Time spent in a hospital can feel endless for a child. Whether it's a quick procedure or a longer stay, the walls close in. Boredom sets in. Anxiety builds. HSHS St. Vincent Children's Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin, wanted to change that. They wanted to transform their children's wing into a place of wonder and discovery-a place where healing includes play. Thanks to a generous donation from the Beaux Mettler Foundation, the hospital partnered with Balance Studios to create Animal Quest-an augmented reality scavenger hunt that turns hospital hallways into a wildlife adventure.
The Magic of AR:
Animal Quest transforms existing artwork throughout the children's hospital into interactive experiences. As kids make their way around the wing, they hover iPads over pictures of animals on the walls-and watch those pictures come to life. Playful fox cubs chase butterflies through tall grass. A bald eagle soars overhead and dives to catch fish. River otters play together on the riverbank. A black bear stands on a rock, curiously watching a bee buzz past. A hummingbird hovers at the edge of a pond, its wings beating so fast you can hear them. Ducks lead their ducklings across the water. A frog waits patiently in the shallows, eyeing an insect. It's like stepping into a whole new world-without ever leaving the hospital.
Immersive Sound Design:
The AR experience isn't just visual. Balance Studios created natural soundscapes for each animal encounter, transporting kids from sterile hospital corridors to meadows, streams, and forests. You can hear the hummingbird's wings. You can hear water rippling around the otters. The sound design makes every encounter feel real-and helps kids forget where they are, even if just for a moment.
Designed for Every Age:
Animal Quest features multiple difficulty levels, so kids of all ages can participate. Younger children enjoy simply watching animals come to life and answering playful questions. Older kids tackle more challenging content as they move from station to station. The game keeps them curious, moving, and engaged. The hospital provides iPads for patients to use, but families can also download the app on their personal phones and tablets, available on both iOS and Android.
Therapeutic Play in Action:
Animal Quest does more than entertain. It promotes learning, encourages exercise, and provides therapeutic play during some of the most challenging moments in a child's life. Getting kids up and moving through the hallways aids recovery. Engaging their curiosity eases anxiety and fear. Transforming a hospital visit into an adventure changes how children and their families-experience care. One parent shared: "The scavenger hunt is such a great addition to the hospital! My daughter, Aria, loves searching for the animals. It is such a fun and easy way for us to get up and get out of the room while in the hospital. What an awesome resource to have! We love it!"