A Guyanese conservation board game goes digital

With each roll of the dice, one of four competing players must follow the instructions on the board or pick a card to face a new obstacle, such as harmful chemicals or a polluted river. The first player to safely return to their habitat wins. No, this isn’t Jumanji. This is Policy Forum Guyana (PFG)’s freshwater conservation board game, and thanks to support from the Peace Corps, a digital version will soon deliver the game’s educational content to new audiences.

Created in 2019, the environmental game is imbued with facts on the important role of Guyana’s freshwater. The aquatic ecosystem serves as a haven for endemic species like the black caiman, giant river otters, stork-like jabirus, and torpedo-shaped arapaima. Players are introduced to these animals via two-inch, wooden game pieces.

PFG’s communications officer, Britney Semple, explained how the game promotes both a deeper understanding of environmental challenges and an overall interest in conservation: “Some educational content was integrated [as] ‘positive and negative action cards’ that bring awareness [on] how human activity can negatively influence the environment. The positive action cards explain how good actions can protect the environment [and] assist in keeping these animals alive.”

After a successful pilot in select primary schools, the National Centre for Educational Resource Development began mass producing the board game to enhance environmental education among the country’s youth. PFG sells the game to the public with proceeds benefiting the organization’s other environmental initiatives.

The idea to create a digital version of the game was inspired by PFG's desire to extend the reach of the River Guardian Board Game. The digital game enables children across Guyana and around the world to play for free, learn about local animals, and understand how their actions impact the environment. PFG wanted additional support in the digital game’s development and decided to participate in Peace Corps’ Virtual Service Pilot (VSPP)

“The virtual format perfectly suits Policy Forum Guyana’s project to digitize the game. Through [online] meetings, [we] were able to discuss improvements effectively,” said Semple. Collaborating with the VSPP has improved our ability to communicate effectively across different cultures and time zones, fostering better teamwork and collaboration. This experience has broadened our perspectives and enhanced our adaptability, which will undoubtedly benefit future projects at Policy Forum Guyana.”

The digital version of the game will feature interactive enhancements. The species cards – which describe the animal’s physical features in the traditional board game – will now be short, animated videos that teach players about the animals’ habitats, diets, and the threats they face. Instructions and information will appear on the screen as players progress through the game and earn conservation badges for each accomplishment. For example, restoring native trees earns the "Tree Planter" badge, and taking actions to protect waterways grants the "River Guardian" badge. These badges are awarded when players draw positive action cards that highlight these achievements.

Semple collaborated with Virtual Service Pilot Participant, Xaviera Shedrick-Owens, to assess how the board game could be adapted for an online version and sketch out the youth-focused user interface and game mechanics. The board game was mailed to Shedrick-Owens, so that she could play and assess its current design. Shedrick-Owens reached out to her colleagues in the field for additional ideas. Shedrick-Owens and Semple discovered that the context of the learning environment provided crucial insights, such as children preferring less text, which helped the two design a game students would enjoy playing.

“When learning is enjoyable, students are more likely to immerse themselves in the material and develop a genuine interest. Games provide interactive and experiential learning opportunities that traditional methods often lack. By incorporating fun into learning, we can inspire a lifelong love for education and foster a deeper understanding of important concepts,” said Shedrick-Owens.

Semple and Shedrick-Owens communicate twice a week to identify opportunities to integrate additional content on Guyana's freshwater sources, environmental conservation, and climate adaptation. They also added a layer of detail that honored the local culture.

“The stories of the Amerindian tales helped us add different characterization and storytelling elements to the game, especially around animals like the caiman and jabiru,” Shedrick-Owens explained. “What I am most excited about is the integration of Wapishana culture and language, which provide players with a unique cultural perspective. Additionally, I am proud of how the game encourages behavioral changes in a fun and engaging way.”

Once the initial design is complete, the two will conduct user testing sessions, make final edits, and promote the game among education institutions and the public. The organization hopes to deliver the game before the end of 2024.

Semple considers virtual engagement as an opportunity to learn something new herself.

“The VSPP and I learned about each other's culture by sharing videos and conversing via [a messaging app]. Discussions occurred weekly concerning our geographical locations, different ethnic groups, and how they perceive the environment.”

How did PFG’s first experience partnering with the Peace Corps go? Semple shared, “[The online collaboration] builds a connection with an organization that shares the same values [related to] environmental protection and knowledge concerning different cultural backgrounds.”

With the creation of the digital version of the River Guardian Board game, individuals around the world will be able to play the game online through Policy Forum Guyana’s website.

PFG encourages everyone to take a more active role in supporting climate adaptation and resilience, and protecting the earth’s limited resources. They hope that by doing their part, they can instill a sense of responsibility and stewardship in young minds, fostering a generation that is not only conscious of environmental challenges but also proactive in seeking solutions to protect and preserve our natural world. The ultimate goal is to create a lasting impact, ensuring that the beauty and biodiversity of Guyana can be enjoyed by generations to come.