When you hear people describing a pointless activity, for some reason, they like to mention wild gamebirds. Thanks to the phrase "snipe hunt," as well as the machinations of many a summer-camp counselor, several generations of people now believe there's no such thing as a snipe (there is, and people really do hunt them). People also like to talk about "wild goosechases" to describe pointless activity. But Arkansas has just turned the "wild goosechase" into a real activity (geese may or may not be involved).
Starting right now, families can participate in The Natural State Goosechase, which will run through March. Each week will feature three or four new “missions” courtesy of an app called Goosechase ... and families across The Natural State 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,” Eric Maynard, an assistant chief in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Education Division who works with nature centers, said. “Each nature center was doing scavenger hunts – we are now ready to go to a bigger, statewide Goosechase.”
“When you complete a mission, you get points,” Maynard said. 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 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.
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. Scan the Goosechase QR code or visit goosechase.com to learn more and get started. The AGFC missions will be available by joining with code 7BE8VB.
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