ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED:

On-site registration available on location at James Lick Middle School, 1220 Noe Street, @25th

Tech Search Party is back and the time is nigh when you can Get Your Geek On while trekking around San Francisco's Noe Valley with your smart phone and smart friends.

Apart from the frolic and geek.fun, all money raised benefits local public schools. 

It works like this:

Arrive on time at the auditorium at James Lick Middle School (entrance is at the corner of Noe and 25th Street). Check in runs from 5:15 to 6:00.  At 6:00 pm sharp participants will be given a map with some challenging clues to decipher. Deciphering those clues will lead you to various locations in Noe Valley. When you arrive at the mystery location, you take a photo of the answer with your phone and email it back to an address provided at the beginning of the event. The first team to complete the clues will be the winner.   Here are the clues and answers from our last event.

Why: For fun, mostly. And prizes. And also because all money raised goes toward improving technology for students at three San Francisco public schools, Alvarado Elementary, James Lick Middle School, and Marshall Elementary.

Did you say prizes? Stay tuned for more on this, but the folks at Plantronics have already kicked in donations of one of their top Bluetooth headsets.  We have gift packs from the folks at Coffee & Power, and some of those very cool game cubes from the folks at Sifteo.

Cost: The fee is $50 for a team of up to 4 and $75 for a team of up to 6.  A bargain for memories that will last a lifetime. Don't forget to come up with a great team name. Be creative; you might get bonus points.

This year marks the introduction of the PG&E Corporate Challenge.  For businesses that wish to participate as a group, PG&E has challenged other organizations to participate in Tech Search Party.  Teams registering for the PG&E Corporate Challenge will pay $50.00 per person (instead of per team), but are eligible for a cash prize of $250, courtesy of PG&E.

Rules: You’ll need a phone that can take a photo and send email.  Be on time, or you’ll be screwed at a disadvantage.  Teams have to stick together and stay on foot. Bring a flashlight (or flashlight app). Charge up your batteries.  Respect the neighborhood.