What: Capture the Flag game
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: Farrand Field
More info: Visit Facebook and search for ‘University of Colorado Capture the Flag Society’
As University of Colorado senior Matthew Jenks prepares to graduate and enter the “real world,” he relives memories from his youth as a way to mellow out from the tensions of reality.
Toys, friends and games fill his head, distracting him from papers, homework and job-hunting if only for a minute. And this weekend, Jenks will be able to bring his favorite childhood memory to life during a student-run game of Capture the Flag.
Jenks and more than a dozen other CU students will play the game of chase on Saturday night near Farrand Field until one team is too tired to compete and surrenders their flag.
To join the game, students can show up at Farrand Field Saturday night. No registration or sign-up is required.
Jenks, the CU Capture the Flag Society founder and game organizer, said five successful games played on campus last year led him to create the unofficial organization and Facebook group in order to extend the fun.
“We’re hoping to play once a week now,” Jenks said. “I know that’s not realistic, but the plan is to at least play a couple times a month instead of the few times we did it last year.”
Jenks and other players said the game provides students, and occasionally alumni players, with relief from the stress of school or work. It also gives them the opportunity to feel young and irresponsible again.
“It’s definitely an escape from all the school stuff,” Jenks said. “Definitely a throwback to childhood and trying to hold on to our youth for dear life.”
Many of the senior players are beginning to realize that responsibility and full-time jobs are awaiting them after graduation.
“Besides it’s going to be a rockin’ good time, running around and screaming with all your friends is so much fun,” CU senior Nic Zinner said.
Students will nominate two team captains who will choose players, one-by-one — like gym class in grade school, Jenks said. Once the teams are in place, they will hide their team flag, a colored handkerchief, somewhere within the game area. The goal: To capture the other team’s flag without being tagged.
“These games can sometimes go on for three hours if the teams are good at hiding their flags,” Jenks said. “Occasionally the teams will get so tired of playing because the game has drug out too long, that they’ll make deals and surrender the flag.”
Zinner said this weekend will be his first time to play with Jenks’ group but he heard stories about last year’s games — including one that resulted in a legendary beer finale.
“I heard one of the teams offered to buy the other team beer after the game if they would surrender their flag,” Zinner said. “Beer and a little game of tag, doesn’t get much better than that.”
