Pop Warner football and cheerleading are going to be back for the fall, even though things will look a little bit different this season.

On Saturday, the Dutchmen squads hosted a scavenger hunt fundraiser, sending families hunting for clues.

What You Need To Know

  • Guilderland Pop Warner football and cheerleading teams hosted a scavenger hunt fundraiser

  • The funds will help support the upcoming season 

  • Participants are also asked to support the local businesses that had the clues

  • Football helmets and pom-poms were scattered throughout the town

"Some of them are tricky — but I think once you read them a couple times it clicks," said Alicia Jimenez, a cheer coordinator for the team.

The clues led participants to football helmets and pom-poms scattered throughout the town.

"We have 11 businesses that are actual locations," said Tina Slingerland, also a cheer coordinator for the team. "We just reached out to businesses that we frequent, that have supported us in the past, and they were on board, exciting, willing to do whatever we needed, very generous with their donations."

The season will be flag football instead of tackle, and cheerleaders will be socially distanced and without stunts in their routines. Many are looking forward to it, even though it's going to be a little different.

"It's really fun," said Mason Garrand, who plays football.

His mom, Martina, agrees.

"It's such a great program they're ready to get out there and catch a ball and be with their teammates," said Martina Garrand. "And I think the parents are ready too."

Mike Jantzen, Guilderland's Pop Warner president, says safety is paramount, and it's important to get the kids outside and moving.

"The kids are ready to get out, parents are ready to get out and give these guys something to do so we're going to socially distance [and] do everything we can," Jantzen said.

And we're working with the town to have our protocols in place to keep everyone safe. It's just time for kids to get out and have some fun."

While the season won't start until Labor Day weekend, the fun started on Saturday. Cars donated $10 to get a list of clues leading them to businesses in town. Scavenger hunt winners and the most creative photo win prizes. Dick's Sporting Goods donated gift cards to photo winners, and a basket worth over $500 was donated by participating businesses for the grand prize winner.

"We told our cheerleaders to get out there and stunt with their parents -- safely — obviously! We think that would be fun," said Slingerland.

But that's not all. Participants are also asked to support the businesses they're stopping at.

"It's a way to support local... we know they were struggling during the pandemic," Jantzen said. "And to raise some funds in a different way."

Both teams say there's still time to sign up to cheer or play flag football this fall, and they may have another one of these scavenger hunts coming up again soon.

You can find all the details on how to sign up at guilderlandpopwarner.com. Jantzen says they will post additional details if they have another scavenger hunt there and on their Facebook page.