Captain Green: Scavenger Hunt
- May 30
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Parks & Trails
USA, New Zealand & Australia
A free, family-friendly scavenger hunt app series that transforms screen time into outdoor adventure.
Deployments: USA · New Zealand · Australia Model: App recycled Availability: Free · No Wi-Fi required after download · Most devices
Deployed across several countries, families cover up to 2 km per session exploring local trails, with the recycled app model making it cost-effective for councils, parks, and resorts to bring fresh adventures to new locations.
How do you make the outdoors feel exciting for modern families?
Kids love their devices, but that often means less time outdoors. Parks, reserves, and bushland areas struggle to compete with the pull of screens, even though parents know that fresh air, movement, and adventure are what children need most.
A scavenger hunt that gets families outside
DevforGov built a series of location-based scavenger hunt apps that turn a family walk into a digital adventure. Each version is tailored to its local environment, but all share the same proven core:
Families explore local trails, scanning QR codes hidden at key locations
Each scan unlocks an animation, advances the story, and reveals facts about local plants and animals
The adventure keeps everyone moving and curious from start to finish
No mobile data or Wi-Fi needed once the app is downloaded
The recycled app model means each deployment builds on tested mechanics, refreshed with new artwork, animations, and a storyline matched to the local landscape, making it cost-effective for councils, parks, and resorts.
Scout About | Captiva Island, Florida, USA
When Covid hit, South Seas Island Resort needed a way to keep families entertained while traditional activities were off-limits. Florida tourism had dropped by almost 40% in 2020. Geo A.R. partnered with the resort to create Scout About, based on Captain Green. Families scanned QR codes around Captiva Island, each revealing an animated creature and fun facts about local wildlife. Completing the trail rewarded children with a personalised pirate dance video and a free ice cream voucher. An analytics portal let the resort track dwell time, foot traffic, and engagement across each location.
Kāpene-Kākāriki | New Zealand
Children meet a future explorer whose airship has been wrecked in a storm. To fix it, families scan QR codes along local trails, each revealing a clue, an animation, and facts about New Zealand's unique plants and animals. Like Scout About, the app includes an analytics portal giving councils and operators insight into visitor engagement across each site.
Captain Green | Australia
Adapts the adventure for Australian landscapes including bushland, wetlands, and coastal reserves. Families help a stranded future explorer repair a storm-damaged airship by scanning QR codes along local trails. Each scan unlocks an animation, advances the story, and reveals facts about Australian wildlife and ecosystems. Designed to be deployed across multiple council and park sites.
Key Features
QR code scavenger hunt, works with any smartphone
Animated characters and story-driven gameplay
Local nature facts woven into the adventure
Works offline with no mobile data required after download
Analytics portal for operators and councils
Recycled app model, cost-effective to deploy in new locations
Free to play for families
What families and councils gain
Families explore trails they might otherwise skip, spending more time outdoors
Children engage with local wildlife and ecosystems in a memorable, story-driven way
Screen time becomes outdoor time, creating lasting family memories
Scout About kept guests engaged during Covid restrictions, supporting the resort at a critical time for tourism
The recycled model makes it affordable for councils and parks to offer a fresh, family-friendly attraction across multiple sites
Analytics portals give operators actionable insight into visitor behaviour
Screen time becomes outdoor time, and every walk tells a story.
Multilingual
App recycled
Outdoor version
