Rivercraft

Rivercraft allows students to explore and understand the critical areas of the Environment Agency’s work in a fun and interactive way. The game comprises three games themed around flood mitigation, climate change, and the local environment.

Through RiverCraft, students can learn about the importance of flood protection and the different strategies used to lessen its effects. They can also explore the impacts of climate change on the local environment and learn about ways to reduce its effects.

The game is an excellent tool for educators to use in their classrooms, as it provides a hands-on approach to learning about environmental issues. It's designed to be engaging and interactive, making it easy for students to understand and retain the information. By playing RiverCraft, students will develop a deeper understanding of the environment and the importance of protecting it. 

As of April 2023 RiverCraft has been played by 27,000 young people and teachers in the UK. 

Due to this success, we developed Rivercraft 2 which also comprises three interactive educational games. These are based in more generic rural and urban areas and therefore any student can relate to them. 

Additionally, we introduced NPCs (non playable characters) based upon real Environment-Agency specialists such as Amelia Russell, who ensures that new environmental projects protect wildlife species. This introduction provides role-models to inspire young people’s academic futures. 

This year Rivercraft 2 was shortlisted for the Excellence in Innovation category in the Geography in Government awards and also for the Innovation Excellence category in the Flood and Coast Excellence awards.

John Curtin, Environment Agency chief executive said: “[Rivercraft] is an amazing opportunity for young people to learn about flooding, the environment and climate resilience… We can’t wait to see these games land, excite young people and connect them with their environment in new dynamic ways.”

We at BlockBuilders are proud to have developed these games; they were created to educate the next generation on the importance of environmental conservation whilst keeping it entertaining.