Walltopia Group, a world leader in the climbing and adventure & leisure industries, has shared its insights into Artificial Caves, which can be used to offer a fun and educational experience at family entertainment centres (FECs).
“The recent years saw a strong rise in the edutainment sector,” says the firm. “Teaching youngsters through exploration and self-discovery boosts their comprehension abilities while also inspiring them to learn more. True edutainment attractions, however, are few and largely restricted to museum exhibits.
“At the same time, the entertainment sector is constantly searching for the newest attraction or experience. Family entertainment centres have the fantastic potential to offer parents and their kids actual value that goes beyond amusement with this trend of improving learning via entertainment. This is where artificial caving steps in to fill the gap.”
Realistic experience
Caves provide an opportunity for discovery as well as an enjoyable and educational experience. In addition, as a controlled environment, an artificial cave provides a safe and accessible substitute for traditional speleology (the study of caves and cave systems).
Walltopia designs and manufactures artificial caves which offer visitors a realistic caving experience and transform any location into an exciting amusement area. The company’s vast knowledge of rock-realistic climbing walls made of fibreglass supports the development of its unsurpassed artificial caves. Its standard or bespoke caves can be used indoors or outdoors, transforming what would otherwise be irregular, unusable spaces.
The Volcano Cave at the World of Wonders Family Entertainment Centre in Qatar is a highlight project from the firm’s portfolio. The realistic lava streaks glowing on the cave’s exterior are particularly striking. The company uses its own unique technology to create an incredibly lifelike appearance that gives the attraction a unique beauty and character.
The attraction reaches nearly 10 metres in height with a 35-person capacity. There are two routes to explore within its 75-metre tunnel system: 18-metre and 54-metre, both of which conclude with a 4-metre exit slide. The course passes through several sections of obstacles, including the Duck Walk, the Crawling Tunnel, the Ascending Spiral, the Vertical Squeeze, and the Ball Sump (sinkholes filled with plastic bubbles).
Exploration & study
Walltopia’s unique technologies enable guests to explore the wonders of speleology and the prehistoric world, in addition to pushing their physical boundaries. The caves’ authentic features include stalactites and stalagmites, fossils, and lava, as well as realistic rock surfaces. Adjustable lighting and natural sound effects further enhance the feeling of being in a natural cave.
From start to finish, the customer journey feels like a genuine adventure. Guests are given headlamps, helmets, and knee and elbow protectors. Following a briefing by the operator, the tour can be guided or unguided, depending on the length and complexity of the cave.
Children can experience the thrill of a discovery walk and learn an immense amount of information from guided tours. As if in a natural cave, the children experience the excitement of squeezing through small spaces and crawling along tight tunnels that occasionally have multiple routes. They also learn about geology and see a variety of rock formations along the way.
The cave system includes fluorescent features, which are samples of actual minerals found in caves, as well as the Stalagtite Chamber, with stalactites and stalagmites; the Ancient Life Chamber, where children can learn about cave paintings and prehistoric humans; the Fossil Chamber, where they will learn about palaeontology and prehistoric life; and the Bat Chamber, where they will finish the immersive experience by hearing the sounds made by bats.Â
The cave and learning experiences are made more engaging through gamification. Using tools like the Gamifier platform, children are encouraged to find hidden fossils and fill the volcano with as much lava as they can in order to accrue points. Children can also play and learn by picking plants or animals out of fossils or by repeating patterns of lights.
Safety features
Because caves are enclosed, intricate structures, safety must always come first. Walltopia’s caves are all compliant with EN 1176, the European Playground standard. Fire-retardant glass-fibre reinforced plastic is used for production and greatly lowers the possibility of a fire spreading through the caverns and tunnels. As a result, the caves meet EN 13501-1:2018, the European standard for the fire classification of construction products.
The caves also feature emergency exits in the tunnels, emergency LED lights, and an intercom and video control system which maintains contact between the operator and visitors. In addition, fresh air is provided by an extracting ventilation system, as fresh air enters the cave through the entrance and exits, and air circulation in the tunnels is ensured by suction valves.
High-quality artificial caves provide an excellent opportunity to combine an exciting activity with learning experiences, providing guests of all ages with a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience.
Walltopia has created and installed 35 artificial caves around the world, which serve as unique edutainment attractions in a variety of entertainment venues.
Earlier this month, Walltopia Group announced the launch of its new product, Walltopia Slides. This attraction appeals to a broad audience and reflects a trend in family entertainment centres (FECs) to prefer unharnessed activities, while requiring less equipment, with minimal maintenance, and low staff requirements.
