For Immediate Release: February 12, 2015
Further information: Rachel Flor (617) 514-1662, rachel.flor@jfklfoundation.org
BOSTON - In celebration of Presidents’ Day, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum has launched a free iPad app, The JFK Challenge that brings American history to life for kids ages 8-12. The Library’s first-ever app release, The JFK Challenge turns players into NASA and Peace Corps trainees ready to accept President Kennedy's charge to accomplish great things and make a difference in the world. Visit www.jfkchallenge.org to preview and download the app.
As virtual astronauts in the Space Race mission, kids travel back in time to train for the Apollo 11 flight. They try on a spacesuit, steer the spacecraft, and explore the Moon's surface while learning about NASA, space travel, and the first moon walk. Back on Earth, the Peace Corps mission takes young volunteers on a trip to 1961 in Colombia, where they learn Spanish words, the local culture, and world geography. They use these skills and knowledge to navigate mazes and other games as they help build pathways for clean drinking water and houses in the virtual village.
Combining exciting animation with primary sources from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library archives, this immersive app fosters interest in the sciences, exploration, volunteerism and cultural exchange, while providing a window into how John F. Kennedy inspired a generation. The development of the app was made possible through a grant from Disney to the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
“The JFK Challenge allows kids to experience President Kennedy’s optimism and confidence in our ability as Americans to be global ambassadors and achieve great things,” said Heather Campion, CEO of the Kennedy Library Foundation. “Whether it’s going to the moon, or traveling the world as a Peace Corps volunteer, this app puts young people on the front lines of two of President Kennedy’s most significant accomplishments. We are grateful to Disney for their support in funding this exciting project.”
In conjunction with the launch of the app, the JFK Library will be hosting a two-week social media scavenger hunt that invites kids and families to play and learn using The JFK Challenge app. Starting on Presidents’ Day, February 23, 2015, the JFK Library’s Twitter and Facebook pages will ask a different question each day related to the U.S. space program, the Peace Corps, and President Kennedy’s legacy. In order to find the correct answers, participants must work through the various missions in the app. Those with the most correct answers will be entered to win an iPad mini.
The JFK Challenge app was designed and developed by Bluecadet. It is available for free download here.
Historical Background
Less than two months after taking office, on March 1, 1961, President Kennedy established the Peace Corps, a group of volunteers who would dedicate themselves to the progress of developing countries and build mutual understanding between Americans and people of other cultures. Just weeks later, on May 25, 1961, President Kennedy stood before Congress and committed the United States to the ambitious goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade. America responded to these two dramatic initiatives with one of the greatest mobilizations of resources and manpower in U.S. history. Eight years later, on July 20, 1969, two American astronauts realized President Kennedy's dream and walked on the moon. Today, over 215,000 Peace Corps volunteers and trainees have served in 139 countries around the world.
Click here for more information on John F. Kennedy and the Peace Corps.
Click here for more information on John F. Kennedy and the Space Program.
About the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is one of 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration and is supported, in part, by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, a non-profit organization.
The Kennedy Presidential Library and Foundation aim to educate new generations about the timeless values that President Kennedy championed and their relevance today. Through museum exhibits, conferences, educational programming, and the use of cutting-edge technology, including the launch of the nation’s largest online digitized presidential archive, the Kennedy Library is bringing to life the challenges, achievements and impact of President John F. Kennedy’s thousand days in office for people around the world.
About Bluecadet
Bluecadet is an Emmy Award-winning digital agency that creates world-class websites, mobile apps, interactive installations, and immersive environments. Established in 2007 in Philadelphia, Bluecadet collaborates with leading museums, cultural institutions, universities, and nonprofit organizations to educate, engage, and entertain through digital innovation. From a touchscreen T. rex puzzle at Chicago’s Field Museum, to a multimedia advocacy campaign for Doctors Without Borders, to MoMA’s bilingual mobile guide exploring the murals of Diego Rivera, Bluecadet inspires interaction and imagination. In addition to an Emmy, Bluecadet has won Webby, Webvisionary, ADDY, SXSW, and AAM Muse awards, among other honors. Visit Bluecadet’s website and connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Vimeo.