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Fast Facts about the Florida Quest

			THE TRACKERS Lauren, Ethan, Niki, Zack and Ally.
			THE PARTICIPANTS A list of teachers participating in this year's Florida Quest.
			THE AUTHOR Marian Strong Tomblin has written four books, including "The Mystery at Hotel Ormond," and "Manatee Moon," and also two News-Journal serial stories, "Fly-in Fox Tales" and "Endangered!" Click here to listen to an interview with the author.
			THE ILLUSTRATOR Elizabeth Rizzo is a freelance illustrator, graphic designer and handcrafter.

This year, the Trackers are challenged to locate three historic buildings in Volusia County by using a geocaching format. After the Trackers find the buildings and their caches, the items in the caches serve as clues to facts about the structures. The Trackers must also identify some "famous firsts" achieved by prominent people associated with each of the buildings. In the Conclusion, the three older Trackers decide to use the information and their experiences to create individual projects for next year’s social studies fair.

Geocaching, also referred to as a global positioning or GPS stash hunt, is a recreational activity in which someone "buries" something for others to try to find using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. The pursuit can be thought of as a GPS-enabled treasure hunt. Usually, a geocache consists of a small, waterproof container that holds a logbook and inexpensive trinkets. Participants are called geocachers.

Florida Quest:

• Immerses students in a unique multimedia, multiethnic curriculum to improve reading, writing, social studies and critical thinking skills.
• Is in its 17th year
• Makes learning fun and interesting for students while drawing directly from your curriculum goals.
• Is technology-rich—uses geocaching and other available technological tools.
• Guides students in exploring local historic buildings and the people associated with them.
• Provides puzzles and clues about the story line, which appear in the booklets, newspapers, the Internet and TV.
• Is sponsored by the Bureau of Historic Preservation, DBCC TV 15, Newspaper in Education at The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
• Provides Sunshine State Standards benchmarks.
• Offers an extensive, dedicated Web site as an integral part of the curriculum.
• Takes place after FCAT: Introduction April 14, Chapter One April 21, Chapter Two April 28, Chapter Three May 5, Conclusion May 12.
• Is a great way to end the year with a rigorous, relevant curriculum directly related to the community.
• Is sanctioned and contributed to by the Volusia school system.
• Sign up forms—one registration per teacher—are available at www.nieworld.com.

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