Overview
Shad Canada, a leader in fostering community, innovation, and support for youth development, successfully hosted a virtual event—Wildlife Safari: Live from Nairobi National Park—using the Gatherly platform from July 12-16, 2024. The event provided a unique and immersive experience that allowed participants to explore one of the world’s most renowned wildlife reserves in Kenya. Through this experience, Shad Canada aimed to strengthen its core values of respect, cooperation, and shared fun, while maintaining a commitment to the safety and well-being of its community.
This case study explores how Shad Canada leveraged Gatherly’s advanced features to create a life-like, engaging virtual experience, and how the event reinforced the organization’s mission to build a supportive, connected community.
Event Objective & Mission Alignment
Shad Canada has a long-standing commitment to creating a sense of community and fostering shared experiences that align with their mission of personal and collective growth. The Wildlife Safari virtual tour was designed to offer a compelling way to connect people, engage with new cultures and environments, and promote shared fun, all while ensuring a high standard of safety and wellbeing for participants.
The event aligned with the company’s broader goals:
● Respect and Cooperation: Encouraging collaboration and empathy through shared, educational experiences.
● Shared Fun: Engaging participants in a memorable experience that sparks enjoyment and curiosity.
● Community Building: Strengthening connections between individuals by providing a platform for shared experiences.
● Safety and Well-Being: Ensuring that participants felt comfortable, secure, and supported during the virtual event.
The Role of Gatherly in Creating a Life-like Experience
To meet the needs of its diverse audience and elevate the virtual experience, Shad Canada partnered with Gatherly—an innovative virtual event platform known for creating immersive, life-like interactions.
Gatherly’s unique spatial audio technology allowed participants to explore Nairobi National Park virtually in small groups, making interactions more personal and authentic. In this dynamic virtual setting, participants could wander through the park, listen to live commentary from expert guides, and engage with fellow attendees in real-time, replicating the experience of being in the park without leaving home.
Key Features that Contributed to the Success:
1. Immersive Environment: Gatherly provided an interactive map and 360-degree view of the park, making the wildlife safari feel real and exciting. As participants moved through different parts of the park, they could hear the sounds of wildlife, enhancing the sense of immersion.
2. Spatial Audio & Group Interaction: The platform’s spatial audio feature enabled participants to interact with others as if they were in the same space. When grouped together, conversations sounded natural and intuitive, enabling deeper connections and more meaningful exchanges.
3. Dynamic Breakout Rooms: Participants had the option to join small group sessions where they could engage in discussions with other attendees, share their thoughts, and learn more about specific wildlife and conservation efforts. These breakout rooms allowed for focused discussions and a stronger sense of community.
4. Live Q&A with Experts: During the safari, participants had the opportunity to interact directly with expert tour guides and wildlife conservationists. The live Q&A sessions allowed for in-depth conversations about the species in Nairobi National Park and the conservation challenges they face.
Event Highlights and Engagement
The Wildlife Safari was an incredible success, with over 700 participants taking part in the event. Here are some key highlights:
1. High Engagement and Interaction
The event’s virtual format allowed for seamless engagement, with many participants actively exploring the park, asking questions, and interacting with others. Gatherly’s user-friendly interface and real-time connectivity ensured that attendees were not just passive observers but active participants in the experience.
2. Virtual Tours with Expert Commentary
Each day of the event featured a live guided tour, with wildlife experts offering in-depth insights into the animals and ecosystems of Nairobi National Park. Participants were able to interact directly with the guides, ask questions, and learn about the challenges of wildlife conservation, particularly in Africa.
3. Dynamic Social Spaces
Gatherly’s breakout rooms were a hit among participants, who used these spaces to discuss the day’s tour, share their thoughts, and connect with others who had similar interests. The platform’s ability to create smaller, intimate social groups allowed for more meaningful conversations, increasing the sense of camaraderie.
4. Educational and Fun Experience
Shad Canada was able to fulfill its mission of creating shared fun while promoting education and environmental awareness. The event brought participants closer to nature, offering them a chance to observe lions, giraffes, zebras, and other iconic wildlife in their natural habitat, all while learning about their behaviors, conservation status, and the challenges they face.
Impact on Community Building
The Wildlife Safari event went beyond just offering a fun virtual adventure—it successfully brought participants closer together through shared experiences, and contributed to the broader mission of Shad Canada.
● Enhanced Connectivity: Despite the virtual nature of the event, participants were able to form genuine connections, making the experience feel personal and meaningful. Many participants reported making new friends and expanding their professional networks.
● Increased Engagement in Shad Canada’s Mission: Through the event’s success, Shad Canada reinforced its commitment to fostering a sense of respect, cooperation, and collective learning. The event was not only educational but also a demonstration of how Shad Canada can adapt to evolving technologies and foster community engagement in innovative ways.
● Safety & Well-being: The virtual format ensured that participants could enjoy the adventure of a lifetime from the safety of their own homes, without worrying about travel logistics or health concerns.
Participant Testimonials
Participants were overwhelmingly positive about the event. Some testimonials include:
● “This was an unforgettable experience! I felt like I was actually in the park with my friends, exploring the animals and learning so much from the experts. It was amazing to connect with others who share my passion for wildlife conservation.” – Emily T., Participant.
● “The platform used for this event made it so much more interactive than I anticipated. I loved being able to chat with others in real-time and hear the sounds of the park—it felt like I was there!” – Mark L., Participant.
● “As someone passionate about conservation, this event gave me hope. It was inspiring to hear about the efforts being made to protect wildlife. I’m looking forward to attending more Shad events like this!” – Sarah K., Participant.
Conclusion
The Wildlife Safari: Live from Nairobi National Park virtual tour was a resounding success, fulfilling Shad Canada's objectives of respect, cooperation, and shared fun. The use of Gatherly enabled participants to experience the magic of Nairobi National Park in an immersive, interactive way while staying true to the company’s core values of community and safety.
With more than 700 participants, the event demonstrated the power of virtual engagement to connect people from different backgrounds and create lasting memories, reinforcing Shad Canada's mission of building a supportive and connected community.