A hand holding a cell phone with the Agents of Discovery app open on it

Junior Ranger Missions - Virtual Game

Discover Your Public Lands – Explore Bureau of Land Management lands in a whole new way. Play virtual Junior Ranger Missions with the free educational game app: Agents of Discovery, the not-so-secret, secret agency dedicated to learning and playing outdoors. 

Download and play on mobile devices at participating BLM locations or at home. This platform encourages kids to move, play, and explore their public lands as they complete virtual “Missions” and solve educational challenges through observation and discovery.  

To get started: 

  1. Download the free Agents of Discovery app to your mobile device. 

  2. Search the app for the name of the mission you want to play. 

  3. Preload the missions and head out to the BLM location to start completing your challenges or play the National Mission at home!  

AGENTS: Remember to play it safe and always watch for hazards around you. 

If you complete all the missions, follow us on Facebook or Twitter to find out when a new mission goes online!

 

Find a Place to Play:

National Mission - Play it at home!
Agents of Discovery Agent mascot Meadowlark waving wearing a BLM uniform and binoculars around its neck

Wildlife and Habitats Mission

Public lands and waters are home to more than 3,000 species of wildlife. Forests, deserts, grasslands, coastal areas, and other landscapes provide an incredible variety of habitat types. Dive in and learn about plants and animals on your public lands. (Virtual Play at Home*)

 

Agents of Discovery Agent for Dinosaur mission. Allosaurus wearing BLM uniform shirt.

Discover Dinosaurs Mission

Ancient dinosaurs roamed our public lands long ago. Play the Discover Dinosaurs Mission to dig in and help the Bureau of Land Management protect dinosaur fossils by learning about paleontology on your public lands. (Virtual Play at Home*)


*Open Agents of Discovery app and Search: "BLM Junior Ranger Mission"

Para la versión en español, abre la aplicación de Agentes del Descubrimiento y busca "Misión BLM Junior Ranger"

Alaska

Campbell Creek Science Center 

Imagine the discoveries you will make as you explore Alaska’s natural world at the Campbell Creek Science Center. The Science Center is the perfect outdoor classroom where learning and science come to life.

There are nine Junior Ranger Missions for you to complete. Depending on the season, test your Iditarod knowledge, embark on snow and ice explorations, listen to birds, and more! Are you ready to accept the challenge, Junior Ranger?

  • Snow & Ice Explorations - December & January
  • Iditarod - February & March 
  • Birds, Birds, Birds - April & May
  • Birding Alaska - May & June
  • The Secret Life Of Trees - June & July
  • Exploration Detective - August & September
  • Archaeology Mysteries - October & November
  • Discover Dinosaurs - October & November
  • Spiders, Skeletons, and Shining Eyes, Oh My! - October & November
Arizona
Ironwood Forest and Las Cienegas Agents of Discovery Mascot

Ironwood Forest National Monument  

Taking its name from one of the longest living trees in the Arizona desert, the 129,000-acre Ironwood Forest National Monument is a true Sonoran Desert showcase. 

 

Ironwood Forest National Monument Mission 

The Ironwood Forest National Monument contains 129,000 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert landscapes, including mountains, cactus plains, ghost towns and a working silver mine! There is a lot to discover out there, but today you can learn all about the monument from the comfort of your own home! (Virtual Play at Home Mission) 


Ironwood Forest and Las Cienegas Agents of Discovery Mascot

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

The Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (NCA) protects more than 45,000 acres of rolling grasslands and woodlands in southeastern Arizona. 

 

Historic Empire Ranch Mission

What an amazing opportunity for you to discover the history of the Historic Empire Ranch in Sonoita, Arizona. You'll find interesting facts about the ranch's history which began way back in 1876. You'll also learn how important it is for us to preserve this historic treasure through the effort of many volunteers that help to make Empire Ranch great and preserve and interpret the Ranch for the American people. 


San Pedro Agents of Discovery Mascot

San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area 

The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area contains almost 57,000 acres of public land in Cochise County, Arizona, between the international border and St. David, Arizona. Congress designated the riparian area as a Riparian National Conservation Area on November 18, 1988. 

