their social media platforms @EIUVolunteers.

Brysen Carr can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].