Colorado Parks & Wildlife turning to an augmented reality app to get more kids hiking

Next time you’re in one of Colorado’s state parks, you and your mini-me may be guided on an interactive “mission” by Tyson the Bison, Agent Red-tailed Hawk or any of a number of other virtual “wildlife agents.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has developed augmented reality adventures for 10 state parks using the educational mobile gaming platform Agents of Discovery. The goal is to get kids outside, get them moving and provide opportunities for them to learn about their environment.

Each mission asks users to complete a variety of interactive tasks designed to engage them with their surroundings. Users download the free Agents of Discovery app to their smartphone and select a mission at a participating park: Barr Lake, Chatfield, Cherry Creek, Cheyenne Mountain, Eleven Mile, Ridgway, St. Vrain, Staunton, Steamboat Lake or Trinidad Lake.

The app is free from the iOS App or Google Play stores, and once you’ve downloaded the mission, you can venture out without the need for WiFi or the internet. When users open the app, a satellite map appears with various markers on it. Using your phone’s GPS, you will navigate toward the markers on the map. When you arrive at the marker, tap it to reveal the challenge. Some require a photo, some are fill-in-the-blank or multiple-choice questions based on your surroundings. Some missions even come with prizes, usually picked up at the park’s visitor center. The app also keeps track of things like how many of the challenges you found, how long you spent looking and the estimated distance you walked.

Some may see this as just another example of technology run amok. Isn’t part of the appeal of parks that we’re able to disconnect while enjoying nature? Even still, with the prevalence of smartphones — and Colorado’s Insta-worthy landscapes — if you’re in a state park with your kid, you may already have your phone out.

“Instead of fighting with them to keep it in their pockets, why not let them use it to discover interesting things about the park?” Michelle Seubert, Barr Lake State Park manager, said in a recent press release.

Mary McCormac, CPW’s statewide interpretation and wildlife viewing coordinator, sees the app as an education tool rather than a distraction.

“They can play games and get info, and it’s a fun way to integrate technology into outdoor learning,” she said.

Since the app is easily updated, park managers can also use it to communicate with visitors in a way that static signage can’t — whether it’s a seasonal closure in the park or conditions on the ground visitors should be aware of.