May 12, 2010

At U. of Chicago, Scavenger Hunt Yields Crocodile Shoes

At U. of Chicago, Scavenger Hunt Yields Crocodile Shoes 1

Andrew A. Nelles for The Chronicle

John Bobka, a freshman history major and member of the Snell-Hitchcock team, builds a human-size scratching post.

Enlarge Image
close At U. of Chicago, Scavenger Hunt Yields Crocodile Shoes 1

Andrew A. Nelles for The Chronicle

John Bobka, a freshman history major and member of the Snell-Hitchcock team, builds a human-size scratching post.

By Jill Laster

Chicago

Katie Henry knows how to make a Skeletor costume under a tight time crunch. Nicholas Cassleman has experience walking on his hands as a circus volunteer. Michael Furdyna doesn't care if people stop and stare while, dressed as a bird, he imitates a mating dance in the middle of campus.

Those skills don't typically come in handy at the University of Chicago, but the Scavenger Hunt is anything but typical. This month, about 500 students—and some alumni, and some friends—were