2025 DMV Explorer Coming Soon
Accept Your Mission!
How to Play
Download the free Agents of Discovery app and search the names of the Missions from the list below. Each Mission is a series of interactive challenges to learn and explore. If you’re logged in and play more Missions, you’ll be entered to win more cool prizes!
Scenic America
Coming soon!
NOAA
Coming soon!
Frederick County
Coming soon!
Bureau of Land Management – Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area Mission
Coming soon!
US Fish & Wildlife Service – Patuxent Research Refuge
Coming soon!
Guest Services
Coming soon!
2023 DMV Explorer Prizes
We’ve got lots of great prizes this year, so make sure you’re logged into the Agents of Discovery app! Logged in users get a chance to win Grand Prizes, including:
Complete 2 Missions
Be entered to win tickets to Tidal Basin Paddle Boats of Frederick County’s Museum Center
Complete 4 Missions
Be entered to win tickets to the International Spy Museum or a $200 gift card to the Baltimore Bass Pro Shop
Accept Your Mission!
DMV Explorer Archives
DMV Explorer 5.0
Players of the DMV Explorer were able to earn badges and lanyards by completing Missions in the area, and were entered in a draw to win other cool prizes as well!
Locations with the Most Players in the DMV Explorer 5.0
1st Place
Frederick County
2nd Place
Patuxent Research Refuge
3rd Place
U.S. National Arboretum
#DMVExplorer
Participating Locations
Columbia Gardens Cemetery
Columbia Gardens Cemetery
Bureau of Land Management – Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area Mission
Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area Mission
Discover Dinosaurs
U.S. National Arboretum
Saving Springhouse Run
U.S Fish and Wildlife – Patuxent Research Refuge
Patuxent Research Refuge – National Wildlife Visitor Center
Patuxent Research Refuge- North Tract
Masonville Cove Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership
U.S. Forest Service – USDA Urban Forest
USDA Urban Forest
Sustainable Recreation
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission – Watkins Nature Center
Watkins Regional Park Nature Center
U.S. Fish and Wildlife – Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Fox Loop Mission
Painted Turtle Pond Mission
West Virgina University
Shipwrecks at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary
Frederick County
Park Adventurer
Waterways Defender
Ag Explorer Mission
City of Rockville
Explore the Civic Center Park
Scenic America
Discovering the District: A Scenic America Adventure
U.S Forest Service- City of Baltimore
Welcome to Leakin Park!
Sustainable Recreation 2.0
Middle Branch Exploration Trail
Prizes
Complete 2 Missions to be entered to win tickets to Tidal Basin Paddle Boats or Frederick County’s Museum Center. Complete 4 Missions to be entered to win tickets to the International Spy Museum or a $200 gift card to the Baltimore Bass Pro Shop.
Promotional Materials
DMV Explorer 4.0
Players of the DMV Explorer were able to earn badges and lanyards by completing Missions in the area, and were entered in a draw to win other cool prizes as well!
Locations with the Most Players in the DMV Explorer 3.0
1st Place
The National Arboretum
2nd Place
Watkins Nature Center
3rd Place
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
#DMVExplorer
DMV Explorer Partners
Participating Missions
Columbia Gardens Cemetery
The National Arboretum
Patuxent Research Refuge – National Wildlife Visitor Center
Patuxent Research Refuge – North Tract
Masonville Cove Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership
Middle Branch Exploration Trail
Spring has Sprung in Gwynns Falls Leakin Park
Welcome to Gwynn Falls Leakin Park
USDA Urban Forest
Smokey Bear 3.0 
Watkins Regional Park
Fox Loop Mission
Painted Turtle Pond Mission
Mallow Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary
Scenic America Presents: “Scenic Conservation in Washington, DC”
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
World War II Memorial
Art in Nature
Middletown Park
Fountain Rock Park & Nature Center
Rose Hill Manor Park & Museums
Explore the Civic Center Park
Prizes
When players completed one Mission, they earned a unique site-specific reward. When they completed 3 Missions, they were entered to win a Family pack (4 admission tickets) to the Children’s Museum in Frederick County or tickets for a free pedal boat rental at Tidal Basin.
Promotional Materials
DMV Explorer 4.0 Poster (8.5 x 11)
DMV Explorer 4.0 Poster (8.5 x 14)
DMV Explorer 4.0 Poster (11 x 17)
DMV Explorer 3.0
September 27 – December 31, 2021
The DMV Explorer 3.0 took place from September 27 – December 31, 2021. Players were able to earn badges and lanyards by completing Missions in the area, and were entered in a draw to win other cool prizes as well!
