On September 24, 1st-grade students of Strenči Elementary School, together with their teachers and parents, were among the first to embark on a 3km circular hike near Kauči, where a digitally playable cognitive game has been created. The new route is part of the section 10 “Strenči–Spicu tilts” of the long-distance hiking trail “Forest Trail”.
In the hiking game trial, participants followed the “Brīvdabis” markings and on their smartphones answered 15 questions about nature and cultural history. The students played the game enthusiastically, and parents and educators agreed that the circular trail was just the right length for enjoying the hike with their children.
To participate in the game, you need a smartphone with the LOQUIZ app downloaded and mobile data. The game is free, available in Latvian and English, and can only be played while on the route. The starting point is at a recreation area by the Gauja River (Kauči). The route is marked with the sign “Brīvdabis” and is also suitable for walks with strollers.
The circular trail and digital game were created to make the “Forest Trail” more accessible to families with children and to travelers who prefer shorter hikes. The Vidzeme Planning Region created them as part of the “Accessible Hiking Trails” project.
“We see that children are much more willing to go hiking if game elements complement it. This is a way to stimulate interest in nature, hiking, and recreation in the fresh air,” emphasizes Ilze Liepa, project manager of the “Accessible Hiking Trails” project in the Vidzeme Planning Region.
We invite families with children and primary school students to go hiking and try out the new digital game at Kauči. See you at the “Forest Trail”!
