Walking is fun! Unfortunately kids don’t always agree with that statement. The interactive Zuidrand walking app takes care of their lack of motivation by turning a normal walk into a playful adventure.
‘A walk through the towns surrounding Antwerp’: would your kids be excited and dying to get going? Probably not. But ask them to solve mysterious riddles by going on an adventurous walk… There’ll be no holding them back! The (free) Zuidrand walking app takes this premise and makes it reality. Our main protagonists are young detectives Noor and Lukas, who are tasked with solving fascinating puzzles in the neighbourhood. Children can help them get the job done by collecting clues in the scenery and heritage.
Motivating game design
The mini detectives receive a personalised detective-certificate at the end of the walk/mission. If they solved the mystery that is! We also added a sticker book to the app as a little extra motivation to complete the expedition. Collect the stickers of all Zuidrand-mystery characters: the lord of the castle, the winegrower, the police inspector… and even a ghost! Kids happy, parents happy, regional tourism stakeholders happy.
React Native
The Zuidrand walking app came together thanks to a textbook example of co-creativity. Four towns from the Zuidrand — Kontich, Boechout, Edegem en Aartselaar — took care of the touristic input. Bits of Love developed the concept and the app (using the new technology React Native). And Paul Nauwelaerts, a city councillor of Edegem, created the character designs and illustrations.
Highlights
Playful and educational walking app
Exciting storytelling with game elements
React Native application
The result? A touristic tool that not only turns each walk in the Zuidrand into an adventure; it also encourages visitors to return to the area — the app gets updated with new stories regularly. Rather than sitting by and waiting to get recognised as a touristic region by the government, the towns took faith in their own hands and boosted their touristic value by themselves. With a little help from Bits of Love!
Tried and tested!
We braved stormy weather to personally test the walking app. It received full marks from our young detectives, despite wind and rain! A few not so young detectives confessed they had a lot of fun too. Now it’s your turn to get out and explore!
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