FIELD NOTES BLOG

Gamifying the Outdoors

Emma Zimmerman
June 17, 2026

There is no better way to spend your summer than outside! Whether you're hiking through the woods or simply enjoying a walk with friends, spending time outdoors has countless benefits. At Severson Dells, our hiking trails and Nature Playscape are always free and open to the public. But if you're looking for a new way to experience nature, why not turn your next outdoor adventure into a game?


Gamification is the process of adding elements of games, such as challenges, competition, and rewards, to everyday activities. Gamifying the outdoors can make spending time outside more engaging, especially for families, kids, and between friends. Here are a few ways to gamify your next outdoor adventure.

Geocaching

Think of geocaching as a real-world scavenger hunt. Geocaching is an international activity, where participants use hints on the official Geocaching app or a GPS device to locate hidden containers called "caches." Once a cache is found, players sign and date the logbook inside to prove they discovered it. Many caches also contain small trade items. If you take an item, you're encouraged to leave something of equal or greater value in its place.


There are over 3 million geocaches hidden across more than 190 countries, so there's almost always one nearby! Severson Dells is home to two geocaches and is also a Cache Odyssey location, the only one in Illinois!


For many people, geocaching turns an everyday hike into a treasure hunt. Instead of simply walking a trail, you're following clues, searching for hidden treasures, and checking locations off your list. If you've ever enjoyed Pokémon Go, geocaching offers a similar sense of exploration and discovery!

Letterboxing

Letterboxing is another outdoor scavenger-hunting activity that is similar to geocaching. A letterbox is a small weatherproof container hidden in a publicly accessible location. Inside each letterbox is a logbook and a unique rubber stamp, often hand-carved by the person who created the letterbox. 


Participants use clues posted online to locate these hidden boxes. When they find a box, they stamp the logbook using their own personal signature stamp, and then they stamp their own journal with the unique stamp from the box. Over time, their journal becomes a sort of passport from all of the letterboxes they've visited! There are several letterboxes hidden throughout Winnebago County, many of which are in natural areas. You can check out a list of where to find them here!

Merlin Bird ID

Are you a birder? If your answer is "not really," Merlin Bird ID might change your mind. Developed by Cornell University, Merlin is a free app that can identify birds by listening to their songs in real time. Every new species you hear can be added to your personal "life list," which is a collection of all the birds you've heard. With Merlin, every hike becomes a quest to collect a new bird to add to your life list.


At Severson Dells, our staff loves to compare their life lists to see who has identified the most species. It's a simple challenge that can lead into a friendly competition among friends or family members. As we’ve discovered at the nature center, birding becomes surprisingly addictive when every new species feels like unlocking a new character in a game.


Whether you're searching for a geocache, tracking down a letterbox, identifying birds with Merlin, or completing your own outdoor challenge, gamifying the outdoors can make every walk feel like an adventure. This summer, don't just go outside, turn your next visit to Severson Dells into a quest!

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