ParkApps Press

Read what others are saying about ParkApps and Park-N-Discover.

Third-party apps to proliferate inside national parks

When the Cuyahoga app launches, it will be one of hundreds of third-party apps of varying complexity, quality and functionality sprouting up to enhance the experience of those who traverse the national parks system. Tim Cash, the Park Service's digital strategy chief, said engaging parks visitors on their smartphones and tablets is critical: Just shy of 50 percent of those who drop by NPS.gov do so on their mobile devices.

Kent State team to develop science-based mobile app for Cuyahoga Valley National Park

A team of Kent State University researchers is developing a new mobile device app to increase science learning among visitors to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The project, directed by Richard E. Ferdig, a professor in the Research Center for Education Technology, is being funded by a $952,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

Kent State Researchers to Develop Mobile App for Cuyahoga National Park

A $952,000 National Science Foundation grant to researchers at Kent State University will result in a mobile device application to help visitors to Cuyahoga Valley National Park learn more about the park's history and ecology and become "citizen scientists" by sharing their findings with others.

New app will educate, promote citizen science at Cuyahoga National Park

A free mobile app is being developed for visitors to Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The app will include multiple interactive features that will enable visitors to learn more about the parks' history, geology and ecology. Mobile devices will be available for visitors who do not have one so they can use the app which will utilize devices' built-in GPS.

Virtual Park Ranger App to Launch in September 2015

Researchers at Kent State University have received a $952,000 grant from the National Science Foundation in order to build a free mobile app that will work as a “virtual park ranger” for Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The app will let park visitors act as citizen scientists by allowing them to submit information, as well as gain knowledge about the 33,000-acre park’s history and habitats from two park rangers.

NPS Launching Virtual Ranger Program in Ohio

The National Science Foundation awarded Kent State University (KSU) researchers a $952,000 grant to pioneer a free "virtual park ranger" app in Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP). The smartphone-based app sits at the center of a three-year citizen science project aiming to reinvent the park experience.

New app is more than just a park guide

Rick Ferdig is a fan of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. He was visiting one day with his kids, when one of those great park moments happened.

"In flew this amazing owl. And of course my kids asked, ‘Well, what kind of owl was that? Why is it here? Is it known to be in this part of the park?'"

Ferdig couldn’t answer their questions. But maybe next time he’ll be able to. Ferdig’s a professor in the college of education at Kent State University, and he’s leading a team developing an app he thinks of as a ‘virtual park ranger.’

Cuyahoga Valley National Park visitors will soon have a "virtual park ranger" in their smartphones

KENT, Ohio - Visitors to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park will soon have a "virtual park ranger" in their smartphone.

And they can be "citizen scientists."

Kent State University researchers have received a $952,000 National Science Foundation grant to create a free mobile app with multiple interactive features, including the ability to learn more about the history, habitats, geology and scientific features of the park.

Get outside — but don't forget to bring your phone

Researchers from Kent State University received a National Science Foundation grant to develop technology that will help visitors to Cuyahoga Valley National Park get more out of their visits.

The $952,000 grant will be used to create a mobile app designed to highlight the park’s history and ecology and to turn guests into “citizen scientists” by sharing their findings with others. The app will work on Apple and Android products.

Kent State researchers to develop mobile app for Cuyahoga Valley National Park

A $952,000 National Science Foundation grant to researchers at Kent State University will result in a mobile device application to help visitors to Cuyahoga Valley National Park learn more about the park's history and ecology and become "citizen scientists" by sharing their findings with others.

Researchers Develop Mobile App for National Park

A $952,000 National Science Foundation grant to researchers at Kent State University will result in a mobile device application to help visitors to Cuyahoga Valley National Park learn more about the park’s history and ecology and become “citizen scientists” by sharing their findings with others.