 

Fairbank Mission

Your Mission today is to complete nine challenges about the history of the ghost town of Fairbank, Arizona. Let's learn about the town and what went on here. 

Murray Springs Clovis Site Mission

People have lived in the San Pedro River Valley for at least 13,000 years. Scientists have named the first group here that we know of the 'Clovis Culture.'  We do not know what they called themselves. The Clovis were among the ancestors of modern Native Americans. Our mission is to learn about the Clovis. 

San Pedro House Mission

Welcome, Agent! Your Mission today is to discover the world around you. The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area is home to many amazing creatures.  

California
Agents of Discovery Agent Mascot for Arcata Field Office waving. Mascot wearing BLM uniform hat.

Arcata Field Office Area

The Arcata Field Office is responsible for the administration of natural resources, lands, and mineral programs on over 200,000 acres of public land in Northwestern California. 

 

The Secrets of the California Coastal National Monument Mission

Welcome, Agent! Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about the California Coastal National Monument.  


Agents of Discovery Mascot Beryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. Elk wearing BLM uniform

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument

Public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument are some of the most scenic and biologically diverse landscapes in northern California. They range from rolling, oak-studded hillsides to steep creek canyons and ridgelines with expansive views.

 

Cowboy Camp Mission

This mission will explore the plants, animals, night sky, as part of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and learn about our impacts on the land as human beings.   

Upper Lake Ranger Station Mission

Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about this U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station, which works with the Bureau of Land Management to run the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.  


Agents of Discovery Kestrel mascot waving for Sand to Snow National Monument. Kestrel wearing BLM uniform and binocular hanging around its neck.

Sand to Snow National Monument 

Encompassing 154,000 acres, including just over 100,000 acres of already congressionally-designated Wilderness, Sand to Snow National Monument is an ecological and cultural treasure and one of the most biodiverse areas in southern California, supporting more than 240 species of birds and twelve threatened and endangered wildlife species. 

 

Sand to Snow National Monument Mission

Welcome, Agent! Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about your world. (Virtual Play at Home Mission) 


Agents of Discovery Mascot for Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains. Big horn sheep in US Forest Service uniform.

Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument

The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument provides a picturesque backdrop to local communities, visitors can enjoy magnificent palm oases, snow-capped mountains, a national scenic trail, and wilderness areas. Its extensive backcountry can be accessed via trails from both the Coachella Valley and the alpine village of Idyllwild.

 

Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Mission

Welcome Agent! Your Mission today is to solve secret challenges to explore the natural world just outside your home. 

Colorado
Agents of Discovery Mascot for Canyons of the Ancient National Monument. White Puma with cultural markings wearing wearing BLM uniform

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument 

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument ('the Monument') encompasses 174,000 acres of federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. 

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument - Lowry Pueblo Mission

Today your mission will be to explore the Lowry Pueblo. Follow the trail to complete the challenges, then Return to the Canyons of the Ancients Visitors Center and Museum. 

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument - Sand Canyon Trail Mission

Welcome to the Sand Canyon and Rock Creek trails! Today your mission is to complete the challenges up the trail and have fun along the way! When your mission is complete don't forget to stop by the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum. 

Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center - Why Build on a Hill? Mission

Welcome, Agent! Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about our world.  


Agents of Discovery Mascot for Dominguez-Escalante NCA. Big horn sheep wearing BLM uniform and binocular hanging around its neck.

Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area 

Known for its breathtaking scenery, the 210,172- acre Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as well as many cultural and historic sites.

Dominguez Canyon Mission

Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about the Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area.  

Escalante Canyon Mission

Your Mission today is to discover the wonders of Escalante Canyon, part of Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. 

Florida
Agents of Discovery Agent mascot, Shel the Gopher Tortoise, waving wearing a BLM uniform and binoculars around its neck

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area 

In northern Palm Beach County on Florida’s urbanized Treasure Coast lies the 120-acre Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area.

