For the sixth year in a row, From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 7 East Avenue in Wellsboro, the local bookstore owned by author Kevin Coolidge, is hosting a Totally Ninja Raccoons scavenger hunt at 25 Wellsboro area businesses.

This year’s hunt has a twist. Instead of searching for the three Totally Ninja Raccoon brothers, youth and adults are asked to help the raccoon brothers find Bigfoot at participating businesses.

The 2025 search for Bigfoot will start at 10 a.m. next Tuesday, July 1 and end at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 31 when all hunters must turn in their passports at From My Shelf Books & Gifts to be eligible for prizes.

Winners of the gift certificates donated by all participating businesses and of the $250 grand prize will be announced on Sunday, August 2.

“The grand prize has been increased from $100 to $250 in cash this year to encourage more youth and adults to take part in this fun, free event,” said Kasey Coolidge, bookstore manager.  

“This scavenger hunt gives both locals and tourists of all ages an opportunity to visit Wellsboro area businesses to see what they have to offer, and have fun doing it,” Kasey said.

The hunt is based on Kevin’s “Totally Ninja Raccoons,” a 10-book action series he wrote for 7- to 10-year-old reluctant readers. The series is about the raccoon brothers who become ninjas.

“The first book in the series is ‘The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot’,” Kevin said. “Their first ninja mission is to find and capture Bigfoot. We thought it would be a nice twist to have participants help the Ninja Raccoons find Bigfoot.”

Each participating business has free passports listing all of the businesses where searchers can help find Bigfoot. When a customer spots Bigfoot, the business will stamp or sign the hunter’s passport so the customer’s tickets can be placed in the prize jar. Winners need not be present to win.

Wellsboro area businesses participating in this year’s hunt are: From My Shelf Books & Gifts, C.S. Sports, Dunkin’ Donuts, Frog Hut, Highland Chocolates, Hume’s Blooms, Krout’s Creations, Kelly’s Canyon Country Crafts, Omi of the Canyon, Pag-Omar Farm Market, PA Wilds Shop at Leonard Harrison State Park, StacyKay’s Cafe, Tioga Office Products, Wild Asaph Outfitters, Wellsboro House, Tony’s Italian Cuisine, Harer’s Coins, Komodo Gelato, Shop Around the Corner, Nessmuk’s Sporting Goods, In My Shoes, Dunham’s Department Store: Cafe 1905, Dunham’s Department Store: Children’s Section, Farmer’s Daughters and Hillstone Farms.

For more information about the hunt, stop in at any participating business beginning on July 1 or contact From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 570-724-5793 or from_my_shelf@yahoo.com.