Kanab resident Scout Wilkins has brought an unconventional game known as WordTrails to life following an unexpected idea conceived in the Nevada desert. According to a report published November 4, the project grew from handmade prototypes into a manufactured product through various collaborations.
The inspiration for the game occurred in May 2021 while Wilkins was traveling to Montana. While camping on a dry lakebed in Nevada, Wilkins experienced a moment of insight regarding the words "CAN" and "HAVE TO" after observing the landscape under a full moon. Following this experience, Wilkins purchased modeling clay from a craft store in Twin Falls, Idaho, to create chips featuring words such as "can't," "won't," "will," and "love to."
The project evolved over nearly a year as friends and family experimented with the pieces, adding colored categories, action cards, and a playing board. After moving to Kanab in 2022, Wilkins sought professional assistance to move toward commercial production. An email from Utah Tech led her to the Atwood Innovation Plaza in St. George, where she connected with product development specialists to transform her prototypes into a manufactured game.
The manufacturing process involved designers and printers located in Washington state. The first finished copies of WordTrails arrived at Wilkins' Kanab home on December 5, 2024. Wilkins described the game as an evolving collaboration rather than a pre-planned concept.
More information regarding WordTrails is available at wordtrails.com. A follow-up report is expected next week regarding how the game works and its intended uses.
