William & Mary partners with City for engaging orientation program

Sing along AVAdventures are interactive story telling - part theater, part dance party and part flash mob. Here students participate in a sing-a-long. Photo courtesy of AVAdventure Productions

Pep in their step Participants get started on an AVAdventure by downloading an mp3 file - a digital guide, as it were. But, the adventurers are engaged by live action too, like this show by the William & Mary Pep Band. Photo courtesy of AVAdventure Productions

Don't forget The Griffin William & Mary's beloved mascot, The Griffin, also got in on the act during the 2011 Orientation AVAdventure. Photo courtesy of AVAdventure Productions

by Kate Hoving, City of Williamsburg | June 11, 2012

City of Williamsburg and AVAdventure Productions in partnership with the College of William & Mary have developed a way to introduce new students to local businesses using the latest digital and social media technologies. The event – An Orientation AVAdventure – debuted in 2011 with more than 20 City businesses participating. The 2012 event, featured as part of William & Mary’s official Orientation program with the City as the primary sponsor, will be held Friday, August 31, and starts at 7:30p.m. on the William & Mary campus. As they follow the interactive walking tour, students will travel through the downtown business districts, with the finale taking place on William & Mary’s campus in the Sunken Gardens.

During the event, students will be engaged with participating businesses in a variety of ways from the locations being acknowledged, to real-time sign-ups for social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, to an interactive five-minute set piece based on the business. Each student will receive a drawstring backpack filled with coupons and flyers that promote area businesses and be eligible for on-going raffles and promotions hosted by the City and businesses via social media.

Area businesses are invited to learn more about the project by attending an informational meeting Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at 2:00p.m. at the Williamsburg Community Building, 401 North Boundary Street.

AVAdventure Productions is a media production company led by Adam Stackhouse and Liz Sykes, two William & Mary alumni. The AVAdventure™ format utilizes audio, video, and social media technologies with participants’ mobile devices, such as smart phones and iPods, to engage them with custom narratives. In addition to the 2011 Orientation event, in May 2011, the AVA team partnered with the City to produce “ArtVenture” for the City, a week-long celebration of the visual and performing arts. It culminated with an AVAdventure that had more than 500 participants “steal” the ArtVenture gallery’s signature piece.

For more information about the William & Mary Orientation event or the AVAdventure, visit the AVAdventure website or call 703-362-9577.

Media Contacts:

Liz Sykes, AVAdventure Productions, liz@theAVAdventure.com, 703-362-9577
Kate Hoving, City of Williamsburg, khoving@williamsburgva.gov, 757-220-6197