New app inspires kids to get active and explore nature

Calgary, AB – Calgary’s youth are encouraged to explore local parks through fun, interactive nature challenges available on a new mobile app launching in select City parks on June 6. The Order of Inter-Species Explorers Adventurers & Ubernaturalists (OISEAU): Agents of Nature app allows kids to join a fictitious secret nature intelligence agency.

 

“Through the app, we hope Calgary’s youth will have fun and learn to appreciate Calgary’s parks and wildlife,” said Anne Charlton, Director City of Calgary Parks. “Unlike other device-driven games, OISEAU requires youth to get up and get moving.”

 

Youth select a participating City park as their ‘mission site’, and become agents tasked with solving nature-related mysteries. By locating and scanning QR codes they unlock site-specific challenges allowing them to earn accessories and badges for their OISEAU Agent Avatar.

 

The OISEAU: Agents of Nature app is sponsored by The City of Calgary Parks and Encana Corporation, and developed by the Get to Know Program. It will be available for seven City parks including Devonian Gardens, Bowmont Park, Nose Hill Park, Prairie Winds Park, Ralph Klein Park, Sandy Beach Park, and Sue Higgins Park. Other sites may be added in the future. 

 

“OISEAU is an exciting opportunity for Encana to bring our commitment to environmental stewardship to our staff and citizens of Calgary, where our head office is located,” says Stephen Skarstol, Lead, Environmental Stewardship for Encana. “Understanding the many environments where we do business and taking care of them accordingly is critical to our success – just like OISEAU, our scientists work to understand how our operations could impact wildlife, habitats and many stakeholders throughout the asset life cycle. We think it’s awesome that OISEAU brings those elements into a new way for families and kids to have fun, free experiences in Calgary’s beautiful natural areas.”

 

OISEAU is available to download for free on iOS and Android devices. Once the app is downloaded, it can be accessed on a mobile device without an Internet connection. More information is available at AgentsOfNature.com.

 

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