The NC Science Trail (ncsciencetrail.org) is pleased to announce today that we have created ten Curious Minds Adventures at ten State Parks on the Actionbound scavenger hunt platform for the NC Science Festival (April 1-30). The adventures are available on the Actionbound app – a free download to your cellphone through your phone’s app store. There’s no need to create a profile and no personal data is collected with Actionbound. You simply find new hunts by searching for the park name or scanning the associated QR code posted for your park’s adventure. Assemble your team and join in on one adventure or try all ten during April.
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach, NC
Coastal Science Trail
Start your adventure at the Visitor Center where you will scan the QR code to begin your Actionbound scavenger hunt. Enjoy six miles of protected shoreline spanning the Ocean to the River with over 288 acres that feature seashore as well as primitive trails meandering through the marsh. Loggerhead sea turtles, piping plovers, and other rare and protected species nest along the sandy shore. Popular for surf fishing, four-wheel-drive vehicles are allowed year round with required permits.
NC Science Trail Partner Page
Grandfather Mountain State Park
Mountain Science Trail
QR Code to Join the Hunt – Coming Soon!
Explore the ecological diversity that made Grandfather Mountain State Park a UN Biosphere Reserve. Start your adventure at MM 299.9 off of the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Boone Fork Parking Area where you will scan the QR code in the Actionbound app. Take the Tanawha Trail 1/4 mile and find the information kiosk for your next mission.
NC Science Trail Partner Page
Lake Norman State Park, Troutman, NC
Piedmont West Science Trail
QR Code to Join the Hunt – Coming Soon!
Start your adventure at the Visitor Center in Troutman where you will scan the QR code in the Actionbound app. Whether you are a mountain bike enthusiast, a paddle sports nut, or a flat path hiker, you’ll find great stuff to do at this Iredell County park.
NC Science Trail Partner Page
William B. Umstead State Park, Raleigh, NC
Piedmont East Science Trail
QR Code to Join the Hunt – Coming Soon!
Start your adventure at the Visitor Center where you will scan the QR code in the Actionbound app. Escape the hustle and bustle of urban life at William B. Umstead State Park. In this Curious Minds Adventure, you will explore three manmade lakes and 22 miles of hiking trails at this Wake County gem on the Piedmont East Science Trail. What will you find as you wander the trails?
NC Science Trail Partner Page
Kerr Lake State Park
Piedmont East Science Trail
QR Code to Join the Hunt – Coming Soon!
Start at the Kerr Lake Visitor’s Center and scan the QR code in the Actionbound app. Then, follow the trail to discover trees in our area and learn the science behind why they look the way they do and what they do for the environment around them. Look for trees with placards along the trail. These signs will help you solve each clue. If you’re using the Actionbound App for this scavenger hunt please take photos where requested and submit your answers. If you’re doing a paper version of this scavenger hunt, request the printout in the Visitors Center. Many hunts can be done this way!
Goose Creek State Park
Coastal Science Trail
QR Code to Join the Hunt – Coming Soon!
Start at the Goose Creek Visitor Center and scan the QR code in your Actionbound app. Travel along the Palmetto Boardwalk Trail and explore the wetlands of North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. This scavenger hunt highlights cypress swamps and palmetto wetlands where water plays a key role in shaping the ecosystem. Visitors will learn how wetland plants and animals are adapted to life in flooded, low-oxygen environments. Along the way, you’ll discover how wetlands clean water, support wildlife, and reduce flooding. These unique ecosystems make Goose Creek State Park a truly special place to explore.
Cliffs of Neuse State Park
Coastal Science Trail
QR Code to Join the Hunt – Coming Soon!
Start at the Visitor Center and scan the QR code in your Actionbound app. Located in Wayne County 15 miles southeast of Goldsboro, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park sits on 90-foot bluffs overlooking the Neuse River. Layers of sand, clay, seashells, shale, and gravel create a spectrum of colors on the face of the cliff. Completing the landscape are longleaf pine restoration areas and creeks that were once used to make moonshine and cornmeal, but now offer quiet fishing spots. An 11-acre lake complements the river in providing opportunities for water recreation. Come join us on a Curious Minds Adventure Scavenger Hunt to explore Cliffs of Neuse State Park for the entire month of April!
Lake James State Park
Mountain Science Trail
QR Code to Join the Hunt – Coming Soon!
Embark on the Curious Minds Adventure Scavenger Hunt at Lake James State Park! The park offers stunning lake access for boating, swimming, and fishing. Start at the Visitor Center and scan the QR code in your Actionbound App.
Located in Burke and McDowell counties 50 miles northeast of Asheville, Lake James State Park includes two areas to access this picturesque lake that is perfect for boating, swimming, and fishing. Campsites at both Catawba River and Paddy’s Creek accesses provide an opportunity to spend the night by the lake, with some sites accessible only by paddling. Trails include bike trails at Paddy’s Creek, the kid-friendly Holly Discovery Trail, the historic Overmountain Victory Trail, and the Fonta Flora State Trail.
Dismal Swamp State Park
Coastal Science Trail
QR Code to Join the Hunt – Coming Soon!
Join the Curious Minds Adventure Scavenger Hunt at Dismal Swamp State Park! Explore winding trails, paddle the historic canal, and uncover the secrets of this vast, mysterious wetland. From rich history to rare wildlife, there’s always something to discover in Camden County, NC—right on the Virginia border. What will you find when you get there? Start at the Visitor Center and scan the QR code in the Actionbound app.
Located in Camden County abutting the state’s northeast border with Virginia, Dismal Swamp State Park provides access to the Great Dismal Swamp, the largest remaining swamp in the eastern United States. This area features unique and abundant plant life and wildlife, as well as a rich cultural history! The 22-mile Dismal Swamp Canal is a popular paddling destination and hosts the annual Paddle for the Border event.
Elk Knob State Park
Mountain Science Trail
QR Code to Join the Hunt – Coming Soon!
Join the Curious Minds Adventure Scavenger Hunt at Elk Knob State Park. Journey through northern hardwood forest, follow winding mountain trails, and explore the unique ecosystems of this high-elevation park. Keep your eyes open—what signs of wildlife or weather-shaped landscapes will you uncover? Look for unique rocks that make Elk Knob a very special clue in North Carolina’s geologic history. Start at the Visitor Center and scan the QR code in your Actionbound app.
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Funded by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and other sponsors, the NC Science Trail features 100+ science-focused sites open to the public, including state parks, aquariums, gardens, nature centers, and science museums as well as the NC Zoo. The Science Trail and its interactive website are designed to connect families and science enthusiasts to fun and exciting science adventures across the state.
For more information about the NC Science Trail, visit http://ncsciencetrail.org. Or follow social media for content, announcements and events “@NCScienceTrail.” The NC Science Trail sends a monthly newsletter to introduce explorers to new and exciting science adventure across the state. Sign up here: http://go.ncsciencetrail.org/sign-up.
Many of these scavenger hunts can also be adapated for classrooms to do on paper. We can provide answer keys and the NC Science Standards for each experience.