Youngsters – or kids of any age – are being challenged to explore two East Suffolk towns on foot with a newly launched augmented reality app.
The ESCape Trails app challenges users to embark on an adventure across two of our seaside towns this holiday season, on a mission to collect all of Santa’s lost belongings and save Christmas!
The trails move through East Suffolk Free Wi-Fi zones in the towns, so participants need not use their own data to take part – just sign up to the free Wi-Fi in the towns.
Free to download and use on Apple and Android devices, the smartphone app has been launched by East Suffolk Council in partnership with AR Trails.
Although suitable for all ages, ESCape Trails aims to encourage young people to get more active during the festive period while exploring their local area, and to get people into our local towns.
The challenges are live and ready to be embarked upon during the Christmas school holidays in Felixstowe and Lowestoft – thanks to assistance from the towns’ Business Improvement District teams.
The Lowestoft Christmas Adventure (2.4 miles) and the Felixstowe Christmas Adventure (two miles) are lined with virtual presents for youngsters to find, collect and interact with along the way. They can click and drag the characters around the surrounding location, or take screenshots with them alongside their family or friends, and the trail can be followed in stages. Collect all of Santa’s lost items to complete the challenge!
Cllr Stephen Burroughes, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Customer Experience, ICT and Commercial Partnerships, said:
“This is a fun and festive activity to encourage young people and families into our towns this Christmas. The outdoors can do wonders for our health and wellbeing.
“The ESCape Trails app is a free and fun tool for getting families active and exploring the surroundings of East Suffolk. Not only that, but we hope it will help enhance literacy skills over the school holidays.”
East Suffolk Council has also worked with Go Jauntly to develop outdoor adventures across all 12 of the district's principal towns and villages as part of the Digital Towns programme, which has seen the installation of free public Wi-Fi, digital footfall counters and town marketing platforms, alongside business support, in nine East Suffolk towns to date, including Felixstowe, Lowestoft, Southwold and Woodbridge. Anyone interested in exploring our towns using the Go Jauntly routes can still find this available in the app store.
The festive ESCape Trails app is now live and available via Google Play and the IOS App Store for a limited period over the festive holidays. We would welcome feedback about this free festive activity via freewifi@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.