GARMIN & MERRELL’S TREASURE HUNT COMPETITION GOES LIVE!

A nationwide treasure hunt campaign titled ‘It’s Out There’ which is geared to encourage people to get outside and enjoy the experience of the outdoors goes live today.

As an added incentive to take part, treasure seekers will also have the chance to win a series of prizes including a 5 star UK family adventure holiday in the Lake District.

The treasure hunt, which runs from 1 September until 31 October 2010, has been launched by Garmin and Merrell. The activity will draw on the worldwide phenomenon of ‘geocaching’ - an outdoor pursuit in which adventure seekers use a GPS device to hide and seek containers called ‘caches’. These ‘caches’ are hidden in both rural and urban spaces with varying levels of accessibility and will therefore provide the perfect outdoor adventure challenge for everyone, from families and groups of friends to individuals both young and old.

Chris Merrell, UK Marketing Communications Manager, Garmin, commented: “ ‘It’s out there’ is much more than just a treasure hunt as it teaches about the geography of land we live in, Garmin and Merrell are encouraging people of all ages, backgrounds and genders to have fun and get more active”.

He goes onto say “It’s also an investment of both time and money that keeps on giving, especially when you compare what the adventure you can have with Geocaching costs versus a family theme park visit every weekend.”

Jonathan Pennington, UK Marketing Manager, Merrell, added: “A treasure hunt is a timeless game that everyone can participate in - you don’t need to be an ardent outdoor enthusiast. With over 65,000 official treasure items hidden in various locations, “It’s Out There” will give treasure hunters as much of a challenge as they desire, be it a walk in the park or a trek in Snowdonia. Get your boots on, get involved and enjoy the hunt!”

To enter, simply visit www.itsoutthere.co.uk and select 3 ‘caches’ in either urban or rural locations. Once found, log your finds on itsoutthere.co.uk. Entry to the competition is completed by receiving a code from one of the supporting retailers in return for trying on a pair of Merrell shoes or receiving a Garmin GPS demo. Participating retailers include: Blacks, Snow and Rock, Go Outdoors, Cotswold, Field and Trek, Ellis Brigham or various independent stores. The code then needs to be submitted on www.itsoutthere.co.uk to confirm your entry into the competition. You can also use the website to share pictures and stories of your hunt with other participants.

Each qualifying participant will be entered into a draw to win a series of prizes including, a 5 star family UK adventure holiday in the Lake District, Garmin automotive, fitness and outdoor GPS and Merrell footwear and apparel. Winner will be announced on the website www.itsoutthere.co.uk shortly after the competition closes.

For more information on Garmin products which can be used for geocaching and getting families together and outdoors please visit www.garmin.co.uk, To see Merrell’s latest footwear and apparel ranges, visit www.merrell.co.uk

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