Agents of Discovery 2020

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A USB Drive that looks like a beeAgents of Discovery is a mobile game where you have to move to play. You’re a secret agent with an animal guide to help you solve Challenges in a Mission. As you explore outdoor recreation areas, trails, museums, and discovery centers, you will unlock the hidden challenges based on your location.

Your mission is to collect all the USBees that were taken in a data breach. They have to be returned to the hive. If they aren’t, the fate of the natural world is in jeopardy! The more challenges you solve, the more USBees you’ll be awarded.

Discover nature, science, and culture. Some missions can be played either on-site or at home. Instructions for downloading the app and playing the game are provided below.

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DOWNLOADING THE APP:

  1. Download the FREE Agents of Discovery app available on the App Store or Google Play.
  2. You can choose to create an account, which keeps track of all the USBees you’ve saved. Or you can play as a guest.
  3. Tap on Missions.
  4. Mission Sites appear based on your GPS location, so make sure your GPS is turned on!

A NOTE FOR ALL SPECIAL AGENTS

a diamond-shaped markera diamond-shaped markerDownload your mission BEFORE you head out. Both wifi and data can be hard to find in rural Alaska. Once the missions have been downloaded, though, the app does not need wifi or data to run. This is especially important for the Haystack Trail, Portage Valley, Mendenhall Glacier, and Auke Recreation Area missions.

HOW TO PLAY:

  1. Download your chosen mission BEFORE heading out to the mission site.
  2. Once there, challenges will pop up based on your GPS location. Or, you’ll have to use your mission’s map (like the one below for the Alaska State Museum) to look for QR codes and scan them to open challenges.
    An overhead view of an area
  3. Use your surroundings to answer the challenge questions.
  4. a diamond-shaped markerWhen you complete your mission, find a Forest Ranger (or other staff member) to collect your prize!

Chugach National Forest

A wild green lanscape topped by a rainbow.

Haystack Trail

A graphic of a landscape

A cartoon fishUnlock challenges along this boardwalk to learn about the environment of the Copper River Delta.

Portage Valley

Scenery in Portage Valley

A cartoon goat

Explore the Williwaw Nature Trail and learn about the Portage Valley’s ecosystems and abundance of wildlife!

Tongass National Forest

Mission 49: Journey to Alaska’s Past

A cartoon squirrel

ALASKA STATE MUSEUM

  1. Open the Agents of Discovery app on your mobile device and download Mission 49: Journey to Alaska’s Past.
  2. For at-home learning, open this PDF of QR codes on another device – like a tablet, laptop, or computer.
  3. In the app, tap on the blue QR Code icons. Then, scan the QR codes to unlock each set of challenges.
  4. If you want to play at the museum, you’ll find the QR codes hidden among the exhibits. You’ll have to rely on the game’s map and your detective skills to find them all!
  5. Follow this link to the Alaska State Museum’s website for operating hours and current exhibits.
  6. If you’re playing virtually, don’t forget to collect your reward! Using the link above, send a screenshot of the game’s final page to staff at the Alaska State Museum and they’ll send you a prize! For more information, go to the Alaska State Museum’s website at the link above.
NOTE: You’ll notice that many of the challenges ask you to look at things displayed at the museum. If the game asks you to look at a label for the answer to a question, tap “Show Clue” to see the label. The game is designed to be played at the museum. So, you’ll have to use your imagination if you’re playing from home!

Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Center

A cartoon bearLearn about glacial ecosystems and wildlife while taking in great views of the Mendenhall Glacier. Play either on-site or at home.

Southeast Alaska Discovery Center

A building front

A cartoon fish

Discover why the Tongass National Forest is such a great place for wildlife, fish, and people to call home. Play either on-site or at home.

Áak’w Kwáan Territory

A totem pole

A cartoon squirrel

Explore Auke Recreation Area, the traditional winter home of the Áak’w Kwáan! Learn about what it means to be a good steward of culture, the land, and its many resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Agents of Discovery?

Agents of Discovery is an awarding winning Move to Play & Learn mobile game that can be downloaded for free and played on a mobile device at participating sites. The app encourages youth to discover culture and the natural world around them in a fun and interactive way. Players unlock hidden geo-located challenges that can only be solved through observation and discovery. The more challenges players complete, the more USBees they are awarded. As they collect these virtual bees, children are engaged with topics on conservation and preserving the natural world.

Agents of Discovery is a way to use gaming technology to enhance outdoor experiences in a fun and educational way. The game unfolds at a variety Mission sites in visitor and discovery centers, museums, and outdoor recreation areas on the National Forests.

Do I need an internet connection to play?

Once the Agents of Discovery app is downloaded and open, download the Mission you would like to play. After that, the game does not require WiFi or a data connection to run. This means you don’t need to worry about cell phone charges while your kids explore their communities with the game!

How does the Agent of Discovery app connect kids with nature and culture?

Studies show that outdoor classrooms and nature-based experiential activities lead to significant gains in student academic performance (American Institutes for Research 2005). Kids learn more, have fun, and feel more connected to nature when they play Agents of Discovery.

Whre Can I get the Agents of Discovery app?

Apple App logoGoogle play