QUESTIONS?
Have questions, or want to find out more about how your classroom or family can get involved?
Contact
Jennifer Leonard
Assistant Superintendent Communications, Community Engagement and Emergency Management
(707) 399-4429
SearchIng for more outdoor adveNtures?
Seek by iNaturalist from iNaturalist on Vimeo.
Here are some resources for getting outside in Solano County:
Solano Youth Outdoors website
All Trails App
Solano Outdoor Explorer Quest
The Solano Outdoor Explorer Quest is an outdoor treasure hunt, similar to Geocaching, offering explorers and families the adventure of finding hidden QR codes, referred to as Questcaches. Each Questcache leads to discovery of native plants and animals living in the area through videos and a secret Questcahce log to record your discoveries. The Quest is a great opportunity for students to get outside with their families, do some exploring, learn new things and connect with nature and the outdoors.
In partnership with the City of Vacaville, Solano Land Trust and Solano Resource Conservation District, Solano County Office of Education has created the Solano Outdoor Explorer Quest to help students get outside and experience science and natural phenomena in the world around them. Our hope is to spark interests in environmental learning and inspire wellness through physical activity and self-motivated exploration.
New Outdoor Explorer Quest COurse At Lagoon Valley Park!
Solano County Office of Education has created an Explorer Quest course for Lagoon Valley Park in Vacaville, featuring animals and plants like Columbian black-tailed deer, valley oaks, beavers, red-shouldered hawks and more!
How To join the explorer quest
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Get the Explorer Questcache Map for Lagoon ValleyDownload the Questcache treasure map or use the Solano Outdoor Explorer Questcache Google map (recommended) for Lagoon Valley Park. The maps mark areas that feature a hidden Questcache plaque hidden at Lagoon Valley Park in Vacaville. Questcaches have QR codes that link to videos about wildlife living near that spot. |
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Follow the Map to Find the Hidden QuestcachesTravel to the areas marked on the map. Search the area carefully to find the hidden plaque and QR code. |
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Scan the Hidden Questcode (QR) to Reveal a Quest VideoOpen the camera on a smart phone or tablet with cellular service and place it over the QR code. The Questcodes in the adventure will take you to a hidden webpage featuring a short video about native plants or animals that can commonly be seen from that Questcache location. (Tablets with cellular may work best for viewing.) |
Record Your Discovery
The hidden webpages also have Quest Logs where Explorers can record their secret Questcache finds by entering their names.
Mark Your Questcache Badges
Each hidden Questcache has a corresponding Explorer Badge (included with the Questcache treasure map download) featuring the native plant or animal that was featured and commonly seen in the area of the Questcache.
Learn More About Native Plants & Animals
Finally, each hidden webpage has a link to learn more about the plant or animal highlighted on the page.
Share About Your Explorer Quest
With parent permission, Explorers can submit pictures and stories to PIO@Solanocoe.net to be shared publicly on social media and SCOE news updates. Explorers can also share to their own social media pages with these hashtags: #SolanoExplorerQuest #SolanoQuestcache.
The secret explorer code
Your Explorer Quest, should you accept it, has some guidelines to ensure everyone has fun.
1. Young Explorers should always get permission from their parents or guardians before participating in Quest activities. Bring the whole family; The Explorer Quest is great for outdoor family fun.
2. Wait until the "Muggles" leave. "Muggles" are non-Quest Explorers. Keep the hidden Questcaches a secret amongst fellow Quest Explorers. This makes the exploring and adventure fun for everyone.
3. Leave it better than you found it. Be kind to the Questcaching game board, which are regional Solano County parks and open spaces.Stay on the trails to reduce impact on plants and animals. Be a Super Explorer and pick up litter along the way, leaving nothing behind.
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