Preschool in Peters makes plans for a natural playground
-
Mandy Turek leads her 4-year-old "cowboys" on a gallop around the classroom to the rodeo music of Aaron Copland at Noah's Ark Preschool in Peters. The school is planning to build a natural playground for the school's outdoor activities.
Share with others:
The playground at Noah's Ark Preschool was buried in snow last month, a dormant white mound. But the school has a vision, and soon, the space that houses a small jungle gym could transform into a vibrant landscape with birdhouses, hammocks, a pine tree fort and a hothouse garden.
The children at Noah's Ark, located in Peters at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, are itching for a change. The school's 10 regular staff members pioneer a "child-centered" educational approach, and their curriculum is filled with nature. The institution has been accredited since 2006 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The 108 children who attend the program play and learn outside as often as possible. Their playground, though, is a relic.
"When you have a static jungle gym like that, there's only so many things they can do with it," said Allison Dagen, whose daughter, Cali, 3, and son, Bode, 5, attend the preschool.
School director Gerda Moul explained her dream as she gestures at a landscape architect's plan for a "natural playground."
"It's just so much different from the traditional plastic," she said. "Here, they will be providing their own entertainment ... digging for worms."
"It will be their space," she said.
The natural playground is still just a seed, waiting for the funding to nurture it. It comes with a hefty price tag.
New Hampshire landscape architect Ron King created a site design for $10,000: the same amount Ms. Moul received last year, mailed in an anonymous check.
"It was too eerie," she said. "I was grinning for weeks."
But the construction of the playground -- depending on how much Mr. King is involved -- could cost an additional $50,000 to $140,000, Ms. Moul said.
Ms. Dagen and Ms. Moul are applying for several grants, and they hope to make Mr. King's design a reality.
The natural playground would use the thicket of tall trees and curving hills that hug the church grounds. Slides would be built into the hillsides, which would be dotted with chimes and musical instruments. A miniature labyrinth would abut a gazebo and a sandbox. There would be space for composting and barrels to collect rain.
A planned fort around an existing pine tree would allow children to climb up and explore the tree from a new perspective.
"So much of this feeds into their goals for discovery," Ms. Dagen said.
First Published March 11, 2010 6:24 am
