The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and ParksByNature Network® today announce the launch of the Washington State Parks Centennial Passport GeoChallenge.
This year marks the 100th birthday of Washington State Parks! To celebrate this milestone, State Parks and ParksByNature Network® invite the public to visit Washington’s great state parks as part of the Washington State Parks Centennial Passport GeoChallenge. As participants discover the natural beauty of Washington by traveling to each of its exceptional state parks, they will have the opportunity to win prizes, including one grand prize. There are more than $300 worth of prizes.
To get started, participants must download the Official Washington State Parks Pocket Ranger® mobile app onto their mobile device (from either the App Store or Google Play), select the “Challenges” icon, register a username and password and start the GeoChallenge! The entire GeoChallenge is done digitally using the advanced GPS mapping features found on the Washington State Parks Pocket Ranger mobile app.
To keep participants motivated along the way, they can rack up points by recording each visit. Easy-to-reach parks earns participants five points, while more challenging, out-of-the way locales can snag participants up to 20 points. By visiting the online LeaderBoard (www.pocketrangerexchange.com), participants can engage in friendly competition by keeping tabs on other players. They also can track which parks they’ve already visited and which parks they still need to explore as they embark on the Washington State Parks Centennial Passport GeoChallenge.
Winner selections and prizes: The first 10 participants to record visits to 10 different state parks will win a $25 iTunes or Google Play Gift Card. The first three participants to record visits to 25 different state parks will receive a $50 gift card to an outdoor apparel/gear retailer in Washington. The first participant to record visits to all 109 participating Washington state parks will receive the Grand Prize: a $100 gift card to an outdoor apparel/gear retailer, plus an annual Washington State Discover Pass. Prizes are provided by ParksByNature Network®.
For more information and official rules, visit online www.parks.wa.gov/geocaching and select Passport GeoChallenge.
State Parks works in partnership with ParksByNature Network™ to provide this free service to the public. No state funds were used to develop the mobile app. ParksByNature Network™ locates sponsors to underwrite development of the app for the state park systems it serves.
Stay connected to your state parks by following Washington State Parks at www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateParks, www.twitter.com/WAStatePks and www.youtube.com/WashingtonStateParks. Share your favorite state park adventure on the new State Parks’ blog site at www.AdventureAwaits.com.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. Washington State Parks turned 100 years old on March 19, 2013, and will celebrate with events in parks all over the state, all year long. For more information, visit www.parks.wa.gov/events/.
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
