Introducing the next phase of ForestVR, with five exciting new experiences!
24 November 2021
Discover more about five new virtual reality (VR) experiences designed to transport school children into the heart of Australia’s forests!
ForestVR is growing! Students will soon be able to enjoy five new immersive, engaging and educational virtual reality (VR) experiences across three themes, that will transport them directly into the heart of Australia’s forest and wood products industry, without leaving the classroom!
Theme 1 – Primary: Forest Science Explorers
Forest Science Explorers explores Australia’s unique forest types and their adaptations to their local environments. The experience will offer school students the opportunity to virtually journey through four different types of forest – the wet eucalypt forests of Tasmania, Cypress Pine forests of western Queensland and New South Wales, dry eucalypt forests of eastern Australia and Jarrah forests of Western Australia.
Watch these 360-degree experiences, and look for clues in the forest that show us how trees have adapted to their local conditions such as a tree’s roots, leaves, soil type and bark. Join expert foresters as they share how they use the science of forests, including tree adaptations, to sustainably manage these forests enabling timber production, recreation and environmental outcomes, today and for future generations.
Theme 2 – Careers in Forests and Wood
Careers in Forests and Wood will give students a first-hand insight into what three specific careers in forestry and wood processing involve. Experience a day-in-the-life of Environmental Forester/Ecologist Jack Carter of Australian Bluegum Plantations, Forester Courtney Pink of SFM Asset Management, and Wood Processing Cadet Kayla Martin of AKD Softwoods.
In addition, we are delighted that these career virtual experiences will be also uploaded to the Australian government’s MyFuture website, used by career advisors and students during high school work studies programs.
Theme 3 – Trees at Work on the Farm – Agroforestry
And finally, Trees at work on the farm: Agroforestry will allow students to pay a virtual excursion to farms around Australia to discover how farmers are incorporating trees into their lands for productivity, profit, the environment, and people!
This tool would be a great accompaniment to the recently-launched PIEFA Sustainable Solutions on Farms unit, as well as being of interest to high school agriculture and science teachers teaching the ForestLearning unit Agroforestry: Trees at work on the farm, and schools looking to showcase practices that could help Australia become carbon neutral by 2050.
This suite of ForestVR experiences take students on 360-degree virtual tours, teaching them about various forestry-related topics. Keep your eyes peeled for the release of these three innovative new resources in 2022, with more information on the ForestLearning website as it becomes available!