If the sweeping views across Tangier Sound and the watermen’s ways weren’t enough to draw you for a visit to Smith Island, the Glass Float Hunt just might. Inspired by similar events held in coastal communities, such as Rhode Island’s Block Island, this summertime sport blends the fun of a scavenger hunt or geocaching with gorgeous marsh walks amid the picturesque scenery of Smith Island.
The premise is simple: between Memorial Day and Labor Day, each week blown-glass floats are hidden in Tylerton and along Smith Island Road between Ewell and Rhodes Point (34 floats total). The floats are tucked away on public pathways, just out of sight, and during a meandering walk, you just might turn one up. Lucky float finders are encouraged to re-hide the globes—which are engraved with “Smith Island,” the year, and a number—for other seekers to find. On July 4th and Labor Day weekend, two specially handcrafted globes by local Berlin glass artist Jeffrey Auxer are hidden for a fortunate globe-getter to discover.
Dreamed up by island native and retired nurse Shelly Somers after she was inspired by Block Island’s event, the hunt is in its third year and only getting more attention. “I sure am having fun with this,” Somers said. “I just thought it was a nice project to start. As a nurse, I wanted to get people out walking, a little exercise. And when people visit, it gives folks a little something extra to do.”
Somers works with her “elves,” two not-to-be-named islanders in on the secret, surreptitiously squirreling away a fresh set of floats each week to be found by globe hunters.
You don’t have to be a local to get lucky. In 2022, the first year of the Waterman’s Float Hunt, one of Somers’ distant cousins visiting from Florida was the first person to discover one. This year, one of the special artisan-crafted globes was discovered by a regular visitor to Smith Island who tucked it into his bag as he returned home to Italy.
The event is getting some notice on social media, with lots of smiling photos of globe seekers and their discoveries. Locals are keeping track of who has found the floats—and where they turned up—on a Smith Island news group on Facebook. “I’m not on there myself,” Somers said, “But if somebody posts something, I’ll get my husband to look it up.” Finders are also encouraged to email the number of their float to [email protected].
According to a community Facebook page, orb number 22 was just found in early August. Neighbors who are tracking the scavenger hunt say about four are still unaccounted for.
Now sponsored by Smith Island United in its third year, the Waterman’s Glass Float Hunt event continues until Labor Day. So plan your visit, lace up your sneakers, and start hunting!
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