Play:ground is hiring playworkers and playwork interns for their inaugural year on New York's scenic Governor's Island. What is a playworker? "A playworker is patient and playful...." Check out their listing for more. Play on!
An American Adventure Play conference (gathering? meet up? mind meld?) is brewing. Set for February 2017 at the wonderfully evolving Santa Clarita Adventure Playground in Val Verde, California, this will be the first of its kind. We're gonna go, are you gonna go?
Register your interest here. No spam, no commitment. Just a few details to support the organizers. See you in California in February!
One of the most common responses to The Land from parents and teachers is, "ok, I GET It but how can I convince other people? Where is the EVIDENCE that freely chosen play BENEFITS kids??" It's true that hard facts and figures can tip the scales for folks on the fence, and are critical for decision-makers sticking their necks out to support an adventure play initiative. I bring you:
Balanced and Barefoot: How Unstructured outdoor play makes for strong, confident, and capable children WOHOOO!!*
In Balanced and Barefoot, Angela Hanscom gives adults permission to release the reins without fear. Her expertise as an occupational therapist affirms what so many of us know intuitively: children thrive when they have access to rich, self-directed play opportunities.
Available now! (Use it for good, not evil!)
*ok, the wohooo is ours... not part of the actual title...
Want to be a play worker when you grow up? One of the best adventure play spaces in the US is The Parish School Adventure Playground in Houston, Texas. And they're hiring! Read more about the place and the position at Morgan Leichter-Saxby's blog Play Everything.
Thank you to everyone who supported play:ground's campaign to bring adventure play back to New York City. Follow their Facebook page for updates an inspiration!
Join us in supporting a new adventure playground in New York City! Play:ground's adventure playground at Governor's Island will serve thousands of local children and be a model for countless American cities. Wondering how to get an APG in your community? This helps! Normalizing free play and supporting a standard of professionalism for playworkers is a piece of our shared pie:
Our film THE LAND was launched through a successful kickstarter campaign and we know first hand how small pledges of support from $1, $5, $10, $100 -- whatever you can give -- MAKE the difference.
We believe in and support play:ground and hope you will too! Pledge today and play on!
Psst! There is a super exciting Kickstarter campaign launching THIS TUESDAY that will bring adventure play BACK to New York City. This outdoor adventure-play space will provide loose parts, and professional playwork support for child-directed play and serve as a model for countless cities to come! Sneak preview the work of the worthy organizers at play:ground. x
Order soon for Christmas delivery!
Planning to tuck The Land DVD into someone's stocking this year? Place your order for home DVD by Tuesday December 15 at 5pm for Christmas delivery. Order now.
As always, you can screen The Land in your classroom or with your community group by ordering any time through New Day Films.
Wishing you a peaceful and playful new year!