The City of Cupertino wanted to transform how visitors experience McClellan Ranch Preserve-an 18-acre nature sanctuary in the heart of Silicon Valley. After the success of the Cupertino ARTour, the city returned to Balance Studios with an expanded vision: bring Cooper, the robot guide who became Cupertino's mascot, to the preserve through location-based augmented reality.
Balance Studios developed the Cupertino McClellan Ranch AR Tour-a multilingual mobile application that unlocks AR experiences, interactive 3D models, and educational mini games at six locations throughout the ranch. Available in English, Hindi, and Mandarin, the app serves Cupertino's diverse community while making nature education accessible to all ages. The city now offers guided tours that exclusively use the app.
Location-Based Wayfinding
Cooper guides visitors to six AR experiences across the preserve. GPS-triggered content unlocks permanently experience it on-site, then revisit anytime, anywhere.
Interactive 3D Wildlife Models
Explore the Yellow Faced Bumble Bee and other ranch inhabitants through detailed 3D models with educational overlays revealing anatomy and ecological significance.
Educational Mini-Games
Score points for McClellan Ranch by tapping to remove aphids and completing other app-exclusive games that reinforce ecological concepts through play.
Multilingual Support
English, Hindi, and Mandarin language options ensure Cupertino's diverse community can experience the preserve in their native language.
Cooper: From Guide to Mascot
Balance Studios created Cooper for the original ARTour. He's now the City of Cupertino's official mascot proof of lasting character design impact.