OVERVIEW

Profiling the Watershed is our high-tech, virtual reality, and experiential learning project. Made possible by RBC Foundation’s Tech for Nature grant program, this future-looking project has two primary components: a custom watershed stewardship virtual reality (VR) training program and an immersive environment with climate monitoring through 360° and ambisonic audio location captures.

In the OWC VR experience, participants complete training for stewardship work in the headwaters including invasive species removal and willow staking. After their training, they head out to a virtual headwaters area and put their skills to use. The immersive environmental captures allow for participants to be virtually transported to a real-world location within our watershed, experiencing the sights and sounds in a controllable and accessible format. Both components equip the participant with knowledge and skills that will deepen their relationship with their watershed and encourage place-based learning.

We developed the framework and initial interactive experiences, then refined and expanded both components, enriching the VR experience, creating a better user experience, and generating more data points for the interactive environmental captures. In 2022, OWC presented aspects of the project at the 11th World Environmental Education Congress in Prague—the ideas, technology, and principles behind the project were shared with an international audience.

The VR Virtual Watershed Stewardship is available at in-person events and at the OWC office. Watch for our interactive programming at an event near you, or contact our office to book a private experience.