The marching band celebrated the end of its marching season with an annual TGMBOP- “Thank God Marching Band is Over Party” on Friday, Nov. 22. During this event, members split into teams and are sent on a town-wide scavenger hunt throughout West Milford.

Teams must read the small slips of paper, or “clues” and travel to the location where they will search for an envelope that holds the next clue. The teams are timed from start to finish, and the team with the lowest time wins.

But there’s a twist! Teams are also given a list of items that, if retrieved, can take off minutes from their initial time. Items consisted of peanut M&M’s, a Santa hat, an orange, a red sock, a baby shoe, a picture of a team member with Santa, a surfboard, and a sleep mask.

The clock started at 6:30 sharp when the first groups were sent out. With an adult in the driver’s seat, the teams drive off to the locations hinted in the clues. An example of a clue would be:

Many are the skills they learn
As they grow to become men.
Use your skills to scout your way
To this fine lake, and then
Search among the pillars there,
But don’t fall in the fen.

Clues led the teams to places like Steam Train Field in Newfoundland, the small bridge at Belcher’s Creek, the pine trees by the Turf Field, the Monksville Reservoir south boat launch, the farthest “Entering West Milford” sign on Lake Shore Drive near Warwick and the Boy Scout pavilion on Snake Den Road.

Fun was had by all during this friendly competition.