You’re standing on an unfamiliar street. There’s writing on a sign, mountains in the distance and cars passing by. Somewhere in this scene are clues to where you are… can you piece them together?

In GeoGuessr, that’s the challenge. The online game places you in a Google Street View location and asks you to pinpoint where you are on a map. For learners joining HomeLearners Network (HLN) Guide, Walter Brynjolfson, it’s an invitation to put on their detective hat and explore the world.

This December, HLN’s three-day GeoGuessr Camp invites learners to follow clues around the globe, compare discoveries and cheer each other on. Whether your child is just beginning to explore maps or already knows every flag, there’s a new mystery waiting to be solved.

 

A love of exploring, one street at a time

Before Walter discovered GeoGuessr, he and his brother would explore random places on Google Street View simply because they found it fascinating. These days, they play the game competitively, tackling the daily challenge and trying to beat each other.

That curiosity reaches well beyond the screen. Walter grew up in Langley, BC, with an Argentinian mother and Canadian father, surrounded by families from different backgrounds. He now lives in Cochabamba, Bolivia, with his wife and their children.

“I’ve always been fascinated by different people’s cultures and histories and backgrounds,” he says.

For Walter, knowing something about another person’s home can help start a conversation and create a connection. Exploring geography with children offers a place to begin building that knowledge.

 

Every location is a new mystery

A street sign might offer a language clue, trees could suggest a particular climate and looking at architecture, road markings and flags can all help players narrow their search.

“One of the first things I look at is what side of the road are people driving on,” Walter explains.

Each observation gives learners something to consider alongside the other evidence. Does their first guess still make sense? What else could they look for? As they compare possibilities, they practise reasoning, eliminating options and making decisions with incomplete information.

Some discoveries are surprisingly familiar. Walter often hears learners say a place looks like somewhere they’ve been, even when it’s far from home. A street in Ontario might remind a child of Nelson, BC, prompting a closer look at what the two places share.

 

Learning to solve it together

Solving a mystery together takes more than a sharp eye. Learners have to decide which clues are worth sharing, explain their thinking and listen to what someone else has spotted. One child might recognize a flag while another notices a street sign that changes the group’s guess. Each discovery becomes something they can build on together.

Walter sees that excitement firsthand when siblings playing side by side celebrate a good guess. Sometimes parents get drawn into the challenge too, looking for clues and talking through possibilities with their children.

Beginners also have room to find their footing. Walter starts with basic geography games covering continents and compass directions. Familiar landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben, offer an accessible way into the challenge before learners tackle trickier locations.

 

Keep the curiosity going at home

Your family can borrow Walter’s approach without opening the game. If you’re sitting around the dinner table and another country comes up in conversation, take a moment to find it on a map together. Zoom in, look at photos and talk about what catches your attention.

“One thing I do with my kids, when it comes to geography and the world and other places, is I love looking at maps with them,” Walter says.

A country mentioned during a sports match can become the start of a small exploration. You don’t need all the answers; wondering together gives your child somewhere to begin.

 

Join the December adventure

HLN’s December GeoGuessr Camp runs from Monday, December 14 to Wednesday, December 16, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. PCT each day.

Learners will share clues and enjoy friendly challenges with Walter. Themed rounds help make the game approachable, with opportunities to work together and test their growing geography skills.

Ready to see where your child’s curiosity takes them? Sign up today for December GeoGuessr Camp.