The NC Science Trail (ncsciencetrail.org) announced today that it has created seven Curious Minds Adventures at six State Parks on the Goosechase scavenger hunt platform for the NC Science Festival (April 1-30). The adventures are available on the Goosechase app – a free download to your cellphone through your phone’s app store. Once you create a profile, you can find the new hunts by searching for the park name or entering the associated “JOIN CODE” in the Goosechase app for your park’s adventure. Assemble your team and join in on one adventure or try all seven during April. Win prizes for finishing each adventure.
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach, NC
Coastal Science Trail
JOIN CODE: L2T4E3
Start your adventure at the Visitor Center where you will upload a GPS coordinate into the Goosechase app. 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
JOIN CODE: 51ZY8Z
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 upload a GPS coordinate into the Goosechase 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
JOIN CODE: 79XGS5
Start your adventure at the Visitor Center in Troutman where you will upload a GPS coordinate into the Goosechase 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
Lumber River State Parks (2 Hunts!)
Coastal Science Trail
(1) Princess Ann Access, Orrum NC
JOIN CODE: XZ4GL7
Start your adventure at the park office at the Princess Ann entrance where you will upload a GPS coordinate into the Goosechase app. Did you know that the Lumber River is the only blackwater river in NC designated as a Wild and Scenic River by the federal government? Get an introduction to the natural history and poetry of the Lumber River area during your visit.
(2) Chalk Banks Access, Wagrum, NC
JOIN CODE: XHUIVI
Start your adventure at the Chalk Banks access in Wagrum where you will upload a GPS coordinate into the Goosechase app. Did you know that the Lumber River is the only blackwater river in NC designated as a Wild and Scenic River by the federal government? Get an introduction to the natural history and poetry of the Lumber River area during your visitSorry, I do not have the context to generate the requested output.
NC Science Trail Partner Page
Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines, NC
Piedmont East Science Trail
JOIN CODE: K1UJV3
Start your adventure at the Visitor Center where you will upload a GPS coordinate into the Goosechase app. Experience the longleaf pine forests – some more than 400 years old – that once covered millions of acres in the southeastern United States. These lanky pines tower over a network of trails that traverse expanses of wiregrass. Rare, secretive, and intriguing species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, the fox squirrel, the Sandhills pyxie-moss, the pine snake, and the insectivorous purple pitcher plant, characterize the park’s extraordinary plant and wildlife.
NC Science Trail Partner Page
William B. Umstead State Park, Raleigh, NC
Piedmont East Science Trail
JOIN CODE: P2KP3L
Start your adventure at the Visitor Center where you will upload a GPS coordinate into the Goosechase 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
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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.