Many local municipalities and organizations have used the GooseChase app, a digital scavenger hunt platform, at no cost in 2021 through the Digital Main Street pilot license, creating opportunities for engagement of visitors and residents and highlighting assets in your community. With that license coming to an end on December 31, 2021, Niagara Region Economic Development has adopted the license for the use of local business organizations and municipalities to continue to create events, missions and games locally for 2022.

GooseChase hosts digital “scavenger hunts” or “games” that awards points to participants for completing missions, which can include photos, videos, GPS locations or text-based tasks. Anything from taking a photo in front of a favourite coffee shop or a local landmark can earn participants points, competing for prizes in a safe, physically distant way. Participants will also receive special promotions and discounts to local retailers through the app. The program will be launched in January 2022 and continue through the year.

Business improvement areas, small business enterprise centres, chambers of commerce and municipalities across the region will have unlimited access to the platform under Niagara Economic Development’s banner.

Eligibility

If you are a BIA, Chamber, municipality or other business-supporting organization that wants to create a GooseChase scavenger hunt, please contact the Niagara Economic Development Officer or through the dedicated email, goosechase@niagararegion.ca.

Why use GooseChase and what can it help your organization do?

  • Visit BIAs and local Downtowns
  • Shop local
  • Explore parks and communities
  • Get active (eg. fitness, cycling, yoga challenges)
  • Festivals (eg. multicultural, Ribfest, Canada Day, Earth Day)
  • Learn about local culture & history
  • Participate and learn about local programs aimed at preserving the environment
  • Amazing Race style events

How to use GooseChase:

  1.  Create Game
    • Give your game a name, picture and description to mark it as yours.
    • Add co-managers to your game to collaborate on mission ideas and more.
    • With unlimited members covered under the Niagara Region license, you can add as many co-managers to your games as needed!
  2. Add Missions
    • Each GooseChase game is a collection of missions for participants to complete and earn points. You can grab missions from our bank of 100+ pre-built missions or design your own. Use the Game Script to automate when missions appear and disappear throughout the game.
    • Mission types include photos/videos, GPS check-ins, or text-based questions and riddles and can be created in seconds. Include a name, short description, point value and an optional link or photo for each and you’re good to go.
  3. Invite or Market to Engage Players
    • For any game, add a custom “splash screen” for participants to see when first joining the game. This splash screen is a full-screen image used to highlight your brand or sponsors and let your participants know they’re in the right place. If need be, you can also include a custom Terms of Service.
    • Within each mission, you have the option to include a link or a photo for extra context, brand awareness, or sponsorship promotion.
  4. For any game, add a custom “splash screen” for participants to see when first joining the game. This splash screen is a full-screen image used to highlight your brand or sponsors and let your participants know they’re in the right place. If need be, you can also include a custom Terms of Service.
    • Within each mission, you have the option to include a link or a photo for extra context, brand awareness, or sponsorship promotion.
  5. Define Game Timeframe and Begin!
    • When your GooseChase is in flight, you can be as hands n or hands off as you want. The game is built to run seamlessly without any intervention from you. Sit back, relax, and wait to find out who wins.
    • With real-time activity feeds and rankings, you can adjust scores on the fly, award bonus points, or delete and add missions.
  6. Track, Analyze and Save Game Participation Data
    • At the of the game, it is easy to determine the winner/top user. The leaderboard updates automatically and in real time.
    • Use the dashboard to further analyze your game stats and then download all of the submissions with the click of a button.
    • To build on the excitement of the game, put together a slideshow of all the submissions to share with your participants.

Participant experience is simple!  Download the app and join the game to complete the missions by following the instructions.  Participants can build their competitive edge by viewing the live activity feed to scope out the competition. They can pull inspiration from what others are doing, or give big thumbs up to the submissions they think are awesome. A real-time leaderboard means that at any given moment, participants know exactly how they’re doing and what needs to be done to win.

Getting started resources:

Contact Resources:

For general inquiries about the Niagara Region license, please contact

goosechase@niagararegion.ca

To join as a member under Niagara Region GooseChase license, please reach out to Linda Sicoli at linda.sicoli@niagararegion.ca