Stuck inside? Tour a national park with President Obama
This week marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. Americans can celebrate the centennial by visiting one of the 413 national park sites throughout the country, or experience it in virtual reality alongside the President of the United States.
Traverse Glacier Point, canoe the Merced River, or scale the side of El Capitan. There’s a new way to explore every angle of Yosemite National Park through the video collaboration between the White House and National Geographic, Felix & Paul Studios, and virtual reality company Oculus.
The ten-minute documentary offers Facebook browsers a front row seat as Marine One descends into Ahwhnee Meadow, and the opportunity to tag alongside the first family as they cross a footbridge at Vernal Falls.
Through the Ages: President Obama Celebrates America’s Nationa...Earlier this summer, President Obama and his family visited Yosemite National Park. Today, explore the first-ever virtual reality experience with the First Family in celebration of the National Park Centennial. Available on the Oculus Store for Gear VR with Rift coming soon. (Created by National Geographic, Oculus, and Felix and Paul studios)
Posted by National Geographic on Thursday, August 25, 2016
The 360-degree film documents President Obama’s journey to Yosemite with First Lady Michelle Obama, Malia, and Sasha during Father’s Day weekend.
“We have to have the foresight and the faith in our future to do what it takes to protect these parks,” the President says in his video narration. “And protect this planet for our kids, and for all generations to come.”
Calling it “one of the great powers of virtual reality,” the filmmakers aimed to transport audiences to a place they might not get to see in their lifetime. “We see virtual reality as a new frontier and are thrilled to use this powerful medium to help celebrate the National Park Service’s centennial anniversary,” National Geographic Vice President for Social Media, Rajiv Mody in a press release published today.
Filmmaker Felix Lajeunesse said the goal of the interactive video was to “bring audiences into a journey with President Obama” so they might experience Yosemite firsthand. “We were deeply inspired by the idea that American national parks such as Yosemite were originally established ‘for all people for all times,’” he added.
Equally enamored by the park’s natural beauty is the commander in Chief. A picture posted on the White House Instagram account captures President Obama donning a VR headset while he watches the virtual reality film from inside the West Wing.
A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on
The VR project is part of a larger push by this presidential administration to promote America’s national public lands. The White House’s “Every Kid in the Park” initiative launched in September 2015 provides all fourth graders and their families free access to the country’s public parks and waters for one year. So far, it’s committed to fund trips of nearly half a million fourth graders around the country.
“Going to a place like Yosemite changes you,” the president says in the final moments of the 3D film. “It stays with you for the rest of your life. And I want all of our kids, and all of their kids, to have this chance too.”
Through the Ages: President Obama Celebrates America’s National Parks is available for viewing on the Oculus Store and as a 360 video on Facebook.