Information architecture in hierarchy: Home > Region information > Plant information > Video. Home Screen

Transcription

1 Indiana Dunes Ethnobotany Trail Mobile App SCRIPT SAMPLES Brooke Allen, Community Engagement Director Indiana Dunes Tourism, April 2017 Indiana Dunes Beaches & Beyond The Indiana Dunes Ethnobotany Trail mobile app uses onscreen text, audio and video to convey information to users. The scripts in this document are samples illustrating the general voice and complexity of information as well as production suggestions for video. In order to best illustrate the variety of components in the app, sample scripts are separated in by sections of the hierarchal structure in the app. Information architecture in hierarchy: Home > Region information > Plant information > Video Home Screen The Home Screen of the app features a map where the user can click on different regions of the trail. The text on this screen is minimal, and the only option for audio is to have the onscreen text read aloud. Map is shown on the screen. The text is placed beneath the map and explains the general purpose of the ethnobotany trail. Welcome to the Indiana Dunes Ethnobotany Trail! Ethnobotany is the study of how humans use plants for specific purposes. On your journey through the trail, learn about the modern use of plants that are native to the Indiana Dunes region. Even more important, learn about the significance of the native plants from members of the Potawatomi and Miami tribes - the original residents of the Indiana Dunes. Click on a region of the map above to see the featured plants of the trail as you explore.

2 Region Screen - Rain Garden The Rain Garden is an area of the ethnobotany trail that, while small, showcases an impressive number of plants. It also has the impressive job of filtering rain water. The screen for the start of the Rain Garden section of the app is meant to provide an overview of this information before the user continues on to learn about specific plants. The screen also features photos of the rain garden in bloom to showcase the beauty and provide visual interest for the user. On screen text. This text can also be accessed via the audio button on the screen for children who cannot read or those who are visually impaired. Rain gardens are one of the most natural ways to help the environment while also growing beautiful native plants. Rain water collects in the low points of the ground before being filtered by plant roots. Many plants in this spot are bright and colorful to attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Beyond their beauty, the plants are incredibly useful in a variety of ways for both the Potawatomi and Miami peoples. Video script. The video features a National Park Ranger who explains the rain garden and its important features. Ranger standing in the garden area, shot begins with full view of garden and tightens to ranger as she speaks. Ranger bends down and the shot shows pooled water around her boots. Ranger stands again and gestures toward a colorful plant next to her such as butterfly weed. Feature b-roll of variety of native plants with voice over from ranger. The rain garden is one of the smallest areas in the ethnobotany trail, but it s also one of the most interesting - and hardest working! What if I told you that these plants are creating cleaner water even while we stand here looking at them? I m standing here just after a big rain, but this water will be gone within a day. That s because these native plants have roots that stretch as far as three or four feet underground. Those roots pull the water below the surface. Not only does the water nourish the beautiful plants but the plants filter the water through their roots before it continues into the Dunes Creek Watershed on its way to Lake Michigan. The beauty of the plants also attracts native pollinators like butterflies and bees. It helps pollinate the plant species and provide food for insects. Because of the many variety of pollinator friendly plants in the rain garden, we are a Certified Monarch Waystation.

3 Return to shot of ranger in the garden. Ranger holding phone with app on the screen. While you observe the plants and learn about each one, also keep an eye on the bird houses. Each spring, bluebirds build nests in the houses to raise their young. Click on Explore the Plants to find descriptions of the native species in the garden and learn how Native Americans use these plants in their cultures. Other information. By clicking here, the user will see a series of photos that explain how rain gardens are nature s water filtration system. Each piece of text matches an image that appears in a swipe carousel. Image 1 - the area before plants (depression visible with water) Image 2 - the area with plants in full bloom. Image 3 - cut view of plants above ground and roots below ground. Image 4 - image that shows water flow into Dunes Creek Watershed. Rain gardens are created in areas shaped like a bowl where water collects in a pool after rain. Without plants, the water sits in the pool becoming stagnant - a yucky breeding ground for pesky mosquitoes. When native plants with deep roots are placed in the rain garden, their roots grow many feet into the ground. As the plants grow, they fill the garden with their beauty. When the rain collects in the bowl-shaped garden, the grown plants use their roots to filter water run off, which makes the water cleaner. This also means the plants soak up the water so that it doesn t pool above the ground. After the rain water is filtered, it continues underground to the nearest creek or stream. At the Visitor Center, the water makes it way to Dunes Creek Watershed before moving on to Lake Michigan.

