Tennessee State Parks Announce Passport Challenge
New Mobile App Feature Offers Guide to Parks, Fun Competition and Rewards
NASHVILLE –Tennessee State Parks, through a partnership with the ParksByNature Network, announced today a new GeoChallenge for the Pocket Ranger®, the free iPhone and Android application for park visitors on the move.
“The new GeoChallenge, the Tennessee State Parks Passport Challenge, uses the Pocket Ranger’s® advanced GPS mapping features to guide visitors to all of our spectacular state parks, while also offering the chance to compete with other park visitors and win rewards,” Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill said. “The Passport Challenge is a great way for visitors to enjoy and learn about state parks, while also earning prizes.”
With the Tennessee State Parks Passport Challenge, park visitors can earn points at each destination they visit. Easy-to-reach parks are worth five points, while more out-of-the-way locations can be worth up to 20 points. The first person to visit all of the 54 Tennessee State Parks will win a grand prize, a $100 gift card to an outdoor retailer. The runner-up will receive a $50 gift card and the first 10 players to visit 10 individual state parks will receive Pocket Ranger® gear. All prizes are supplied by the ParksByNature Network.
In addition, the Passport Challenge offers Tennessee State Parks visitors the opportunity to keep tabs on fellow competitors while earning points along the way. Participants can view their status, along with the status of fellow park visitors, in the climb of the Passport Challenge’s leaderboard.
Park visitors can sign up now to join the Tennessee State Parks Passport Challenge. The challenge ends September 1, 2014. To participate in the Passport Challenge, download the Pocket Ranger® app by visiting www.tnstateparks.com or www.pocketranger.com and register with a username and password. Once registered, select “Join This Challenge!”
Tennessee State Parks announced the launch of the free Pocket Ranger® mobile app in February 2013, designed to give the “on-the-go” park goers and nature enthusiasts the ability to access valuable park information quickly and efficiently, while also providing an additional level of customer service. The app includes interactive information on Tennessee’s historic sites, state park golf courses and campgrounds. The Pocket Ranger® is designed to provide everything a visitor would need to become familiar with a property, including contacts, directions, available amenities, maps, events and links to important numbers and services. Advanced GPS and GIS mapping technology allows visitors to track and record all trails, mark waypoints and locate friends inside the park.
Tennessee’s 54 state parks offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families, or business and professional groups. State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses. Celebrating its 75th Anniversary this past year, the Tennessee State Parks system was established through legislation in 1937. Today, there is a state park within an hour’s drive of just about anywhere in the state, with features such as pristine natural areas and a variety of lodging and dining choices. For more information about Tennessee State Parks, please visit www.tnstateparks.com or connect via Facebook or Twitter. For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call 1-888-867-2757.
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