 

Hitting the Trails Mission

Home of four sensitive habitats, 26 special status species, and an archaeological record going back over 5000 years, you have just stepped foot into a unique area known as the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area. Visited annually by thousands of people (perhaps even yourself), your mission is to explore the southern side of the Outstanding Natural Area, discover the rich resources our land has to offer, and learn why it is up to us to keep this natural area safe. 

Living like a Scrub Mission

Today you will be visiting an environment that perhaps you may have never explored before. Desolate of water, void of shade, and no aquatic life nearby. And to answer your question no..... we are not leaving Florida! Your mission will be to visit a scrub habitat found here at the Outstanding Natural Area. 

Idaho
Agents of Discovery Mascot for Morley Nelson SR BOPNCA. Raptor wearing BLM uniform waving and binocular hanging around its neck.

Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

The Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area's Snake River canyon, with its crags and crevices and thermal updrafts, is home to the greatest concentration of nesting birds of prey in North America – and perhaps, the world.

 

Explore Dedication Point Mission

Your mission today, is to explore Dedication Point to learn about the animals in the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. 

Montana
Agents of Discovery Mascot for Butte Field Office area. Fish waving and wearing BLM uniform with hat.

Butte Field Office Area 

The Butte Field Office manages over 300,000 acres of public lands and approximately 650,000 acres of mineral estate in eight counties in southwestern Montana. Recreational opportunities abound in this area! Developed campgrounds on Hauser and Holter Lakes near Helena provide an abundance of water-based recreation. 

 

Holter Dam Mission

Take a good look around Agent, welcome to the Holter Dam Recreation Site! While on this mission you will use all of your senses to identify plants and animals. You will also be testing your knowledge about the greater outdoors. 

Holter Lake Mission

Welcome to Holter Lake! This lake is a human-created reservoir that is used primarily for recreation and fishing. Your mission today, if you choose to accept, is to learn about the natural world. With this mission completed you will be a nature agent and a better citizen of Planet Earth. 

Two Camps Mission

Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about Hauser Lake. 


Agents of Discovery Agent for Pompeys Pillar waving. Beaver wearing BLM uniform and ball cap.

Pompey's Pillar National Monument 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument encompasses 51 acres on the banks of the Yellowstone River with a massive sandstone outcrop covering about 2 acres at its base and rising 120 feet high toward Montana’s Big Sky. 

 

Operation Outside at Pompeys Pillar Mission

Your Mission, if you choose to accept, is to discover new and exciting facts about the natural world surrounding Pompeys Pillar.


Agents of Discovery Agent for Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument waving. Beaver wearing BLM uniform with ball cap and a life vest

Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument 

From Fort Benton to the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument spans 149 miles of the Upper Missouri River, the adjacent Breaks country, and portions of Arrow Creek, Antelope Creek, and the Judith River. 

 

Bat Mission 

Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about bats. (Virtual Play at Home Mission) 

Nevada
Agents of Discovery Agent for Sloan Canyon NCA. Lizard wearing BLM vest and hat standing with a walking stick

Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area 

The 48,438 acre Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area forms the southern mountainous skyline of Las Vegas and the City of Henderson.  The Sloan Canyon Petroglyph Site is one of the most significant, scenic, and important cultural resources in southern Nevada having more than 300 rock art panels, and nearly 1,700 designs representing native cultures dating from Archaic to historic era.

 

Anthem East Adventure Mission

Your Mission today is to discover Sloan Canyon's Anthem East trails! Learn about Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area and the plants and animals that call it home! 

Oregon
Agents of Discovery Agent mascot Meadowlark waving wearing a BLM uniform and binoculars around its neck

Medford District Office Area

The Medford District encompasses 876,009 acres and is the gateway to southwest Oregon outdoor experiences.

Explore Lower Table Rock Mission

Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about our world. 

Lower Table Rocks Loop: Who Ate the Acorn? Mission

Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about our world. We will be exploring the Oak Savannah Loop Trail to learn about this important habitat and who lives there. 

Upper table Rock--Islands in the Sky Mission

Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about our world.  


Agents of Discovery Agent for National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center​. Owl wearing BLM uniform and hat.

National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center 

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center offers living history demonstrations, interpretive programs, exhibits, multi-media presentations, special events, and more than four miles of interpretive trails.

