State Parks launch GeoChallenge

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and ParksByNature Network have announced the launch of the Washington State Parks Centennial Passport GeoChallenge. As participants discover the natural beauty of Washington by traveling to each of its state parks, they will have the opportunity to win prizes.

To get started, participants must download the free Official Washington State Parks Pocket Ranger mobile app onto their mobile device (from either the App Store or Google Play), select the “Challenges” icon, and register a username and password. The entire GeoChallenge is done digitally using the GPS mapping features found in the mobile app.

To keep participants motivated along the way, they can rack up points by recording each visit. Easy-to-reach parks earn 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.

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, and no state funds were used to develop the mobile app.