4 Region Screen - Prairie The prairie area of the trail is much larger than the rain garden. Even though their sizes differ, the overall information for the user will have the same purpose. This screen has all the general information about the prairie area before the user continues on to specific plants. The screen also features photos of the prairie in bloom to showcase the beauty and provide visual interest for the user. On screen text. This small amount of text is a general intro that can also be heard by pressing the audio icon. Unlike a man-made rain garden, prairies are wide open natural spaces that grow wild. Once widespread across the Midwest, true prairies are hard to find because most of the land is developed for farming. Prairies in the Indiana Dunes region are special in that they host hundreds of plant species, some of which are threatened or endangered species. Without the ecology of the prairies, many of these plants would be lost. Video script. This clip once again features the ranger host character who explains the ecology of the prairie area. Ranger stands at the edge of the prairie. In full growth, many of the plants are as tall as she is. Two separate shots. Ranger stands in front of sunflower, stretching to reach the top of it. Shot two the ranger bends down to show a small prickly pear plant growing in the sand. You might think the area behind me looks like nothing but a field of weeds. It s actually prairie land. Soil in the prairie is dry, and in the Indiana Dunes, it s sometimes very sandy. There are hundreds of plant species in this single field, many of them beautiful wildflowers as tall as me, like this sunflower. Others are tiny, and you really have to look for them, like this prickly pear cactus.

5 Series of b-roll footage of the National Park Service performing a controlled burn. Show a before after photo of rejuvenated prairie the year after a burn is performed. Ranger holding a butterfly or other small insect from prairie. Return to shot of the ranger standing at edge of prairie, directly facing the camera. Long ago before the land in this region was developed with buildings and farming fields, prairies were common places of natural wildfires. It might sound destructive, but these occasional fires actually helped the prairie restore itself after it was burned. Today, fire management experts from the National Park Service actually perform controlled burns of the prairies in the Indiana Dunes as a way to mimic Mother Nature s process from years past. So if you see smoke in the spring while visiting the dunes, it might be one of these ranger-led burns. The prairie is also home to many animal species both large and small. This is because the plants are useful to many of them. Since our prairie hosts so many critters, we ve been named a Certified National Wildlife Habitat here at the Visitor Center. Besides being useful to animals, the historic uses of prairie plants by the Miami and Potawatomi tribes is fascinating. Continue on to the Explore the Plants button to learn more about the individual plants. Other Information. The prairie is home to many animal species. The carousel of images here highlight some of those animals. The text is presented on screen underneath the image. Image 1: sky above prairie with birds overhead. Image 2: long shot of prairie at standing eye level, showing a deer Image 3: showing thick undergrowth of prairie with a snake hiding. While you stand in a prairie, be sure to look for a variety of birds. The seeds from the large variety of wildflowers provide an important food source. Birds of prey like hawks, falcons and vultures also scope the prairie for mice or other small vermin. Long ago bison roamed the prairies throughout the Midwest. You can see bison at the Kankakee Sands Prairie Restoration south of us in Newtown County. Today, animals like deer eat may plants in the prairie environment. The thick undergrowth of prairie plants is a great hiding spot for creatures who need protection from predators. Watch out for snakes while you hike!

