Athol, Hatchet Hunt

February vacation week kicks off with the annual George Washington Hatchet Hunt on President’s Day, Feb. 17 at Athol Community Elementary School. Children, parents, guardians and volunteers will gather in the school parking lot as youngsters from preschool to age 15 wait for the chance to scour the area and uncover the tags representing three hatchets which will be hidden in nearby woods. The hunt officially kicks off at 9 a.m.

The hunt was founded by Athol resident Johnnie Johnstone to promote the virtues exemplified by the legend that George Washington chose not to tell a lie and admitted he chopped down his father’s cherry tree. The big prizes are the Johnnie Johnstone and the George Washington hatchets. The hatchets are mounted on wooden plaques. There are also many other prizes for participants.