A spirited scavenger hunt always makes for a memorable day.
But a freewheeling search that takes you and your tykes to some 17 state resort parks, 24 recreation parks and 11 state historic sites spread across Kentucky — that’s a scavenger hunt that can lead to lifelong memories.
The Kentucky State Parks Department offers the challenge once again with its popular Family Adventure Quest program. Participants hunt at their own pace and (after paying a $15 entrance fee) are armed with a disposable camera and an information packet detailing both rules and a list of the “quests” they must fulfill. There are plenty of trivia questions they must answer about Kentucky park geography and history; previous years’ contests have quizzed players on Kentucky’s first state park, the year it was established, and much more.
But adventurers also have to gather evidence of having completed specific challenges, including taking photos of team members posed near various landmarks, and performing activities such as talking to park managers and rangers about which mammals make their homes in a given area.
Everything gets recorded in the Adventure Quest booklet, which families mail in to the parks department staff, who review it for accuracy. Prizes are at stake, including $25 and $50 park gift certificates. But for the more than 200 families who’ve participated over the past two years, the best prize is spending quality time with loved ones amid the majesty of Kentucky’s great outdoors.