6 Image 4: close up of a milkweed plant with a monarch butterfly chrysalis. If you love bugs, you ll love the prairie. The plants create excellent homes and food sources for the smallest critters. Most importantly, milkweed is the only food source for the Monarch butterfly. Plant ID Screen - Wild Bergamot The Plant ID screen for Wild Bergamot features basic information about the plant. Users can also click to watch the video hosted by the ranger and two Native American tribe leaders. General Information. Presented as onscreen text. Wild Bergamot is also some times called bee balm or horse mint. It s bright purple blooms can be seen June through September. Wild Bergamot doesn t just attract bees and butterflies, but also Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds. These plants can spread easily and survive long periods in the hot prairie sun. You ll know if you ve found Wild Bergamont if the leaves smell like oregano. Video. Hosted by ranger, Potawatomi member and Miami member. Potawatomi member holds the flower and shows the various parts of the plant while speaking. Also cut to a clip of someone boiling the flowers and applying it to the skin (with voiceover). In the Potawatomi tradition, we call this plant fire handler s medicine. The flowers of the plant are used in ceremonies. After they are soaked and boiled in a solution of salt and spring water, you can coat your arms with it to protect against heat. I also know women who used to wrap the flowers and leaves in small bunches, then wrap the bunch in a handkerchief. They would wipe their faces with it throughout the day and smell like the flowers. Miami member stands next to the Potawatomi member, speaks to the camera. The Miami people use this plant medicinally. We boil the leaves and then inhale the steam to help with headaches and coughs. It can also be applied to the skin as a medicated wash. Many use it as a bath to calm infants who are fussy.

7 Ranger joins the two tribe members, explaining the plant parts. Use close up shots when referring to the petals of the plant. Wild bergamot is in the same family as mint, which is why it has such a strong scent. For a visual tip in identifying this plant, look for the purple tube like petals that form a wreath around the center of the flower. If you see pink or orange bergamot, then it s usually referred to as bee balm, a subspecies of this native wildflower. Plant ID Screen - Prickly Pear Cactus The Plant ID screen for Prickly Pear Cactus features basic information about the plant. Users can also click to watch the video hosted by the ranger and a Native American tribal leader. General Information. Presented as onscreen text. You probably don t think of cacti when you think of native plants in Indiana. However, this is the only naturally growing cactus in the state! Prickly Pear Cactus is also some times called Indian Fig. This plant is quite short, so be sure to look down as you hike sandy areas. Bright yellow flowers will help you spot it. These flowers are an excellent source of pollen for insects, but the pads of the cactus can be eaten by people. Video. Hosted by ranger and Potawatomi member. Potawatomi tribe representative kneels near cactus in the sand as he talks about its uses. We have used this plant for many generations in the Potawatomi tribe and these uses are passed down from family member to family member through their lives. The prickly pear cactus is eaten as a type of vegetable. You can eat the pads fresh after skinning them and it has a consistency like aloe. The fruit of the plant was sometimes used stewed or made into jellies.

8 Ranger enters the frame and kneels next to other narrator. Points out parts of the plant as he describes them. It s pretty easy to identify prickly pear because it s the only cactus we have here in the dunes! Keep your eyes open for the bright yellow flowers only inches from the ground. Just remember, it is a cactus - those spikes hurt if you touch them! To the Beach Screen Almost all of the visitors who stop at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center want to know about getting to the beach. This very short informational video is displayed as a pop up when the user clicks on To the Beach on the home screen. After you ve journeyed through the Ethnobotany Trail at the Visitor Center, you probably want to know how to get to the beach and the dunes to explore more. Ranger host narrates information while standing at the Dunes Kankakee Trail entrance at the Visitor Center. It s easy! Just grab your bike (or rent one during summer) and ride 2 miles north on the Dunes Kankakee Trail, right into the Indiana Dunes State Park. This trail will also take to you the South Shore train line, where you can take your bike all the way to Chicago. If you prefer to drive to the beach, just head inside and one of our destination concierge will provide you with a map and directions to the best beach spots in the area!