TOUCHDOWN! Little Badger Football Helmets were hidden around different Eau Claire parks – with prizes. (Submitted photo)

The Wisconsin Badgers football team marked their 100-day countdown to the 2022 fall season by organizing its first-ever Badgers-themed, statewide scavenger hunt. 

City of Eau Claire Parks Manager Steve Plaza enthusiastically accepted the team’s offer to use the city’s parks in the hunt, making Eau Claire one of just four Wisconsin cities to participate and marking EC Parks’ first collaboration with the Bucky team.

Last Thursday, May 26, kicking off the 100-day countdown to fall ball, the Badger team’s staff hid 100 mini football helmets across four city parks: Mt. Simon, Owen, Carson, and Mitscher. 

After the team’s 6am local TV station appearances announcing the hunt’s locations in town, eager locals had packed the parks by 10am.

“Honestly, all the helmets were probably found by noon,” Plaza said.

Prizes for snagging a helmet were revealed through a QR code inside each one, and rewards including signed Badger merch, gift cards to the UW-Madison bookstore, and even game-day tickets, the hunt’s grand prize.

While no more helmet hunts are planned for the remainder of the summer, don’t worry! The Valley’s parks are prepped for a summer of fun.

UW-Madison's fall football season kicks off on Sept. 3 at home against Illinois State. See the rest of the Badgers’ upcoming season schedule.