Coastal Eco Explorer has been Expanded

In 2020, Watson College science faculty members Amy Taylor and Dennis Kubasko and partnered with CAS professor Lucas Layman and North Carolina State Park rangers to develop Coastal Eco Explorer, an interactive mobile app for the exploration of coastal NC wildlife at Carolina Beach State Park. The app guides both novice and experienced hikers by providing virtual educational information at each of the park’s 13 native ecosystems.

Recently, Taylor and Kubasko partnered with NC State Parks to expand the app to the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. The expansion allows park visitors to interactively explore the salt marsh and maritime forest along the park’s Basin Trail. The team has also added more flora and fauna content to the Coastal Eco Explorer app.

“We are very excited about these new additions,” Taylor said. “Carolina Beach and Fort Fisher are among the most visited state parks in North Carolina, both welcoming more than one million visitors each year. The app creates a fun and engaging experience for anyone visiting the parks who is interested in learning more about the ecologically sensitive terrain.”

Learn more about Coastal Eco Explorer in their updated YouTube Video.

Since the app was introduced, there have been 931 downloads, and there are currently 103 active devices, that have accessed the app at least once in the last month.

Taylor and Kubasko have led numerous guided hikes for groups including members of UNCW’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), and elementary aged students at Island Montessori School. During these outings, participants often engage in a scavenger hunt to find flora and fauna along the park trails. The app is also useful for teachers seeking unique lesson plans to teach students about ecosystem conservation.

Coastal Eco Explorer is available free through the App Store or Google Play and can be downloaded here:

For more information, visit the Coastal Eco Explorer website.