The non-profit Lighthouse Education and Nautical Studies (LENS)’s first annual Treasure Hunt dug up $2,500 worth of riches to fund experiential learning opportunities for the Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 school system.

"Experience-learning is second to none. That's the best learning that exists,” said LENS Founder Elaine Jones.  

LENS has sponsored summer camps on Burnt Island for the past three years, with future funds slated to visit other local spots. However, experience-based learning is also expensive and needs a continuous source of revenue to be sustainable, Jones explained. So she hopes the treasure hunt becomes an annual self-sufficient experience that she can eventually turn over to the school system for management.  

“You always hope for more (funds raised), but it's an event that will grow each successive year.”

This year’s hunt kicked off during Windjammer Days and ended Sept. 30. A total of 160 groups participated, most with three or more members, according to a participant survey. This means about 500 people got to play pirate for the day.  

For a donation of $10, the experience included a treasure map with riddles that led to seven walkable locations in Boothbay Harbor. Each location had a different swashbuckler-themed surprise, such as getting a nautical nickname, pirate jokes, pirate yoga poses and historical information about real-life scallywags. Kids also got to unlock a mini treasure chest and stamp their map with a unique design at each station.  

Of the 41 responses to the survey, most praised the hunt for its family-bonding aspects and getting them to explore areas they’d never been.  

One respondent said they visit every summer, but always go to the same places. The person said it was nice being led to new ones. Another respondent's favorite thing was seeing a new town they hadn’t planned on visiting.

Julie Roberts, co-owner of Coastal Maine Popcorn, which was one of the stops, offered hunters a special edition “Pirate’s Gold” popcorn upon cracking the chest. In an email to the Register, she said the hunt was a good business driver and she hopes to see it grow.

For Jones, partnering with local businesses was essential. Next year, she hopes to create a separate map for returners with more stops and more shops represented. She’s also considering creating an adult-oriented hunt. “Part of the mission is (figuring out) how this can drive some economic growth by bringing people here. Because a lot of kids love pirates, and I think it can be a destination (event).”

Donations to LENS can be made at lighthouseeducation.org/donate or mailed to PO Box 213, W. Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575.

Interested in volunteering to organize the 2026 hunt? Email lenskeepah@gmail.com