Get Geared up for the Law or Legend Scavenger Hunt!

 The project is one of 57community-based projects chosen as part of the America 250-Ohio Commission’s third and final round of grants

Akron, Ohio – In the lead up to America’s 250th anniversary, Summit County Domestic Relations Court announced today it received a grant from the America250-Ohio Commission for its upcoming project titled, “Law or Legend? :A Judicial Scavenger Hunt.” As part of the statewide commemoration of the United States Semiquincentennial in 2026, the Judicial Scavenger Hunt will offer a self-paced, interactive activity highlighting the judicial process along side Summit County’s rich history. This creative initiative will provide participants with historical context for buildings and landmarks in and around the Courthouse and throughout the County.

Using the GooseChase mobile application,participants will complete “missions” by:

• Visiting key locations in person or virtually,
• Uploading photos or videos from specific historic sites,
• Using geolocation to check in at designated landmarks, or
• Researching court history online via courthouse and community websites.

The scavenger hunt is designed to be flexible and engaging, encouraging both residents and visitors to explore Summit County’s legal and civic heritage at their own pace. The activity will run Summer 2025 through Summer 2026. New missions and content will be added throughout the year to align with community events and heritage month celebrations.

As an added bonus, participants who complete a designated number of missions will be entered into a prize drawing.

“This grant allows us to bring history to life in a way that’s fun, interactive, and accessible to the entire community,” said Administrative Judge Katarina Cook. “This family friendly activity demonstrates the influence of local history on our present lives. By working with the Summit County Historical Society, we’re honoring the roots of our justice system while connecting people with the spaces and stories that shape civic life in Summit County.”

In total, grants of up to $5,000 each were awarded to 57 organizations across the state of Ohio, for a total of  $278,834. These grants are dedicated to funding programs and initiatives commemorating Ohio’s important contribution to American history. The grants are administered by Ohio Humanities.

“On behalf of the America 250-Ohiocommission, we congratulate Summit County Domestic Relations Court on this grant award for their rich contributions to Ohio’s history and significance in our nation,” said Doug Preisse, co-chair of the America 250-Ohio Commission.“This new round of grants will help Summit County to discover new and exciting ways to celebrate our state’s role within the founding of our country.”

For more information on Summit County Domestic Relations Court, visit drcourt.org/wp/. To learn more about the America 250-Ohio Commission’s grants program visit America250-Ohio.org/grants/. The America 250-Ohio Communities grant program is supported in part by Neighborhood Strategies.

 ###

About Summit County Domestic Relations Court
Summit County Domestic Relations Court handles matters of divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, and family law. The Court is dedicated to serving families with fairness, accessibility, and integrity.

About the Summit County Historical Society:
The Historical Society preserves and interprets the history of Summit County through public education, preservation of historic sites, and community programming.

About America 250-Ohio
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is to “…to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.

About Ohio Humanities
Ohio Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas by hosting programs and awarding grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers. For more information, please visit our website at OhioHumanities.org.