2023 Eagle Medallion Hunt clues explained

This year’s medallion was hidden inside a crushed, abandoned antique refrigerator in Hellers Park.

Here are each day’s clues and what they meant.

Day One

We’re back again with clues you should follow.

Read all of the rules. They are not hollow.

Our plastic disk is what you’re looking for.

To find the place, you must go through that door.

“To find the place, you must go through that door” was the main point of the clue. The medallion was inside the refrigerator, so whomever found it had to reach in.

Day Two

You don’t need a coach to win our game.

Best be untrained for medallion fame.

Where should you search? There’s no need to hedge.

This is a year to look toward the edge.

The Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway at one time went to the site of Hellers Park, then known as Heller’s Grove. “Untrained” meant that there once was a train, but no longer. “No need to hedge” meant the disk wasn’t among brush. Hellers Park is near the north edge of Wichita, which is what the fourth line pointed to.

Day Three

Stay away from all that resembles Groot.

And also watch out for troublesome fruit.

Just like the hunt, twas cold but now hot.

When looking for food, this was the spot.

The first line indicated that the medallion wasn’t among the trees in the park. “Troublesome fruit” was about the prickly pear cactus that grow in several areas there. The third line was about the refrigerator, as was the fourth, but it also pointed to the park, which at one time was a popular picnicking spot.

Day Four

To those who desire to win: be sure your drive is expressed.

Also consider a periodic potassium test.

The Medallion Hunt is simply hide and seek, so. . .

Ninety-seven. Ninety-eight. Ninety-nine. And go.

The point here was that the park is north, or above, K-96. “Drive” and “expressed” indicate the expressway. The symbol for potassium on the periodic table is “K.” The last line points to it being above K-96.

Day Five

French or English, you have a choice.

One is right in a local voice.

Simply stated: Between the two

Is the place you want to pursue.

The clue here is about Arkansas and its two pronunciations: ar-ken-saw (French) and ar-KAN-zes (English). “Stated” hints that we’re talking about a state. Wichitans pronounce it the English way, so that’s the correct one “in a local voice.”

Hellers Park is situated between the Little Arkansas River and Arkansas Avenue.

It was after this clue that longtime medallion hunter Ryan Philbrick found the disk. Here are the final three clues that would have appeared had the hunt continued.

Day Six

The hunt is our jam, though some may say woah.

But as the lady said, “wanna give it a go?”

Now’s not the time for your energy to conserve.

Big pieces are missing, therein lies our swerve.

Hellers Park is designated as a “Wichita Wild Habitat area,” or preserve. “Jam” is in the first line, the second line is a lyric from Lady Marmalade and the third line has “conserve,” all are types of fruit spread. A preserve is similar to those three, but has big pieces. Some people ride horses in the park, hence “some may say woah.”

Day Seven

Henry had it to a T. Elon’s really go.

Two things connect, but there’s a typo.

Famous for guns another for catch

Between the two there is a match

The first two lines are references to Henry Ford And Elon Musk, both known for making autos. The typo is that the park is named after “Otto” Heller.

The second two lines are about Heller — the Supreme Court’s Heller decision and Joesph Heller, author of “Catch-22.”

Day Eight

A musical annelid. Worn on your sleeve,

Now gaze out from there, the disk to retrieve.

A Holmesian phrase at the start of your walks.

It is now time to think inside the box.

“A musical annelid” is an ear worm. Hearts can be “worn on your sleeve.” The “Holmsesian phrase” is “it’s elementary.” Combined, you should hear Earhart Elementary, which sits next to the park. “Inside the box” showed that the medallion was in the antique refrigerator.