Marco Senior Softball Citywide Scavenger Hunt

Quick now, can you name two streets here on Marco Island that are named after U.S. capitals? How about a restaurant named after the painter of the “Last Supper”? Or the location of the historic Burnham Clam Factory Plaque? Read on for the answers!

Those and a plethora of other signs, sites, and items, close to 60 in total, were the centers of attention to the nearly 10 teams, most of whom consisted of players, families, and friends from the Marco Island Senior Softball League (MISSL) as well as a group of neighbors from San Marco Villas, who took part in the second annual Don O’Connell Scholarship Scavenger Hunt, a fundraiser for the Don O’Connell Scholarship Fund. 

Team members spent a recent afternoon driving and searching our beloved island for the aforementioned items along with other oddities such as a historic out house in the woods; the location of where a bald eagle can be seen crossing over two waterways every day and much, much more. When the dust settled, the Permanent Vacationers topped the scavenger searchers as they found 45 items which included a man named John, who wore a wide-brimmed hat while walking his two dogs. The Lucky Nickles were right on their heels with 44 sites found while the Say What’s finished third with 41. The afternoon of searching and camaraderie ended with a pizza party, thanks to a generous donation by the Domino’s Pizza restaurant here on Marco Island. The Don O’Connell Scholarship Scavenger Hunt is one of several fundraising efforts involving the MISSL and a handful of community members to help bolster the Don O’Connell Scholarship Fund, said Judy O’Connell, the wife of the late Don O’Connell, a revered player and member of the MISSL who embodied the league’s values of sportsmanship, camaraderie, socialization, self-development and friendly competition.

“We are looking forward to presenting scholarships to local (from Marco Island, Goodland, and Isles of Capri) senior year student-athletes who share the same qualities of good sportsmanship, congeniality, and kindness of my late husband Don,” said Judy, dressed in her official “Judge Judy” court garb, emblematic of her twin roles as one of the scavenger hunt judges and event overseer. “I am humbled and honored by the generosity shown to me by all who have participated and donated to the Don O’Connell Scholarship Fund.” 

If you are a Class of 2025 (senior) student-athlete and are interested in applying for the Don O’Connell Scholarship, you still have time. In conjunction with Collier County Public Schools and the Collier County Community Foundation, Don O’Connell Scholarship applications can be downloaded at:

https://www.swflscholarships.org/finder/search/scholarship/?id=565

Upon completing your application, either submit it to your guidance counselor or mail it to Don O’Connell Scholarship Fund, 337 Vintage Bay Dr. Unit 31, Marco Island, FL 34145. Applications are to be postmarked by April 11, 2025. If you want to donate to the fund, please send it to the same address. For more information on the Marco Island Senior Softball League (MISSL), please visit the League’s website at: https://marcoseniorsoftballleague.com/index.html.