Virginia state park ranger Ethan Howes, who is colorblind, had never seen the vibrant colors of fall leaves until recently when he discovered viewfinders with special lenses that allow people like him to experience the full color spectrum. Howes worked to get these viewfinders installed at his home base in Natural Tunnel State Park, making Virginia the first park system in the nation to have these adapted viewfinders at every location. He helped organize an unveiling event, inviting colorblind individuals to experience the viewfinders firsthand. Many were emotional and amazed by the different shades of colors they could now see. Howes shared that the impact of this technology has been very rewarding, as he never thought he would have such a large impact in his career.
This technology was created by EnChroma, and their co-founder, Tony Dykes, emphasized the importance of introducing people to the product in natural settings like parks. Melissa Baker, the director of Virginia State Parks, expressed that it was one of the best days of her career, seeing the joy and amazement of people experiencing the beauty of nature in full color for the first time. Natural Tunnel State Park also offers EnChroma lenses for other programs like guided hikes and kayaking, ensuring that all park visitors can witness the beauty of nature regardless of color blindness. Baker stressed the importance of making parks accessible to everyone, providing opportunities for those who haven’t always had the ability to experience the colors and wonders of nature.
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