Sidewalk Board Game Brings Shorewood Together

As Shorewoodians go about their daily life of work and errands, an entirely separate world of adventure is playing out on sidewalks all over the village.

The next time you are out walking your dog or going for a jog, take a closer look at your surroundings. You may discover one of the five wooden game pieces crafted by Shorewood resident Kevin Peterka, the founder of the Treasures of the Lost Shore game.

The five game pieces start out in different locations across the village, and as people come across the figures – either by happenstance or by tracking the pieces on the website – they are encouraged to move the pieces no more than 100 paces and place it for others to find on a sidewalk, tree lawn or public park.

"The kids and I were surprised how hard it was to go looking for them," Peterka said. "But it’s a strange and exciting feeling when you finally come across one of them."

The finish line is Atwater Beach – or The Lost Shore, as it is known in the game.

Peterka started the game last year after he read a theory that playing games set in real-world environments have the potential to deepen our awareness and connection with our local surroundings. The game was so popular last year that Peterka decided to continue the game this summer.

"We were surprised by how many people got excited about it," he said.

The game pieces – or adventurers, as they are called – are given fun names and backstories like Zuzu Zhinobi, a master of ninjutsu and a champion of lost peoples, and Dr. Burk Jellymaker, an ostracized inventor of mad science.  Participants are encouraged to pick one of the players by leaving a comment on the adventurer's profile page.

Since starting the game last year, Peterka has added some new features to the game, including the ability for characters to trade amulets when they cross each other's paths. The player's final score is based on when they reach Atwater Beach and how many amulets they have in their possession.

Since placing the game pieces on the sidewalk Wednesday, players have left more than 30 comments on the website and documented interesting experiences around the village – including a police investigation of one of the suspicious objects. 

For a full list of rules and game activity, visit the Game On Shorewood website.