PICAYUNE – Mississippi State University’s Crosby Arboretum has partnered with GPTrex, a company founded by parents and educators, to produce an interactive, family-friendly application for visitors with iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches.

Using the devices’ built-in technology and intuitive touch screen, the mobile application offers families a whole new experience when visiting the arboretum. The free application provides visitors with high-resolution images of plants and animals, streaming video, GPS mapping and challenge questions.

Currently, one adventure is available, “Crosby Arboretum Nature Explorer: Discover the Pond and Savanna Journeys.”

To participate, arboretum visitors download a free GPTrex application from the Apple App Store. From within the application, they can access this adventure by visiting “Crosby Arboretum.” The application has a growing collection of adventures set in cultural, community and tourism destinations nationwide.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to offer this new and fun way for our visitors, especially families, to interact with and explore the arboretum,” said arboretum director Pat Drackett.

MSU’s Crosby Arboretum is operated by the MSU Extension Service and is the premier native plant conservatory in the Southeast. The arboretum features a variety of plant communities that represent the native flora of the Pearl River drainage basin in Mississippi and Louisiana. These habitats provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn about nature through educational programs, tours and events.