For Immediate Release
November 16th, 2018
Contact: Aaron Weibe, aaronweibe@extension.org
Indianapolis, IN. Virtual Park Ranger, a team from Oregon State University, participated in eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Summit from October 16th – 18th in Indianapolis, IN. The Summit united design thinkers from the Cooperative Extension System and partners from organizations confronting the most pressing challenges of our time to shape positive futures for communities. Three days of co-creating, hands-on learning, and collaborative conversations sparked innovation and creative implementation planning in over 30 projects designed for local community impacts. Summit teams, which included Extension professionals and partners, along with diverse partners from regional and national organizations and businesses explored the processes and practices that enable co-creative approaches to the challenges and opportunities in our communities.
The Virtual Park Ranger team included Alan Dennis, Stephen Ward, and Siew Sun Wong. Their project reconnects people with nature through an augmented reality app that stimulates improvements in personal wellness and environmental stewardship.
At the end of the three-day Summit, teams participated in a “PitchFest” where they each presented the advancements on their projects and the important next steps and investments needed to move forward. The PitchFest was judged by external partners/investors, Extension leaders, and peer co-creators.
As a result of the PitchFest, the Virtual Park Ranger team earned two awards: Most Innovative – External, and the Crowdfunding Award. These awards have earned the team recognition within the Cooperative Extension System nationally, a trip to the 2019 Impact Collaborative Summit, and strategic support from Lynn Luckow of LikeMinded.org to position their project for crowdfunding on the platform in the coming months.
To learn more about eXtension’s Impact Collaborative and how it is helping Cooperative Extension professionals make a more visible, measurable, local impact – visit us online at eXtension.org.
