The Fruit Ninjas were the winners in Adam Robertson Elementary School’s Thursday challenge based on the TV series, The Amazing Race.
Grade 12 students Jackson Hawton and Cami Kepke helped lead the Grade 7 team of Madison Pommier, Harvey Pawsey, Jordan Wood, Mercedes Derosa and Anjali Ewing to victory, as they solved clues leading them to 18 checkpoints (17 at businesses) around Creston.
Organized by ARES Grade 7 teachers Martin Stanley and Allison Kepke, this is the third year the school has put on the event, and it was bigger and better this time around.
“Each year we’re getting a bit more involved,” said Kepke.
The students are on foot, and walk about 10 kilometres in the event, which takes about four hours. Clues led them to business as far apart as Cavell Street Dental Clinic and Beltane Nursery. At the dental clinic, their task before receiving another clue was to learn CPR; at another location, a team member was given a fake injury, which impacted the team’s play for the rest of the race.
The goal was more than just the prestige and medals earned by the winning team — staff at the clue locations were marking them on politeness, manners and conduct.
“Sometimes the community has an image of them being rowdy, scary, rude people,” said Kepke. “So they were going out to show the world they’re good kids.”
