About Quests – Explorer Expeditions

Reality frequently surpasses the most beautiful of dreams.
Hans Christian Andersen, “The Fairy Tale of My Life”

QUEST is an educational outdoor game that combines fun and learning, treasure hunting, and the joy of discovery!

QUESTS – Explorer Expeditions (from English quest – mission, riddle) are field games based on treasure hunting. They require no staff supervision or trail marking, so – unlike orienteering or city games – they can be played almost anytime. The core of the fun is walking a designated quest route in the field. This can be a walk around a town, a bike ride through the forest, kayaking down a river, or a museum visit. All you need is a printed Quest Card or the free Quests – Explorer Expeditions mobile app. Cards are available at selected tourist information points or as a downloadable file from questy.org.pl. By following rhymed clues, participants explore the trail and uncover the secrets of the place. At the end awaits the “treasure” – a final box containing a commemorative stamp and the Quest Ledger. A stamp imprint and an entry in the Ledger confirm completion of the route.

QUESTING – how does it work? (Q&A)

Explorer Expeditions are based on the American Valley Quest methodology created by Steven Glazer, who first presented it in Poland in 2008. Since then, hundreds of such trails, called quests, have been created in Poland. The portal www.questy.org.pl features over 1200 tested and active quests. Explorer Expeditions is Poland's most experienced training team, officially licensed by Steven Glazer to use the Valley Quest methodology.

QUESTS – Explorer Expeditions are:

A GREAT WAY TO PROMOTE YOUR REGION – they showcase the unique heritage of places – their history, culture, and nature;
CHEAPER THAN TRADITIONAL TRAILS – all you need is a card or app (no infrastructure or staff required);
ATTRACTIVE – they feature fun rhymes and riddles, encourage active exploration of surroundings, and end with a treasure – a unique stamp;
MODERN – they can be followed using an interactive mobile app on smartphones and tablets;
A GREAT FORM OF EDUCATION – they can be created and completed not only by tourists but also by locals, increasing regional knowledge and strengthening local identity.

Purpose of creating Quests:

The main goal of Quests is to present the heritage of a given region or locality in the most attractive way possible, drawing participants' attention to unique elements of local nature, history, and culture. Discovering the extraordinary, unique character of a place (the so-called “spirit of place”) is also important. A key aspect of Explorer Expeditions is noticing seemingly ordinary places and recognizing their uniqueness and appeal.

The secret behind the attractiveness and effectiveness of Explorer Expeditions in discovering and promoting places lies in the direct involvement of both creators and participants. It has long been known that the most effective education and learning happen through personal experience. Add elements of fun and treasure hunting, and you have a perfect recipe for enhancing the educational-touristic offer of any location!

Who are Quests for?

Explorer Expeditions, as an educational-touristic offer, are aimed at:

tourists and visitors to a given locality
school groups and families with children
local residents (to help them better know their own “little homeland”)

Treasure Box Availability

As enthusiasts and promoters of Explorer Expeditions, we care deeply that all quests are of HIGH QUALITY, tested, and attractive in every respect – including the availability of the Treasure. Individual quest custodians are responsible for the Treasure Box. If you couldn't find the Treasure on your quest route or something was missing from the box, please contact us. We will reach out to the quest custodian or creator regarding the issue.

Quests can be completed in three ways:

In the field:

with a printed Quest Card from www.questy.org.pl or collected e.g. at a tourist information point,
with the free Quests – Explorer Expeditions mobile app (available free for Android and iOS).

Virtually:

by completing online trails marked as “virtual quests” on the portal www.questy.org.pl.

The portal and app are tightly integrated. Creating ONE USER ACCOUNT is enough – it works on both the website and in the app. Quests completed in the field (with card) or online (virtual) can be added to your results – see the INSTRUCTIONS for how to do it.

User Account:

We encourage you to create a user account on the portal or via the mobile app. The account is required to:

use the "Quests – Explorer Expeditions" mobile app
download quest cards from the “Quests – Explorer Expeditions” portal
collect information about quests completed in the field with the app or card
rate and comment on quests
compete with other questers (user results visible in the national ranking)
earn the national PTTK Quests – Explorer Expeditions badge and other regional badges
participate in contests announced on www.questy.org.pl
receive the newsletter about quest news (if consent given).

SELECTED COMPLETED QUEST PROJECTS

Development of the first three quests in Poland in Lubiąż, Dziewin, and Chocianów together with Steven Glazer in 2008 (Lower Silesia)
36 quests in 3 languages under the 2019 “Quest – Enabling Innovative Sightseeing” project (Łódź Voivodeship)
21 quests across Poland under the 2019 “Promoting Regions through Active Tourism” project (Lower Silesian, Lubusz, Masovian Voivodeships)
50 field quests (available as cards and in the app) + 4 virtual quests under the “Discovering Treasures of Southern Małopolska Heritage” project (Małopolska Voivodeship)
18 quests under the 2020 “Jurassic Explorer Expeditions” project (Silesian Voivodeship)
Development and update of 45 quests under the 2021 “Network of Educational Field Games and Geocaching Trails” project (Pomeranian, Greater Poland, Łódź, Opole, Lower Silesian Voivodeships)
21 quests in 3 languages in 2022/2023 (Greater Poland Voivodeship)
9 nature- and ecology-themed quests for the “Heart of Kashubia” Local Tourist Organisation (Pomeranian Voivodeship)
Development and update of 38 quests for LGD BUD-UJ Razem (Łódź Voivodeship)

OUR SUCCESSES

Largest free quest mobile app in Poland for Android & iOS – Quests – Explorer Expeditions – with over 1200 quests, downloaded tens of thousands of times on Google Play
Largest database of ACTIVE quests in Poland
Over 58 000 registered user accounts on www.questy.org.pl
Over 200 000 registered quest completions since 2019 (and at least as many more unregistered)
Implementation of 7-level national PTTK Quests – Explorer Expeditions badge, earned by over 17 000 participants (since XI 2019)
Polish Record: 209 people and 2 dogs in a joint photo of quest enthusiasts during the Lower Silesian Quest Weekend in Burkatów (2020)