 

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Baker Settlement Mission

Your Mission today is to discover what brought settlers back to the Powder Valley and build cities and towns! 

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Panorama Point Mission

Your Mission today is to discover new and exciting facts about our world. Are you ready? You'll walk out to Panorama Point with challenges along the way! Enjoy the views and challenges! 


Agents of Discovery Mascot for Arcata and Yaquaina Head Light house. Seal wearing BLM uniform

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area 

The Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area extends out from the Oregon coast, one mile into the Pacific Ocean. Standing 93 feet tall at the westernmost point of the basalt headland, the lighthouse has been a bright beacon of the night, guiding ships and their supplies along the west coast since the light was first lit on August 20, 1873.

 

Mission to Quarry Cove

In this mission, agents will follow the trail down to Quarry Cove and discover the many ways Yaquina Head has changed over time.

Yaquina Rocks!

Follow the lighthouse trail and up Salal Hill to learn about the explosive geology of this unique coastal headland.
 

Utah
Agents of Discovery Agent for Bears Ear National Monument. Black Bear wearing BLM uniform and hat with binocular hanging around its neck.

Bears Ears National Monument  

Bears Ears National Monument offers outstanding opportunities to hike, visit cultural sites, backpack, mountain bike, float the San Juan River, and ride OHVs exist within the monument boundaries. Other world-class activities include scenic driving, photography, rock climbing, camping, paleontological exploration, and wildlife viewing.

 

Bears Ears National Monument: Mule Canyon Visit With Respect Mission

Your Mission today is to learn how to explore archaeological sites safely and with respect for the people who lived here and the artifacts that they left behind. 

Bears Ears National Monument: Newspaper Rock Mission

Your Mission today is to explore the historic and prehistoric imagery inscribed on Newspaper Rock. Keep your eyes open and your thinking cap on. (Virtual Play at Home Mission) 

Bears Ears National Monument: Virtual Challenge Mission

Welcome to Bears Ears National Monument, a landscape of dizzying heights, deep canyons, hidden springs, forested mountain slopes, and home to many people for thousands of years. Get ready to explore the monument and unravel the mysteries that abound in this special place! (Virtual Play at Home Mission) 


Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is 1.88 million acres of wild rocky beauty. It offers stunning drives, large wilderness areas, outer worldly star gazing, unique photography, and numerous backpacking opportunities. With the four visitor centers you can learn about the resources within the monument like paleontology, geology, archeology, ecology, and history.

Discover Dinosaurs - BLM Junior Ranger Mission (Play At: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument)

Discover dinosaurs and help the Bureau of Land Management preserve fossils. Come on in! Together we can learn about paleontology on our public lands! Play this mission at the Big Water Visitor Center.

Virginia
Agents of Discovery Agent mascot Meadowlark waving wearing a BLM uniform and binoculars around its neck

Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area

The 800-acre Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) sits on northern Virginia’s on the Mason Neck Peninsula just outside of Washington D.C.

 

Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area Mission

Welcome, Agents! Your mission today is to explore Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area and discover what makes this such a special place. This mission starts at the Enchanted Pond, which is just to the east of the forest near the stables. As you walk along our highlighted paths, you’ll unlock challenges that you can solve to complete the mission. Are you ready? Let’s Go!

 

Agents of Discovery Missions at Pompeys Pillar National Monument

 Download the Agents of Discovery app

The Agents of Discovery App and can be downloaded from:

Agents of Discovery home screen shot

Do I need an internet connection to play?

The Agents of Discovery App requires no WiFi or data connection while you’re out exploring. You will need WiFi to download the application itself and the different missions. But you don’t need to worry about cell phone data charges as you complete the mobile game! 

How does the Agent of Discovery app connect kids with nature?

Studies show that outdoor classrooms and nature-based experiential activities lead to significant gains in student academic performance (American Institutes for Research 2005). The game encourages youth to get outside and start solving mysteries related to the natural world. It is a way to use gaming technology that kids are already using to enhance outdoor experiences in a fun and educational way. The game unfolds at a variety of mission sites in parks, forests, recreation areas, and museums around the country.