Aldo Leopold Center Offers Digital Tours
Photo courtesy of Paxon Woelber through Creative Commons.

Aldo Leopold Center Offers Digital Tours

The Aldo Leopold Center, located in Monona, Wis., is now implementing smart phone tours as part of their education center.

Smartphone tours started being offered at the center this August, where visitors explore and learn about the effects of climate change on different plants and animals.

The tour is called “Digital Docent: Climate Change Impacts.” It is designed so that visitors can take a self-guided tour of the center while still learning important information on the changing world around them.

Visitors can scan a quick response code, or QR code, with their smartphone at different locations at the center to learn about climate change. Each QR code has a different digital fingerprint that, when scanned, directs the user’s cellphone to a website with information that matches with the object with the QR code.

The Aldo Leopold Center website states that, “Through hands-on interactive programs and special exhibits at campuses in Monona and Black Earth, ALNC is leading the way to engage, educate and empower the next generation of stewards of the land for a healthy, happy and sustainable future.”

Emily Crook, junior history and political science major, said, “I feel like they’re reaching out to a new group of people. The center seems like they’re appeasing the new generation.”

This educational platform does make information more accessible for younger people who are so attached to their smart phones. However, some have criticized the tour because it is supposed to connect people to nature, but is doing so by having the visitors immersed in their phones.

When asked about her preference for personal or digital education Emma Olson, senior wildlife education major, said “Overall, I think personal interactions are the way to go, they can make more of an impact and understanding easier. But everyone learns differently so going on a digital tour can be just as interesting and can provide really concise information.”

The Aldo Leopold center is open every day except for federal holidays and bad weather. Now with more diverse approaches to environmental education, the center is providing more than a simply traditional approach to saving the planet.

 

Genevieve Adamski

Environment Sectional Editor

gadam590@uwsp.edu

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