If you are like me…these cold February days are getting old! I find myself daydreaming about warm springtime and our playgrounds and gardens coming back to life after a long, cold winter. I am happy to share that our plans for redesigning our outdoor environments are well underway. The initial ELC group that is working with me and the students from Landscape Design and Engineers without Borders are Rachel Reeves, Lauren Illiano, Susan Yetman, Eileen Blouse, Phyllis Roland, Jessica Peace, and Linda Zankowsky. We have had an opportunity to meet as an ELC group to brainstorm our ideas of outside beauty and to generate a “wish list” of elements to be included in the outdoor environment designs. We then met with the students who are leading this project to share our ideas, talk about next steps, and lay out a timeline for the semester. We are on our way! The students are now beginning to design and will be back in a few weeks to present their initial ideas. Plans for our “play gardens” will eventually make it to the classrooms for you and your children to tell us what you think. We cannot wait to get everyone involved…more details to come soon!
The goal of the ELC outdoor environment initiative is to develop quality outdoor environments that support children’s natural inquisitiveness, support their emotional development, and allow for engagement with nature.
The wish list ideas fall into four general categories:
1. Incorporating natural elements
· Trees, bushes, plants, etc.- native to this region- that appeal to all the senses
· Hills for climbing with natural slides
· Areas for digging
· Different kinds of rocks, boulders, etc.
· Expanding on our gardens in multiple areas- increasing child access.
2. Adding more permanent curriculum areas
· Stages for dramatic play
· Reading
· Music
· Loose parts for building
· Mud kitchen
· Water elements
· Labyrinth and meadow
· Opportunities for climbing vertically
3. Playground functionality and space distribution
· Softening chain link fences
· Creating nooks and crannies
· Relocating bike paths
· Expanding fence lines
· Boardwalk to meadow beyond SA playground- outlook deck installed
· Installation of outdoor sinks
· Additional storage areas and low seating to help with boots, clean up etc.
4. Opportunities for future student and family partnerships
· ECE students for curriculum ideas
· Wildlife conservation students
· Art students- outdoor murals
On a different outdoor note…
Our beautiful children’s gardens are supported and nurtured by a “garden and literacy grant” gifted to us by a private donor with a passion for beauty- both in words and in plants – for children of all ages. This benefactor, Helen Eliason, passed away over the holidays at the age of 92. She is famous for not being famous-choosing to make a difference in innumerable lives without being in the spotlight or thanked. She chose to do great work because there was much work to be done. Interesting to note, that in addition to the ELC Newark gardens- Helen made a generous gift to the ELC Wilmington - which helped with their playground improvements, language and literacy initiatives, and child scholarships. Helen’s gift lives on…our gardens will be supported yearly for as long as we ask for the help. As you are dreaming of warmer days to come, please think of Helen and thank her for her legacy as she would- through thoughtful plans and actions with your children.
-Kelly Freel
