Nature Explore Certified Classroom
welcome to our
We transformed our two play-yards into,
"Nature Explore Certified Classrooms".
The yards are rich in diverse offerings for children to continue their
learning as they enter the outdoor classroom.
Art, music, loose parts for building, digging areas, natural plantings
and addition of water sources are just some of the components
that we have added to enhance the health,
vitality and natural play for the children we serve!
SCREEN FREE NATURE PLEASE!
our goal
Our main project goal was to create outdoor environments that provide children daily opportunities to access nature play as an integral part of their learning. These daily encounters differ from simply going on an outing or arriving at a destination for a visit.
Here, we create the environments for the child to be fully immersed in uninterrupted play, freely moving from one area to the next.
the impact
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To Inspire the next generation of tree planters and environmental stewards.
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Create new experiential learning opportunities for children to enhance important observation and problem-solving skills.
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Provide places for stimulating, hands-on, spontaneous outdoor play.
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Positively influence children, families, and communities.
what we gain
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Enhanced observation skills.
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Improved fine motor skills
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Improved concentration (especially beneficial for children with ADHD)
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Greater recovery from cognitive fatigue
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Reduced incidence of nearsightedness and need for eye glasses
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Improved academic performance in reading, writing, math, science
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Develop an affinity for nature
OUR VISION
came to life through
passion, persistence,
grant funding and donations
We have implemented fifteen Guiding Principals of the Nature Explore Certified Classroom
Entry feature
An open area for large motor activities
A climbing/crawling area
A "messy materials" area
A building area
A nature art area
A music and movement area
A garden area
A gathering area
Storage areas specific to individual area
Water Area, Dirt Digging Area, Sand Area,
Wheeled-Toy Area, Swings and other dynamic equipment
Messy Materials
Our Messy Materials area promotes imagination, experimentation and critical thinking skills. Our large building platform steps down into a sandpit specifically designed to extend the play. Logs, blocks, rocks, poles and lumber are stored in the area but adults and children alike add more loose parts regularly like found sticks, branches, stones and even seasonal pumpkins. Coffee cans, tubes and tires also make amazing construction materials. This area encourages, pushing, pulling and lifting which is the “heavy work” of the child.
Climbing/Crawling
As children grow and develop, they need to successfully master physical challenges in order to gain self confidence and a sense of control over their environments. Learning how to maneuver their bodies by climbing, crawling, rolling and dangling develops their vestibular and proprioceptive input which is essential to perfecting their strength, agility and movement in the world around them.
Music & Movement
Music and movement are vital to children’s healthy development. Our outdoor Stage provides a space for children to experiment with musical and dance expression, rhythmic expression and it is also an area to create and perform their own stories. The children can freely access storage (mounted on the platform) a plethora of local and multicultural instruments, scarves, ribbons and costumes. A mounted Glockenspiel anchors the corner.
Nature art area
A magnificent Coffey tree spreads its arms over our Nature Art area providing dappled shade and inspiration. Children can freely access different mediums to paint, color, draw and paste. Children may sit collectively at the art table or work nearby at the chalkboard or easel.
Building area
Our building area is stocked with natural blocks, shells, tiles, and stones. Children create mosaics and small cities in this area. Weaving and making lacings with natural materials like leaves or beans.
Gathering Area, Storage Areas
A gathering area provides a place where adults and children can meet at the beginning or end of the time spent in the Nature Explore classroom. Special event like group sing- a- longs or visits from resource people can take place in the Gathering area,
Children can easily access all areas of their outdoor classroom including the materials stored there. Each area has its own storage cabinet and there are also storage sheds that the children access as well.
Water Area
Water, the universal solvent! Pumping, filling, trickling, pouring and splashing. Hands on water activities allow the children to experience and change the flow of water, observe currents, discover what objects float and what objects sink. Watching how materials like sand or dirt change with the addition of water helps children learn transformation qualities of solids and liquids. Our centralized pump is also the source to fill watering cans for our gardens, fill cups and bowls for the sand/mud kitchen or a place to fill a vessel to rinse a paint brush while visiting the Art Area.
Sand and Dirt Area
Our three large Sand Areas between our two yards and Dirt Digging Area are stocked with real shovels, diggers and spades. Wooden and metal bowls, kettles and utensils offer realistic tools to really work with. Sometimes a grand “meal” is set as the mud kitchen serves up an interesting menu. Other times, a great moat is dug around a castle which is filled with water from the pump impeding any attackers. The imaginative play is boundless and ever changing.
Wheeled Toy and Dynamic Equipment Areas
We have large areas set aside for wheeled toy and dynamic equipment play. These provide children with valuable ways to experience the sensation of moving through space. Our goal is to create a “figure 8” for wheeled toys by removing much of the existing blacktop in our lower yard thus creating more green space for grasses, mulched areas and swings. We will also add swing to our toddler yard which is vital to their vestibular development.