Tom Sawyer, Mr Samochodzik, Indiana Jones - these are the most famous treasure hunters whose adventures every child has eagerly followed, dreaming of playing their role. Now it is possible, thanks to a new form of tourism accessible to the whole family: questing. So far, more than 50 quests have been created in Poland, i.e. unmarked trails through which one can discover the treasures of a given region: its tradition, culture and major attractions.
Questing is an educational game - a field game, the aim of which is to perform a specific task and find a treasure, but above all to discover the regional heritage (including cultural, natural and historical). The motto "There your treasure where your heart is", which helped Mr Samochodzik find the treasure of the Knights Templar, also guides questing. Thanks to quests, one can become a participant in a fascinating adventure in an unconventional way. What is more, through active involvement in the creation of puzzles, you can get to know exciting places, forgotten legends or rediscover your region.
Quest = family fun Everyone can take part in the game, regardless of age. - The quest participant receives a map and a description, i.e. a task to be completed written down in prose or verse. Following the instructions, they solve riddles and puzzles. In this way, he or she reaches places and interesting natural phenomena that are not described in any guidebook or on the Internet. At the end of the game, the participant discovers a treasure - a box with a stamp, certifying that he or she has solved the quest," says Łukasz Wilczyński, a questing trainer in Poland.
Completed quests can be an attractive form of a weekend visit to the family area. It's fun for the whole family, enabling them to discover the secrets and history of the visited places, gain knowledge about their home areas, get to know each other in new, surprising situations on the trails, and above all strengthen family ties.
The shared experience of fascinating adventures will remain in the memories of both children and parents for a long time. Importantly, this form of tourism does not require a lot of money: all that is needed are maps with trails and rhyming instructions, which are also available on the website of the Questing organisation Anyone can download and print them out before setting off.
Questing= the involvement of children and young people in the creation of the local community An important element that distinguishes questing from one-off outdoor games or walks is the opportunity to get involved in the creation of the local community and the promotion of their region. Questing allows for the activation of the local community (children, young people, regionalists, managers of tourist attractions, people involved in promotion).
By creating puzzles together, meeting people who know the history, legends, anecdotes, young people rediscover their immediate neighbourhood. Thanks to quests, children notice the potential of their place and begin to act for the development of the local environment. What is more, such activities deepen their sense of identity and pride in their place of residence.
