Great Lakes Quests

Great Lakes Quests are virtual learning activities about coastal topics in Wisconsin that use interactive story maps. Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center collaborated to develop these activities.

The Quests are inspired by the century-old British tradition of letterboxing, in which clue-driven activities encourage people to get out in nature to find a container that holds a notebook and a stamp.

In our virtual format, a story map provides the narrative interspersed with multimedia, an online survey form provides the clues, and there is a certificate of completion at the end.

There are two different types of quests. The first type addresses coastal issues facing a community on the Great Lakes, such as building resilience to coastal hazards or ecological restoration. The second type features Wisconsin coastal counties; those quests were guided by interactions with Wisconsin 4-H Clubs.

Coastal Issue Quests

Protecting the Kenosha Dunes
Explore a plan to preserve this unique natural area in Kenosha

Healthy and Resilient Beaches in Racine
A tour of beach restoration projects in Racine

Flooding in Milwaukee
A tour of flooding disasters and management in Milwaukee

Green Infrastructure in Milwaukee
Exploring green infrastructure to reduce flooding in Milwaukee

Harbor Infrastructure Resilience in Port Washington
A tour of the waterfront of Port Washington, Wisconsin focused on building resilience of the harbor and marina

Bluff Erosion in Ozaukee County
A tour of bluff erosion in Ozaukee County

Fishing Heritage of Two Rivers
A tour of the rich commercial fishing heritage of Two Rivers

Ecological Restoration of Wisconsin Point
A tour of ecological restoration projects on Wisconsin Point in Superior

Coastal County Quests

Ashland County
Exploring climate change, the importance of water and wild spaces in Ashland County, Wisconsin

Bayfield County
Exploring the living culture and the gifts of land and water in Bayfield County, Wisconsin