Location Based Games: a way to attract youth to relevant environmental sites

Nowadays the new generations are incredibly familiar with video games and mobile applications that are actually widespread among all generations. Moreover, youth love nature even though they are not used to experience activities in nature and nature protection volunteering. These two considerations are the technological and the environmental pillars on which the idea of using Location Based Games (LBGs) for mobile devices was implemented aiming at valorizing a protected area. INVOLEN (Intergenerational Learning for Nature Conservation Volunteers) is a project funded by LLP-GRUNDVIG, that targets to nature conservation volunteers, youth and elders in 5 European countries (Italy, Greece, France, Hungary and Slovenia) and aims to promote nature conservation and intergenerational learning using game-based learning. Through an intergenerational learning process, a group of promising nature volunteers, have to work together for the development of a LBG. INVOLEN has important aims, it i. strengthens the relationship between seniors and teenagers through ICT and nature protection activities, ii. encourages youngsters to become nature protection volunteers, iii. improves the capacity of NGOs to deliver innovative adult education, iv. offers users and tourists and innovative and alternative way to discover a natural area. The first phase of project (2012-2014) in Italy was implemented in Livorno and focused on the protected area of the Provincial Park of Monti Livornesi. The pilot experience was carried out by 8 students, 4 facilitators, 5 elders and 2 ICT experts. From April 2013 until May 2014 the group members have worked together, gathering information about the protected area, developing a story and its scenario for the development of a LBG. This was realized using ARIS platform for iPhones and iPad, an opensource platform. The platform allows to create quests or levels that the player has to overcome (i.e. questions to answer about history, environment, nature, characters etc.). LBGs can be used to attract youngsters to any place (natural areas, museums, etc.) because they allow to discover and learn, in an alternative and funny way the peculiarities of natural sites. We believe that the use of mobile devices might be a worthy model for the valorization of any area and to attract young people to the nature. Managers, associations working on nature protection, environmental guides and schools are invited to test the INVOLEN methodology and to develop one game that can be used for tourist purposes.