Tree Challenges and other Extras

Some years the Woodcarvers’ Tree has even more to them than is listed on their web page. This includes extra background stories. Others held a special challenge for those who looked at it. Often, they were tasked to locate sets of items either in or under the tree. Here is a list of those challenges and other extras.

2007

Barn Connections
The 2007 tree was inspired by a Grandfather’s barn and its connection to his family, especially his grandson. There was a sign next to the tree explaining that connection and the presentation beneath the 2007 tree.

View the sign and read about this special barn here.
Return to 2007 tree

2008

A Christmas Story
The 2008 tree’s sign was a story titled “Santa’s Workshop, The Moon And The Icicle Tree”. It is about a 6 year old boy, his Grandfather and a bit of Christmas magic.

A printed version of the story that is easier to read is here.
View the sign as it was by the tree here.
Return to 2008 tree

2009

Bookcase Challenge
The Cabin in the Woods was stocked with everything that the occupants might desire including a bookcase with activities for a rainy day. Each of the 12 items in the bookcase had a miniature twin ornament on the tree. Where are they?

View the Bookcase challenge sheet here.
Return to 2009 tree

2010

Nisse Magic
The Woodcarver’s Cottage was found to be magical due to the nisses living underneath it. There is a poem that explained what happened at the cottage.

A printed version of the sign that is easier to read is here.
View the sign as it was on the tree here.
Return to 2010 tree

2012

Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme Book Challenge
Hidden on the tree are 21 wooden books with covers from vintage Mother Goose books. There are 10 pairs of matching books. The Challenge: Find the one orphan book!

View the Mother Goose challenge sheet here.
Look at the set of 21 books here.
Return to 2012 tree

2013

Hymnal Challenge
There are 15 vintage and modern hymnal ornaments hanging on the tree.
Challenge 1 – Find the pair of identical hymnals.
Challenge 2 – Find the hymnal that is not shown on this sheet.

View the Hymnal challenge sheet here.
Answers:
1) There are 2 copies of The Bagpipe Hymnal.
2) The missing hymnal is similar to the ones in the church – solid red with a cross
Return to 2013 tree

2015

Teddy Bear Picnic Challenge
There are eleven different Teddy bear book ornaments on the tree. Find the one that is duplicated.

View the Teddy Bear Picnic book covers here.
Return to 2015 tree

2016

The Night Before Christmas Challenge
Vintage copies of “The Night Before Christmas” have been shrunken into ornaments.
There are seven books on the tree. Six of them are shown here.
Find the seventh ornament!

View the The Night Before Christmas challenge sheet here.
Return to 2016 Tree

2017

Nature Books and Magazines Challenge
Books and magazines about Minnesota plants and animals have been shrunk down into ornaments on the Nature tree.
There are ten books on the tree. Find the one not shown here.
One of these is a complete fake. Can you figure out which one it is?

See the challenge sheet here.
See the surprising answers here.

Christmas Memories Challenge
For the Christmas Memories tree, vintage Christmas Wish Books from Sears have been shrunk down into ornaments on the tree.
Can you find all 12 of them?

View the Wish Book challenge sheet here.
Return to 2017 tree

2018

The Sweet Eats Challenge
There are ten old fashion candy boxes under the tree. Their labels have vintage style graphics of goodies made at the North Pole. All of these boxes have a matching smaller version as an ornament hidden up in the tree.
Can you find all ten of these ornaments?
Can you find the one box that does not come from the North Pole?

The original challenge sheet is lost, but it looked something like this.
Return to 2018 tree