So who should apply to be a treasure hunt designer? A person in Canada who has already created and implemented a treasure hunt with this kind of scale. But this is unikely.

Individuals can bring something to the table - but not all things. There are the geographical considerations. Somebody has to do French. Various puzzly things, including treasure hunts. Experience with escape rooms and video game puzzles is good (both outside my experience). Doing - either designing or solving - the classic word puzzles. Being a writer, doing fiction (mystery?), nonfiction or even poetry, might be useful. Some people are knowledgeable, able and willing boots on the ground, travellers. Knowing about ciphers is preferable to not knowing about ciphers. Having a different approach to the treasure hunt may be useful. Being or having an artist is good. Knowing about Canadiana, really all kinds of interests and perspectives, can be useful. Even just being motivated and serious by itself can be good. Creativity is certainly important. Maturity is valued - just think of all the things involved in making a published physical treasure hunt.
 
 

Q: I'm pretty useless, certainly on paper, nothing to point at. Should I apply?

A: If you think you might have something to offer, then I think you might have something to offer.
 
 
 
 

There are four tiers for prospective treasure hunt designers:
 

1: New designers. Basically anyone is welcome to express interest and go on a list.

2: Developing designers. Once designers have shown progress in making their hunt, they get past the velvet rope, and can participate in group zoom calls. Relevant experience works too.

3: Approved designers. A designer has made a hunt that has been deemed acceptable, more or less ready to publish. (a little ceremony?)

4: Published designers. Approved does not equal published.
 
 
 
 

I picture each designer being responsible for every aspect of his or her own hunt. At the same time there is a supportive team to help out with weaknesses and questions and quality control.
 
 
 
 

My role at this time is to be a sheepdog, moving people to the same place.

I picture some group zoom calls. The team would be a group of equals, peers .. with a leader .. also tiered. Think of how useful the leader would be from the publisher's point of view. A single point of contact. The leader would be me. I could conceivably be replaced as leader at a later time. Fine. In any case I would like to preserve the vision, and I do have a number of ideas to share.
 
 
 
 

Individuals could take responsibility for special topics. Information security. We are currently clean on OPSEC. Getting the lay of the land with publishers. I wonder if modern programs can assist with cracking the classic ciphers and anagrams. Chasing down artists. The website. Standards and suggestions for placement of treasure.