People who hike the Laurier Woods may want to start bringing their cellphones with them.
Beginning this weekend the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority is providing a self-guided tour of the Laurier Woods people can hear through their smartphones.
Sue Buckle Manager, Communications and Outreach at the NBMCA, says all people need to do is download an app from www.foresttalkradio.ca turn on the GPS locator on their phone, slip on the earbuds and start listening.
Buckle says multi-media artist David Merleau came up with the concept and developed it through an Ontario Arts Council grant.
Buckle says the host of your guided tour is a fungus and it describes what you are seeing as you walk along the orange and white trails.
“It will tell you about the trees within Laurier Woods, the history and ecology of trees in the area,” Buckle said.
Having the GPS on triggers the next commentary segment of the tour as you walk through the trails.
Buckle says Merleau’s concept combines arts, science and technology as people have another way to learn about their surroundings.
Buckle says the concept launches this Saturday at 9:45am and depending on how well it’s received the idea could expand to include other areas.
