Skip to main content

Over / Under / Around / Renew

  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Water Works
A wide shot of a Manhattan street showing the sidewalk and several stories of a city block including retail spaces.
Photo: Tom Minieri
Water Scavenger Hunt

Made possible with support from NYC Ferry.
All ages
Citywide

Tickets

$30 per player. Compete on your own or in a team of up to 6.

Extended: Last day to register is Thursday, May 15. 

May 17, 202510 AM–6 PM
Event Ended

About this Event

In an island city like New York, water plays a key role in a wide array of systems. We need water to drink and cook, our rivers and harbor move cargo and commuters, our wastewater infrastructure supports public health and safety, and our beaches and pools provide people with opportunities for leisure and relaxation. And yet, this essential building block of life is also one of the greatest threats to the city’s future viability, with cloudbursts, storm surges, and sea level rise threatening to fundamentally alter urban life as we know it in the age of climate change.


Join us on Saturday, May 17, for Water: Over / Under / Around / Renew, a five-borough scavenger hunt that will challenge you and your friends to solve clues and race to visit more than 50 key water-related sites throughout the five boroughs to earn points and win prizes. From relics of historic water sources to cutting-edge infrastructure, industrial hubs to resilient greenswards, you’ll discover how water shapes our lives as it gathers above us and falls from overhead, courses through pipes under our feet, facilitates the flow of goods and people around the city, and provides opportunities for renewal and rejuvenation.


Made possible with support from NYC Ferry.



Get Ready

Build your team. Play solo or in a team of up to 6 players. Pick your team name and mascot—an object that will crisscross the city with you and be pictured in all photos you submit for points. 


Register online. Advance registration is required—space is limited! One person can register for your whole team. 


Play to win. Over 50 clues will be emailed to team captains at 10 am on May 17. Decipher clues, race across the city, and submit photos of your team in front of clue locations. Submit photos throughout the day—scoring ends at 4 pm. Winners will be announced before 6 pm. 


Play to learn. Competition not your thing? That’s ok! The hunt is a great activity for anyone who loves exploring the city and wants to learn more about our water systems. 


Head start. Pledge to play without using a private car (including carshares and taxis), and you will start the day with 50 bonus points.


Citywide

New York City

Open House New York 

150 Varick Street, Floor 5

New York, New York 10013

info@ohny.org

Stay connected with OHNY and get the latest news delivered to your inbox.

© 2026 Open House New York. All rights reserved.

This website was developed with the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator for Arts and Culture.