1. Team Lead and team members names, affiliated organisations, and LinkedIn profiles Team Lead: Jennifer Chambers, Catawba College https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-chambers-758a4b195/
Victor Romano, Catawba College https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-romano-669b13131/
Kathryn Hanes-Romano, Wake Forest Baptist Health https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-hanes-romano-dat-lat-atc-62974a44/
2. Country of Submission Ireland
3. Main Category of Submission Technology-based: harness technology to radically change the way sport and physical activity are imagined
4. What is the Focused Challenge You Are Addressing Increase opportunities for physical activity using a technology-based approach by developing a free app to connect people and activities.
5. Overall idea description The RecNation app is a free, user-friendly app that will connect people in outdoor recreational activities and allow users to create events and activities for others to join in any open space. The goal of this app is to increase participation in sport and physical activity in an inclusive, sustainable, and fun way for all. The RecNation app will allow people to create an event/activity that will assist in increasing options for physical activity, through an action that most people do first thing in the morning…check their phones when they wake up. RecNation will help people organize and plan physical activity into their day by finding like-minded individuals or by joining a group in activities that interest them in areas that are easily accessible (i.e. community parks or open-air spaces) and free to attend. This app will allow for individuals to connect in sporting (pickup games), recreational activities (biking, running groups, kayaking), and leisure activities (walking groups, community events/challenges, setting up child playdates, etc. Individuals or organizations will be able to create events by choosing from a large dropdown list of activities. The user can then add the time, location, and select how many spaces are available (if limited).
6. Outline how your submission meets the 3 judging criteria Creativity & Innovation RecNation puts fun, collaborative, wide-ranging activity options at the users' fingertips. Rather than having to search, download, and pay for various websites and apps that are specific to one activity, RecNation seeks to make the activity the focus rather than the technology. In a one-stop-shop manner, users will be able to create their own activity to be done on their own time in a space suitable to their needs, or join a group of like-minded activity seekers in their immediate area or whilst on holiday.
Impact on the Identified Challenge and UN Sustainable Development Goals RecNation addresses the GC Goal’s of “designing innovative ways of increasing participation in sport and physical activity in an inclusive, sustainable, and fun way.” RecNation can easily be used by anyone, to set up physical activities in already existing open spaces, in a variety of fun and engaging options. RecNation’s ability for individuals to connect with like-minded people in free and engaging physical activities helps with the UN’s Goal #3 of Good Health & Wellness. It does so by ensuring everyone has the ability to take part in physical activity that promotes health and well-being for ages in a sustainable way.
Implementation Feasibility RecNation is based on a current app, HoopsMaps, which allows users to set up pickup basketball games anywhere there is an open basketball court. RecNation will allow users to create any type of physical activity, in any open space, for others to join and participate in. The RecNation app will be simple to use and will be simple to implement. One of the members on the team has experience in this field, having developed a sports-based app for the NCAA for educating youth on concussions. RecNation can be used worldwide, using GPS for setting up events.
7. Idea Development Stage Early testing/brainstorming stage
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