We’ve been feeling very cultured here at the SCVNGR offices. Why? Because we are doing some pretty amazing things with museums! You’d like us to tell you about our adventures? Well… if you insist.
Adventure 1: Nick at Night: The DeCordova Biennial Gallery Opening
Nick Herbold in the DeCordova Museum: proof that SCVNGR does everything that I dreamed it would do to make fine art relevant to more people. Let me explain. Nick and I are the museums team: I am the arts geek, Nick is the gaming enthusiast but both of us are all about the scvngr- and so went to the DeCordova Biennial Gallery Opening, which included what else? The launch of their very first scvngr!
This was Nick’s first contemporary art gallery opening and with a little help from a pretty fabulous scvngr, he genuinely enjoyed exploring art. The DeCordova educators created a really clever environment-themed narrative to connect very diverse pieces, making a fantastic exhibit even more fantastic. They’ve included the scvngr as part of their initiative for families at the gallery and I think that’s a pretty great idea. When you’re 10, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by contemporary art, but not when there are clues and questions about art and polar bears! Nick’s even going back this weekend. SCVNGR WIN!
Adventure 2: A Day of Knights
Imagine this: You’re standing the center of a great, dark castle hall. A lamp lights up, revealing an eerie display of ancient armor in a glass case. Then one-by-one, more lights reveal more ancient artifacts until the chandelier above you illuminates an entire castle hall of jousting warriors, medieval weaponry heraldry. Movie set? No, the Higgins Armory in Worcester MA and you’re working with the museum educators to build… a quest!
The ridiculously imaginative and knowledgeable staff, curators and educators at the Higgins spend the day crafting a SCVNGR adventure (guided by Merlin of course) that will guide the young squire (you!) through the world of Knights and Honor. Will you have to joust? Will you go into battle? Will Merlin keep you as a student? Will you survive the middle ages? Is that REALLY a war helmet shaped like a conch shell? Only one thing is certain: This is an amazing scvngr and you’re just going to have to go to the Higgins to check it out yourself. SCVNGR WINS AGAIN! 2 points for SCVNGR.
Adventure 3: Battle for the Smithsonian!
There is two feet of snow outside and it is still snowing… horizontally. Washington DC is shut down. The train is shut down, every store is shut down even Starbucks is closed for the snow, but not us SCVNGR’s, for we are true adventurers! I am at the National Mall and Smithsonian museums with Kate, our ace clue shredder, building an epic Smithsonian scvngr to be released at the time of the DC Cherry Blossom Festival.
We are working with GoSmithsonian for the TRUE battle for the Smithsonian, a competition SCVNGR that will challenge players to answer clues from all 8 of the Smithsonian galleries on the mall. What do giant squids have to do with a wizard’s jacket? And how will knowing the answer to that question allow you to win some cool stuff? You are soon to find out!
So… SCVNGR WIN? Will SCVNGR prevail at the Smithsonian? Oh, you KNOW we will. Stay tuned for the official release date for the GoSmithsonian SCVNGR for your chance to put Ben Stiller to shame!
That’s all for adventures in museumland.
Signing off,
Agent K
Museums Maven, Ed Tech Extraordinaire
SCVNGR Exhibit, Museums
