Michelle Obama and Laura Bush partner with National Park Service to celebrate its 100th birthday with virtual park tour
The US National Park Service (NPS) and National Park Foundation are launching a ‘Find Your Park Virtual View Tour’ to celebrate the upcoming centennial of the NPS in 2016 while encouraging people to visit national parks.
Guests who visit the ‘#FindYourPark’ installation at the North Flatiron Plaza in NYC on 2 and 3 April can experience all 407 national parks with an interactive one-minute musical rotation through audio, visuals, and geo-location features. The tour was produced by Grey NY.
Kiosks will be stationed at the event to connect users directly to NPS staff, influencers, and park-goers at national parks across the US. The kiosks will also visit Los Angeles, CA and Washington, DC throughout April.
Actress and launch partner Bella Thorne said: “Technology is a great way for my generation to connect with national parks. I can’t believe that this tour makes it possible for me to stand in the middle of New York City and talk to a park ranger at Golden Gate National Recreation Area! It is a great reminder that national parks, near and far, can touch our lives every day.”
Users can share stories on findyourpark.com, which will feature an interactive story gallery with stories from the public, park employees, and celebrities including scientist Bill Nye and singer Mary Lambert.
Co-chairs Michelle Obama and Laura Bush plan to engage younger Americans by encouraging them to share park stories and experiences.
The official charity of America’s national parks, the National Park Foundation, recently launched the movement to not only celebrate the milestone in 2016 but also to inspire a new generation to visit parks.