How To Have
A Successful Quest

The 2026 Great Northwest Glass Quest begins on Friday, February 13th and ends on Sunday, February 22nd.

Each business posts the time and days they are open for Glass Quest. Community Sites and Parks are open from sunrise to sunset.

Nope. Questing is FREE.

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You can Check-In Online each day that you Quest.  This information helps us get data for future grants AND we draw one winner each day to win a Glass Ball!  Multiple entries per day or entries prior to the event will be deleted.  

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We do appreciate donations to keep this event going - please consider a donation. Every $10 donated will enter you into a drawing to win the #1 or #2 Glass Ball from 2026.

Finding a clue ball is really about being at the right place at the right time. It comes down to luck, timing, and determination! Remember to "embrace the thrill of the hunt" and there are so many "other" treasures you can find on your quest.

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For 10 days (February 13–22) participating businesses and parks throughout Stanwood and Camano Island hide plastic Clue Balls. Be sure to note whether a business is hiding at their location or at designated Community Sites.

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When you find a plastic Clue Ball, you’ve won a Certificated hand-blown Glass Quest Ball—but remember, you are always searching for the plastic Clue Ball, not the glass ball itself.

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Clue Balls hidden outdoors will always contain a slip of paper directing you where to go to claim your Glass Ball. Some indoor locations also use paper slips, though not always, since you are already inside the business.

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See “What Am I Looking For?” below for photos showing the difference between a Clue Ball and a Glass Ball.

📸 Photo ID is required to claim a Glass Ball. Parents or guardians may present ID on behalf of minors.

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Start by checking the Visit Business Sites or Visit Community Sites section of this website or the Glass Quest App. Each participating business clearly indicates where their Clue Ball is hidden—either at their business or at a designated Community Site.

Before heading out:

• Confirm the location type (business vs. community site)
• Check days and hours of operation
• Note any site-specific rules or access restrictions

If a business is hiding at a Community Site, use the map to plan your route and review park guidelines before you go.

Once you’ve chosen your starting point, head out and begin your Quest—wandering between businesses, parks, and trails as you search for Clue Balls hidden in plain sight

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Booklets for 2026 are available in digital format ONLY. You can download one HERE or view all information on our Glass Quest App. If you want a printed booklet UPS in Stanwood has them to purchase for $10 (color) or $5 (black & white)

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You are searching for a clear, plastic 3-inch “clue ball” – these clue balls can be camouflaged but should always be in locations where you do not need to move store merchandise or disturb plants, etc. SEARCH WITH YOUR EYES ONLY! Clue balls in outdoor locations will always have a piece of paper inside them directing you where to go to claim your Glass Ball.  

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That is part of the “QUEST” – you do NOT know when clue balls are hidden, found, or when businesses put new balls out. Refrain from asking Business Owners if the clue ball has been found, they have taken an oath to not share that information. Daily updates for clue balls in select parks will be on the website and social media at the end of each day.

New clueballs go out EVERY DAY during the 10-day event - including the last day! So there is no day that is "better" than others to Quest.

Some participating businesses choose to offer clues for their Clue Balls, but clues are optional and not required.

If a business is offering clues, you may find them:

• By visiting the business in person
• On the business’s social media pages
• On the business’s website

Clue availability varies by business and by day.

💡 Hint: Check the Glass Quest App for a list of businesses that may be offering clues.

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Glass Quest treasures earn their name—they don’t give themselves up easily. Searching can take a little patience, but as a friendly rule of thumb, if you’ve been looking inside a business for 15–20 minutes with no luck, it’s time to tip your hat, wish the Clue Ball well, and wander on to your next stop. Keeping the Quest moving makes it fun for everyone (and helps businesses keep things running smoothly).

There are over 400 Treasures to be found in 2026! Remember there are so many other "treasures" to find during your Quest. A new shop, a beautiful hike, new friends on the trails - have fun out there and embrace the thrill of a fun experience.

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Certificated Glass Balls are limited to ONE PER PERSON per year – please respect this and share the treasures with others! The person who finds the clue ball must claim the glass ball - you cannot claim them for others.  Please contact the business inside the clue ball within 24 hours of finding it - even if you are unable to claim it right away. You will also be asked for photo ID to claim a glass ball.  ID of parent or guardian will be required for minors.  When you win a glass ball we will also take your photo and have you sign a photo release form.

Each day of the event, we post daily updates around 5:00 PM for select parks only, letting Questers know which Clue Balls have not yet been found.

We do not post updates for participating businesses or for Clue Balls hidden by businesses at Community Sites. Those discoveries are all part of the adventure.

