SparkleFire advances wildfire education through board game development

Within the SparkleFire project, the Pau Costa Foundation coordinates the development of an educational board game about wildfires, landscape management and self-protection. The game is designed as an educational and participatory tool aimed at families, schoolchildren, volunteers and citizens. It seeks to make complex wildfire-related concepts easier to understand through collaborative gameplay and practical decision-making. 

Developing an educational board game about wildfires

One of the main achievements during the last months has been the development of the SparkleFire board game prototype. The game focuses on wildfire risk awareness, prevention measures, landscape management and self-protection actions that communities can apply before and during wildfire events. 

The development process has been carried out collaboratively with all project partners, integrating scientific knowledge, educational objectives and regional perspectives from different European bioregions. The game has also been developed in collaboration with Idealúdica, a company specialised in board game design, helping transform technical and educational content into an engaging and accessible learning experience. 

The educational framework and game content are consolidated in the deliverable D2.2 Educational Objectives and Game Content Report, which defines the main learning objectives, inclusion principles and bioregional adaptations of the game.  

Following this work, the first functional prototype has been developed through the deliverable D2.3 Adapted Board Game Prototype. The prototype includes the gameplay structure, cards, board design, educational mechanics and testing materials.  

The board game has been designed as a cooperative experience where players work together to reduce wildfire risk and protect communities. Rather than focusing only on fire suppression, the game emphasises prevention, preparedness and long-term landscape management. Players must make decisions collectively, manage limited resources and understand how different actions can influence wildfire behaviour and impacts. 

Several educational topics are integrated into the gameplay, including: 

• Landscape management strategies
• Self-protection measures
• Preparedness actions
• Community cooperation
• Wildfire causes and risk factors
• Relationship between climate, vegetation and fire behaviour  

The game is also adaptable to four European bioregions (Mediterranean, Atlantic, Central European and Northern European), allowing each version to reflect different environmental conditions and wildfire challenges.  

Preparing pilot tests across Europe

During the coming weeks, project partners will begin pilot testing activities of the adapted board game in different European bioregions. Each consortium partner will carry out a pilot test in a different place, allowing the project to evaluate how the game performs in different social, cultural and environmental realities. 

These pilot tests will help identify possible improvements for the final version of the game, including gameplay balance, educational effectiveness, accessibility and regional adaptation. Feedback collected from participants will support the refinement of future versions of the game. 

The testing phase represents an important step in ensuring that the final educational tool is both scientifically accurate and accessible for diverse audiences across Europe.