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SALT LAKE CITY — As if you needed another excuse to spend some time in Utah's state parks, the state is offering prizes to the people who complete the most tasks in a state park scavenger hunt.
The Utah State Parks and Recreation State of Adventure Scavenger Hunt begins June 1, though registration is currently open. Throughout the summer, contestant who are in top standing will receive prizes, with the grand prize, annual state park passes for 2013-2014, going to the person or team who has completed the most challenges. The social media contest closes on Aug. 31.
The scavenger hunt's goal is to get people outside and exploring in the parks. The challenges were designed to accommodate a wide range of people, including families. Most challenges require a day-use fee to the park, ranging from $6 to $10 per car.
To check off the challenge, participants must post a photo on Facebook of them in the park completing it.
Park rangers made suggestions, and the contest creator designed the tasks to reflect the best parts of the parks.
"We don't have as much knowledge as park rangers who really know the best places to send people in each state park, the best things they can do, the most interesting things to reveal," said Chase Brooks, social media manager at Fluid Advertising in Bountiful, who headed the project.
"We worked with park rangers to get the two best highlights we could from each park and use those to create tasks. Each of the parks — it's really well-done — custom tasks that are going to show you really, the best part of the parks, the places you would want to go anyway."
They range from hiking to identifying geology, to taking classes or answering a question about the park. Only two education courses require separate payment from park entrance fee, but do offer certification opportunities.
