NE Game & Parks wanted visitors to stick around for more than a nature walk, and asked us to create a collection of digital experiences to draw guests in while simultaneously educating them about the conservation and fishery on site.

Throughout the compound there are several tanks of various fish and turtles, as well as large picture windows with sight lines to birds nests and maybe even a wild fox or two.

To educate visitors about the myriad of wildlife, small tables were set up around the facility with a “zoo-like” bio about the animals.

In addition to considering the literacy of younger users, I had to take in mind the location of the tables in reference to the tanks to reduce congestion and confusion.

With visitors also arriving to hike the trails, Schramm State Park wanted a digital map with key features highlighted: bathrooms, shelters, on-site activities, and trail information.

We delivered a solution that allowed users to highlight trails, learn about their difficulties and distances, and view a list of amenities along the way.

Through several on-site visits and pitch meetings we proposed a 3-in-1 game where users can learn about the native fauna, and about the attempts to maintain their populations.

I was responsible for creating a “fish genetics” game where users would pick key traits from local fish and see how successful they’d be in the real world.

The most difficult part in creating this experience was keeping it engaging while also maintaining a semblance of scientific accuracy. Given the primary target for this interactive app was younger children, my goal was to make the process limited to visual guides and less reliant upon reading.