Bringing the Camp Taylor Riverfront Campus to Life in 3D: VIVERSE & Gaussian Splatting
When I first set out to explore what VIVERSE and 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) could do for businesses and creators, a creative spark took over, and the ideas came flooding in. Since there are tons of use cases for 3DGS across various industries, I honed my focus on real estate and property showcases captured with relatively accessible tools, like consumer drones.
For me, the choice of a property to recreate was obvious: Camp Taylor Riverfront in Modesto, California.
Not only is their campus stunning and full of unique spaces, but it also holds a very special place in my heart.
The Power of 3DGS and VIVERSE
With a consumer drone, I captured 4k video of nine different areas of the Camp Taylor Riverfront campus. Then, with the new tool from VIVERSE called Scene AI, I turned the video files into 3D Gaussian Splats (.ply files), which are essentially a digital recreation of a real-world scene in a relatively light-weight point cloud format. After compressing the .ply file in SuperSplat and creating a mesh in another online tool, I was able to import the 3D scenes into PlayCanvas, where it was easy to add the VIVERSE plugin to enable the avatar system. Within minutes of the .ply files being created, I was able to start exploring my scenes with avatars, host, and share my project with friends and colleagues on VIVERSE. This alone is an incredible way for businesses and creators to capture and share their favorite 3D environments. I could have stopped there, but I was determined to explore alternative scene exploration for businesses or creators that want to provide a different type of experience for their audiences.
I’m not a developer by trade—in fact, I had zero coding background going into this project. But with the help of Cursor AI, I was able to write the JavaScript needed to stitch my vision of an interactive 3DGS map together. I created a map system with the 3DGS scenes that allows visitors to:
- Fly through an overview 3DGS of the entire campus
- Click map pins to dive into detailed 3D scenes of specific areas.
- Explore nine sub-areas:
- Pool
- Archery Course
- Cabins
- Infirmary
- Water Garden
- Pond
- Low-Ropes Course
- Dining Hall
- Climbing Wall
- Interact with media galleries that showcase photos and videos of campers using each space.
- See feature hotspots that highlight practical details for those considering renting the facility.
While the drone captures currently focus on exteriors, I’ve paired them with media galleries that show the interiors of spaces like cabins, the infirmary, and the dining hall. Down the road, I plan to add full indoor 3DGS scans for an even more complete experience.
My Connection to Camp Taylor
I first went to Camp Taylor as a sibling camper. My sister Kelley was born with a congenital heart defect (Tetralogy of Fallot), and Camp Taylor gave her a community where she could be herself, surrounded by kids and families who understood her experience. Watching the positive impact it had on her inspired me to stay involved long after she aged out.
Since 2005, I’ve spent nearly every summer volunteering, sometimes for weeks at a time, taking on roles from camp counselor to operations assistant to photographer/videographer. Camp Taylor isn’t just a camp to me. It’s family, community, and a place that’s shaped who I am.
So, when the organization moved into its own property in the Central Valley and began hosting not only CHD camps but also outside retreats and events, I saw a way I could give back: by creating an interactive 3D campus map that lets anyone explore the magic of the Camp Taylor Riverfront campus.
Explore the Campus Map
This 3D map of the Camp Taylor Riverfront campus is ready for navigation and exploration. Click the image below to be taken to the experience on VIVERSE.
Why It Matters for Camp Taylor
This project goes beyond cool tech demos. It gives Camp Taylor a tool to showcase their facility in a way that’s visual, interactive, and emotionally resonant.
“Families and organizations can now explore our property from anywhere in the world,” says Kim Gamino, co-founder of Camp Taylor. “It gives people a sense of comfort we could never convey over the phone which creates confidence in booking our Campus and helps people see not just our facilities, but the heart of what we do here.”
VIVERSE’s impact doesn’t stop at marketing. A realistic 3DGS version of Camp Taylor, paired with VIVERSE Avatar and a multiplayer system, allows campers and staff to meet and interact virtually! Imagine former campers gathering around the virtual pool for a reunion hangout, or support groups connecting in a space that feels familiar and comforting.
“This isn’t just a cool interactive map, it’s a lifeline for children who can no longer attend camp because they’re in the hospital, recovering from surgery, or waiting for a heart transplant, this technology brings Camp Taylor to them,” says Camp Namesake, Taylor Gamino. “You’ve literally placed the magic, the friendships, and the community of camp right at their fingertips.”
Looking Ahead
Right now, the Camp Taylor Riverfront 3D map is a proof-of-concept, but the vision is bigger.
The long-term goal is to build no-code tools that allow any business or creator to:
- Upload their own 3DGS scenes
- Add photo/video galleries
- Customize feature hotspots and map pins
- Export and host directly in VIVERSE
That means real-estate agents, venue managers, and organizations like Camp Taylor could easily create their own interactive maps and worlds, no developer required.
Conclusion
Creating this project was a full-circle moment for me: blending my professional work at HTC VIVERSE, my creative passions, and my lifelong connection to Camp Taylor. It’s proof that emerging technologies like 3D Gaussian Splatting can do more than push pixels, they can create tools that connect people, tell stories, and give organizations like Camp Taylor new ways to shine.
For me, this wasn’t just about building a demo. It was about giving back to a place that’s given me so much.
