YMCA of the Rockies
The YMCA of the Rockies implemented a digital signage network powered by Mvix at their conference centers (campuses) in Estes Park and Winter Park, Colorado. The 13 displays at the two centers enable administrators to create rich, engaging experiences for their visitors by providing information about unique activities and events in the lodging spaces and activity buildings. The screens are remotely managed by the program staff, and show information about available activities, event listings, curated YMCA of the Rockies YouTube videos, slideshows of previous events, and other supplemental information such as weather, time and emergency alerts.
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Introduction
The mission of the YMCA of the Rockies puts Christian Principles into practice through programs, staff and facilities in an environment that builds healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The YMCA accomplishes this by hosting conferences and retreats of religious, educational, and recreational nature, as well as family retreats, traditional summer camp experiences for children, and leadership courses for their staff. The Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park are both located alongside the picturesque Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Together, the centers see more than 300,000 guests annually.
They offer 6,000 acres of activity space and more than 6,500 beds for visitors. Both locations have also acted as training sites for YMCA staff nationwide over the course of their 110-year history. The YMCA of the Rockies offers dozens of activities and programs for visitors to participate in, including archery, hiking, camping, horseback riding, mini-golf, fishing, rock climbing, swimming, yoga, zip lining, and much more. The facilities are also available for weddings, family reunions, conferences, and corporate retreats.
The Challenge
The two conference centers had previously used USB drives loaded with PowerPoint slideshows to display content about their activities and programs. While this solution met the bare necessities of their communications efforts, the staff wanted a professional system that could be automatically scheduled or instantly updated via the internet.
As there is no centralized administration building, the YMCA also required a solution that could immediately and remotely distribute multimedia content to both locations, despite being 100 miles apart. The system needed to support multi-user access to enable collaboration between the YMCA staff.
Deployment & Usage
Mvix installed a digital signage network consisting of 13 touch points across the two locations. The Mvix platform offered remote management and integration with content apps such as YouTube, dynamic weather, automated event listings, emergency alerts and other infotainment options. The platform also offered advanced scheduling and multi-user access to enable collaboration between the YMCA staff at Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch. Each of the lodges and activity buildings has a networked display that shares information about available programs and activities, branded YMCA YouTube videos, pictures of previous retreats, and other supplemental information such as weather, time and emergency alerts.
Why It Worked
The YMCA program directors have noticed increases across the board in the number of inquiries regarding their events and activities at Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch. Subsequently, they have recorded improved enrollment in offered programs. The YouTube integration allows visitors to see videos about the activities they can partake in, and often follow up with staff members about things they found on the signs.
The signage has also streamlined the communications efforts of the YMCA staff. Basic information and event listings are automatically scheduled to display on the screens as information cards or RSS feed. This allows the staff to dedicate their time and efforts to creating memorable experiences for their guests, instead of having to explain daily schedules throughout the day.
