The ‘Greene Goosechase’ teaches players about environmental services through monthly challenges. Missions might involve snapping a picture, sending a fun fact or visiting a particular location.
"So much of what we do is behind the scenes," said Laurie Davis, who does outreach for the department. "So, we are always looking for ways to communicate what the role of environmental services is."
The department first learned about the Goosechase app at a conference two years ago. They plan to maintain the scavenger hunt for at least a year and possibly beyond if engagement stays up. Each month has a theme. June is "water," and July will be "plastic-free July."
Players can compete solo or as a team, and the top two teams each month receive a prize. Laurie said 107 teams had already registered as of June 3, so there's pretty stiff competition. First prize this month is a gift certificate for the marina at Fellows Lake, and second prize is a 100-color watercolor set complete with brushes.
Though I found one of the challenges somewhat confusing — "the classic St. Louis Arch pose" can mean a lot of things — Laurie also reassured me that players can ask questions through the app to clarify any confusion.