A new way to explore nature is part exploration, part art and part creativity. It’s an app called Goosechase, and families across The Natural State soon will be able to use it to open all sorts of adventures.
“We’ve been using it for about a year on a local level,” said Eric Maynard, an assistant chief in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Education Division who works with nature centers.
“Each nature center was doing scavenger hunts — we are now ready to go to a bigger, statewide Goosechase,” Maynard said.
The Natural State Goosechase runs through March. Each week will feature three or four new “missions.”
“When you complete a mission, you get points,” Maynard said.
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Going to a wildlife management area, for instance, might be a mission. Using the Goosechase app, someone completing the mission could post a picture of themselves with the WMA (Wildlife Management Area) sign.
“Or you could shoot a little video — say what day it is and you went hiking or you went hunting or whatever it may be,” Maynard said.
One hundred points, for example, might be awarded for posting a photo, plus 50 more for posting a video. The Goosechase app will include a variety of activities.
“It’s all different things,” Maynard said. “From going places like nature centers, WMAs, your favorite sporting goods store, where you buy bait to showing stuff you harvested, showing where you went fishing, water trails.”
Anyone can register, and people using the app can see how others are using it and what they’re accomplishing. The missions will be created to appeal to everyone, from hunting and fishing to birding, hiking, paddling and exploring.
“It’s all about introducing people to AGFC programs,” Maynard said.
Although people aren’t competing against one another, those who reach a minimum number of points will be eligible for a prize yet to be determined.
The app is free, and it’s free to participate. New missions will drop every Monday.
Visit goosechase.com and join with Goosechase code 7BE8VB to get started with AGFC-based missions.
Jeff Williams is editor at Arkansas Wildlife Magazine.