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✨ In other words—embrace the thrill of the hunt and enjoy the mystery!

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You can check on the updates here.  

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This is one of our most frequently asked questions. Yes—Glass Quest would be much easier if we posted live updates as Clue Balls are found. However, there are a few important reasons we don’t.

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Participating businesses invest in this event and open their doors to Questers throughout the entire Quest. If it were public knowledge exactly when a Clue Ball had been found, many locations would see a sharp drop in visits, which would take away from the purpose of the event and the experience for our business partners.

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Glass Quest is, at its heart, a treasure hunt. Part of the adventure is embracing the uncertainty, discovering unexpected places, and enjoying the journey—not just the prize. We encourage Questers to seek out other treasures along the way, from local shops and parks to new experiences and connections.

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We know this approach makes the Quest more challenging (no one said it would be easy!), but we hope it adds to the fun, fairness, and overall spirit of the event.

✨ Keep calm—and Quest on!

The Certificated Glass Quest balls are not for sale (thus they are a TREASURE to only be FOUND). However, you can purchase Non-Certificated Glass Balls at some locations for $60 by showing you have the GQ (Glass Quest) App or, for the regular price of $70 (discount applied to one ball). Non-Certificated Balls for sale are available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

Checking in online helps us capture data for future grants for the event - and it provides you with another opportunity to win a glass ball.

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You can check in each day you are out questing (we trust your honesty) and each day we will draw one person from the check in data to win a glass ball. Winners are contacted by phone and email.

BE RESPECTFUL
Follow posted business rules. Shop kindly.
At Community Sites, stay on trails and leave no trace.
No walking sticks or sticks unless needed for mobility.

DON’T ASK
Enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Businesses won’t share if a Clue Ball has been found.

USE YOUR EYES ONLY
Clue Balls may be camouflaged but are always visible.
Do not move merchandise or natural items.

TIME’S UP
If you haven’t found a Clue Ball in 15–20 minutes, move on and try again later.

ONE PER PERSON
One Certificated Glass Ball per person per year.
Photo ID required (adults show ID for minors).

BE KIND & HAVE FUN
That’s the heart of Glass Quest.

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In lieu of kid questing events, we have launched our Kind Quester Program encouraging you to engage in the event in a meaningful way. This is fun for kids of all ages and embraces the spirit of the event - have fun with it! Learn More Here: https://www.northwestglassquest.com/kind-quester

February in the Pacific Northwest can bring a little of everything—rain, wind, and sometimes snow. If extreme weather occurs, some businesses, parks, or roads may temporarily close.

If this happens, please check the front page of our website for updates and alerts. We’ll share information as soon as we’re aware of weather-related impacts.

Remember, Glass Quest runs for 10 days, so there’s plenty of time to quest safely. And if snow does make an appearance, it just adds an extra layer of camouflage to the adventure. ❄️✨

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Community Sites are locations where businesses can hide clue balls. These may be businesses that don't have a storefront or ones that prefer not to have high traffic inside their business during the event. See the list of approved community sites in the booklet or on this site. We ask that you PLEASE respect vegetation in all Community Sites - no sticks of any kind are to be used. Stay on the trails and leave no trace!

The most important thing to keep in mind is to HAVE FUN and BE KIND. Seriously. We all need some fun and kindness in this crazy world - enjoy the people you meet, the stores you visit and the trails you hike.

If the above did not answer your question, please email chamber@camanoisland.org or call 360-629-7136 and we will get back to you as soon as possible! Please try NOT to post questions to social media as these are difficult for us to manage during the very busy event.

Continuing again in 2026 we are excited to announce the Kind Quester Program - a list of suggested activities you can do to engage with our community in a positive way. Anyone who completes six of the sixteen suggested items during the event will be eligible to win a glass button- we will be giving out 15 per day at the Event Headquarters (606 Arrowhead Rd.) 

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Print out the KIND QUESTER form or pick one up from our event sponsors. Learn More Here:  https://www.northwestglassquest.com/kind-quester

Cama Beach State Park: a combination of king tides, high winds, and heavy wave conditions in January caused approximately 23 feet of the park’s aging seawall to fail. As of this printing, the lower portion of the park is closed. Please avoid this area unless circumstances change. Park in lots A-D. Do NOT park on the side of the street.

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New Location Stanwood-Camano Veterans Museum & Resource Center has joined our Community Sites! 

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Kayak Point - Questing is in the Day-Use Area Only with a steep hike-in only trail to Day-Use Area due to construction (no vehicle or ADA access).