Quartzsite Night Coin Hunt Draws Community, Strengthens Local Engagement

The Quartzsite Metal Detecting Club staged its December outing at the Town Park on December 10, with participants gathering for a potluck beginning at 4 P.M. and a team coin hunt that started at approximately 6 P.M. The club charged a $10 participation fee per team and structured the hunt to encourage cooperative play, requiring teams of two people, one detector per team, no headphones, and one flashlight per team.

Organizers billed the event as a signature seasonal activity. "This is by far one of our most popular events," the club said in its event announcement. The format combined social gathering with an organized competition, as members and guests hunted for coins under evening conditions and shared food and conversation at the park before the search began.

The outing is one entry on the club's 2025 and 2026 schedule, which lists monthly meetings, regular coin hunts, and special outings. The calendar shows a December 3 meeting, the December 10 night coin hunt at the town park, and a December 20 coin hunt among other planned activities. The club also posts explicit participation rules for its hunts to preserve fairness and safety during public events.

For La Paz County residents, the event exemplifies how volunteer clubs activate public spaces and create low cost recreational options. Night hunts draw participants who might not otherwise engage in organized outdoor activities, and potlucks offer informal civic interaction across age groups. The modest $10 fee keeps the event accessible while helping the club cover event expenses.

The use of Town Park for evening events also raises practical considerations for park scheduling, lighting and public safety. Residents who use the park for other purposes, or who plan to host family gatherings, may want to monitor the club schedule or contact town officials when planning concurrent activities. The club’s regular calendar provides a predictable rhythm of meetings and hunts, supporting ongoing community participation and transparent expectations for anyone wishing to join.

As local volunteer organizations continue to program public spaces, their activities shape social life and civic engagement in La Paz County. The Quartzsite Metal Detecting Club’s night hunt on December 10 offered a clear example of community driven recreation that is affordable, organized, and oriented toward bringing neighbors together.