Building Connections One Clue at a Time: Highlights from the Esri YPN Networking Scavenger Hunt
At the 2024 Esri User Conference, the Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN) orchestrated a networking scavenger hunt, in collaboration with:
- Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) Vanguard Cabinet
- Ethnically Diverse Geospatial Engagement (EDGE)
- American Association of Geographers (AAG)
- United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation(USGIF)
To ensure a seamless and engaging experience, we used ArcGIS Survey123 to craft the scavenger hunt. This allowed us to collect and analyze valuable information, such as basic attendee information and their travel origins. As participants completed the scavenger hunt, it was fascinating to see the various locations they traveled from, as shown on this map.
Scavenger Hunt Criteria
The scavenger hunt featured 10 engaging tasks designed to encourage active participation and exploration:
1. Social Media Engagement: Participants were tasked with creating a social media post about their conference experience, using the hashtags #EsriUC2024 and #EsriYPN. This not only spread the word about the event but also engaged the broader community online.
2. YPN Event Attendance: Attendees had to attend an Esri YPN event and provide photographic evidence of their participation. This task encouraged individuals to engage with YPN activities and connect with fellow members.
3. Find Mappy Apparel: Anyone who has attended Esri User Conference in the past knows this one is an easy one – mappy apparel is everywhere! Capturing a photo with someone wearing mappy apparel was a fun way to highlight the unique and playful side of the conference.
4. LinkedIn Networking: Adding five new LinkedIn connections was a key task, aimed at expanding professional networks and fostering new relationships within the GIS community.
5. YPN Staff Photo: Participants needed to take a selfie with any YPN staff member, adding a personal touch to their scavenger hunt experience.
6. Map Gallery Exploration: Visiting the map gallery and photographing a favorite map allowed attendees to appreciate the visual and artistic aspects of GIS.
7. EDGE Booth: Attendees visited the EDGE booth and took a photo with an EDGE team member and shared it on social media with specific hashtags and a tag to EDGE. This task helped promote EDGE and the great work the organization does.
8. URISA Booth Engagement: At the URISA booth, participants learned about regional chapters and volunteer opportunities. They had to discover and provide a keyword to complete this challenge, promoting deeper engagement with URISA's initiatives.
9. Riddle Challenge: Solving the below riddle led to the AAG booth and added an element of fun and intellectual challenge.
A place where knowledge is key and maps abound,
A partner of YPN is where I'm found.
With water and land, I'm a sphere that's grand,
Seventy-one percent water, twenty-nine percent land.
10. USGIF Events: Participants learned about a career development activity scheduled to follow the panel at USGIF's September 24th event. This task helped promote the upcoming event for anyone who is interceded in career development.
Encouraging Exploration and Collaboration
To drive traffic to our partners' booths and websites, each scavenger hunt question included mandatory tasks related to the partners. The initial six questions were optional and focused on the conference experience, networking, and meeting new people. Participants were encouraged to engage with the conference hashtags and expand their LinkedIn networks, facilitating a more integrated and interactive experience.
Attendees were encouraged to interact with fellow conference-goers and explore various booths and events such as taking photos with folks who were wearing ‘mappy’ apparel and YPN staff members. This added a personal and enjoyable touch to the scavenger hunt.
One of my personal favorite tasks was the riddle created by the AAG team. Hint: a large globe at the AAG booth provided a crucial clue! Another standout was URISA’s keyword task, which required active engagement with URISA staff to uncover the secret keyword and learn more about their organizational opportunities.
We utilized ArcGIS Dashboards to monitor and verify scavenger hunt completion. This technology allowed us to visualize participant engagement, track their progress, and display their travel origins on an interactive map.
Reflections and Future Plans
The networking scavenger hunt was a resounding success, providing a fun and engaging way for attendees to connect with each other, explore the conference, and deepen their understanding of Esri YPN’s value and key partnerships.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Ideal for First-Time Attendees: The scavenger hunt served as an excellent icebreaker for those new to conferences, helping them to navigate and engage with the others more effectively.
- Networking Practice: It offered a practical way for attendees to practice and enhance their networking skills in a fun environment.
- Positive Feedback: Most participants responded positively, highlighting the enjoyment and value of the experience.
- Partner Collaboration: The scavenger hunt included Esri YPN’s key partners, fostering collaboration and increasing their visibility.
- Conference Exploration: It encouraged attendees to explore the conference showcase and broaden their conference experience.
- Network Expansion: The scavenger hunt facilitated both in-person and online networking, helping attendees to grow their professional connections.
Looking ahead, we hope to continue hosting networking scavenger hunts at future Esri conferences. We plan to refine the experience based on participant feedback and insights gathered from these events.
We invite you to share your thoughts on the networking scavenger hunt in the comments. Your feedback is invaluable as we strive to make future events even better. Thank you for being part of this exciting journey, and we look forward to connecting with you at our next event!