Winners of the DMV Explorer 3.0
1st Place
Woodsy Owl Birthday Mission (Play at home)
2nd Place
3rd Place
#DMVExplorer
DMV Explorer Partners
Participating Missions
Smokey Bear 2.0
USDA Urban Forest
Woodsy Owl Birthday Mission (Play at home)
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
World War II Memorial
Columbia Gardens
National Arboretum
Patuxent River Park’s Mission
Patuxent River Park Rural Life Museum Mission
National Wildlife Visitor Center
North Tract
Watkins Regional Park Mission
Fox Loop Mission
Prizes
DMV Traveler badge can be picked up at Patuxent River Park, Patuxent Research Refuge, and Columbia Gardens Cemetery. Please see the interactive map above for directions and details of these pickup locations.
*Badges are available while quantities last.
Also, if you complete 3 or more Missions you will have the chance to win a free youth skate pass with the purchase of an adult skate pass at the Sculpture Garden Ice Rink, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. The pass is valid Monday – Friday from 11am to 5pm; going into effect on December 1st. This pass will not be accepted for the period of December 20th thru January 4th.
*Some restrictions may apply.
Promotional Materials
2021 D.C. Explorer Poster 8.5×11
DMV Explorer 2.0
August 15 – October 31, 2020
The DMV Explorer 2.0 ran from August 15 – October 31, 2020. Players were able to earn badges by completing Missions in the area, and were entered in a draw to win other cool prizes as well! Participating sites can be found all over the greater D.C. area, including in Maryland and Virginia.
Winners of the DMV Explorer 2.0
1st Place
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
2nd Place
3rd Place
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
#DMVExplorer
DMV Explorer Partners
Participating Missions
Anacostia Park Walking Mission
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Columbia Gardens Cemetery
Korean War Veterans Memorial
World War II Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
National Arboretum
Patuxent Research Refuge – National Wildlife Visitor Center
Patuxent Research Refuge – North Tract
Patuxent River Park’s Mission
Patuxent River Park Rural Life Museum Mission
USDA Urban Forest
Watkins Regional Park
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge – Fox Loop Mission
Prizes
By completing Missions at different locations, you can earn special prizes like badges and buttons. See the interactive map below for more information on which locations will be distributing prizes.
If you complete 5 of the Missions listed here, you will become a D.C. Traveler and earn a special badge! D.C. Traveler badges can be picked up in person at Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge, or you can email us at [email protected] to get it mailed to you.
*Make sure you log in on the Agents of Discovery app to be eligible to earn your D.C. Traveler badge!
Want to take a fun picture with all the DC Explorer Agents? Scan this snapcode and send it to all your friends!
Explore D.C.
IR Mission
Interested in learning more about the participating sites before you visit them?
Find out more about what you can see and learn about at different locations involved in the Explorer Campaign through the playable-at-home Explore DC Mission! To play, follow these three simple steps:
- Download the “Explore DC” Mission in the Agents of Discovery app
- Open the PDF of the IR Trigger images below
- Scan the images to unlock fun Challenges created by partners of the D.C. Explorer Campaign!
If you want to make this Mission into even more of an adventure, try printing out the trigger images and placing them around your house or backyard to make a fun scavenger hunt.
The Explore DC Mission also counts toward your total Missions to earn higher-tier Puget Sound Explorer prizes – remember, the more Missions you play, the more prizes you can earn!
DMV Explorer
June 27 – November 1, 2019
DMV Explorer Campaign Wrap Up Event
November 19, 2019
The DMV Explorer Campaign wrap up event took place at the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge Pollinator Garden. Thank you to all of our partners who made this campaign such a massive success. Together we were able to encourage well over 2,000 kids to get engaged, active and excited about history and nature in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Participating Missions
NASA Goddard Visitor Center
National Arboretum
USDA Urban Forest
Watkins Regional Park
World War II Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Patuxent Research Refuge
Patuxent Research Refuge – North Tract
Anacostia Park
Potomac Overlook Regional Park
Temple Hall Farm Regional Park
Meadowlark Regional Park
Check out the DC Explorer 2.0 Flyer
Check out the DC Explorer 2.0 Press Release
Become a DMV Explorer!
Complete three Missions on the National Mall to earn your National Mall Explorer badge. Complete 6 Missions to earn your D.C. Traveler badge. Complete 9 or more Missions to earn your DMV Explorer badge.
