MEETING A NEED

“We wanted to develop an audio experience that would enhance the journey of visually impaired visitors, appeal to kids and adults alike, as well as provide content accessible to Spanish speakers,” said Megan Latour, TNC New Hampshire’s marketing and communications manager.

The 1.2-mile universally accessible All Persons Trail is located in Manchester Cedar Swamp Preserve. Working closely with the community, TNC New Hampshire aimed to eliminate the physical, cultural, and social obstacles that prevent many people from enjoying nature’s countless benefits. It also wanted to help visitors develop a better understanding of and appreciation for Indigenous cultures.

©Jerry Monkman/EcoPhotography

TNC New Hampshire decided to partner with TravelStorysGPS after learning that other TNC branches around the country had built tours with the company. TravelStorysGPS guides clients through every step of the tour-building process, offering both full- and shared-production options, and providing quality, human customer service for both users and clients. Its mobile audio tour platform has:

• Automatically launching, GPS-triggered content
• Hundreds of tours, accessible both on-site and remotely
• High-quality images, audio narration, text, and interactive maps
• An excellent industry reputation, with high ratings in both app stores

FOSTERING DEEPER CONNECTIONS TO THE LAND

©David Martsolf

TNC New Hampshire opted for TravelStorysGPS’ “shared production” approach, in which the two teams collaborated on the project. TravelStorysGPS’ video partner, Riveo Creative, wrote the narration script and produced a promotional video about the trail and the tour.

The entertaining, user-friendly Manchester Cedar Swamp tour, available in both English and Spanish, connects visitors to the sights, sounds, and smells they’re experiencing in real time as they explore the trail.

ACCESSIBLE TO ALL

This tour along the All Persons Trail is truly for “all persons.” People of all ages and backgrounds can understand and enjoy the fun, engaging narration, which also fulfills TNC’s goals of celebrating the beauty and nature of the preserve and educating people about its many values.

“Especially humbling is hearing from our visually impaired visitors, who don’t always see themselves and their needs reflected in natural spaces,” said Latour. “Thank you, TravelStorysGPS, for helping us provide this incredible community resource!”

SAMPLE STORIES FROM THE TOUR

©Jerry Monkman/EcoPhotography

• Glacial History explains how lichen on boulders along the trail varies depending on recent rainfall levels.
• The Oak Forest tells unique stories of plants and animals that demonstrate the interconnectedness of the ecosystem.