UK’s National Trust an International Treasure for Kids

I’ve fallen in love with the UK’s National Trust. Every country should have one. Their engagement with kids is phenomenal. I can feel it from here on the other side of the pond. The Trust is a ‘conservation charity, protecting historic places and green spaces, and opening them up for ever, for everyone.’

There is an inspired thoughtfulness about kids in evidence at many of their venues such as the hobbit holes at The Vyne posted earlier this spring in PlayGroundology. In Britain, they are playing a significant role reconnecting children with nature an increasingly common challenge in the digital age.

One of the Trust’s brilliant actions last year was the development and promotion of 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11 3/4. It’s just been refreshed with a number of new entries.

How about a 50 Things To Do… right here in Canada. Let’s do the math, 50 divided by 13 provinces and territories works out to about 3.8 ‘Things’ per province/territory.

I’m going to start the ball rolling with three submissions from Nova Scotia.

1 – Running on the Ocean Floor. The Not Since Moses run is held every August in Five Islands.

It’s not everywhere that you can run on the ocean floor. This part of the world has mud flats that are laid bare after the Fundy tide pulls the ocean away. A good run, lots of fun and a chance to get dirty all rolled into one. Does it get any better?

2 – Interpretive Tours of Mi’kmaw Petroglyphs. In Kejimkujik National Park, there are 19th century rock drawings and opportunities to learn about the Mi’kmaw culture.

Keji, as it is affectionately called, is a natural wonderland with many opportunities for nature play and exploration. More on the petroglyphs here.

3 – Rafting the Tidal Bore. Fundy’s great tides, the largest in the world, provide the natural fuel for this soggy, thundering zodiac ride.

The slow moving Shubenacadie River is transformed into this tidal torrent of tumult twice a day. It’s a ride you’ll remember for years to come.

There you have it, Nova Scotia’s suggested contributions to an All Canadian 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11 3/4. Send your ideas for other outdoor activities to build a Canadian list to PlayGroundology.

Put a list together for your own country and help get the kids outdoors having fun in the natural environment.

Playful Play Advocacy from Isle of Man

Enjoy this highlights reel from the Isle of Man’s Prince of Play and March2Work mastermind, Chris Gregory.

PlayGroundology has been cheering on Chris’ March2Work campaign for the last two years. He’s a young looking fellow and speaks with a lot of vitality so I’m hoping that he and the campaign will be back for many years to come.

The concept, objectives and merriment are all highly exportable. The fun-fueled campaign certainly has all the right ingredients to catch on in other jurisdictions and draw some much needed focus to the value of outdoor play and safe routes to schools and playspaces.

Hear Chris right here from an interview recorded just prior to this year’s campaign kick off.

Roll up, roll up! London is Open for Play next week!

Reblogged from Rethinking Childhood:

My plan to showcase some of London's most playful places has been in the pipeline for a while. And now it's around the corner. For all the latest info, follow this link to the mighty Playscapes blog – including handy onward links to the Open House website, with more details and maps for all the venues.

Read more… 52 more words

Check out the best of London's playgrounds with well known advocates and lovers of innovative playground design Tim Gill (rethinking childhood) and Paige Johnson (Playscapes). There is a parallel event happening in NYC too in this first ever and hopefully recurring Open for Play. My only disappointment about this great news is that I won't be able to join all the playground aficionados in London. I'm sure there will be posts in both Tim and Paige's blogs. Félicitations for organizing what is sure to be a great event.

I’ve Got A Brand New Pair of Rollerskates

Bravo to Chris Gregory who completed his March2Work campaign earlier today. As we don’t have a satellite feed, we can’t share this morning’s last hurrah with you but we can look back on Thursday and it’s well worth a peek.

Chris’ funful campaign sustained throughout March was all about bringing focus to outdoor play and safe routes for kids. Check his Play Isle of Man blog and treat yourself to a few smiles through this creative public awareness performance that practices what it preaches – play, play and more play.

Chris, I’m going to miss your daily adventures.

And Now For Something Completely Different

To counterbalance yesterday’s sad news about Toronto’s Jamie Bell Playground torching, here’s a snippet of fun. From Chris Gregoy’s jet fuel imagination direct to YouTube here’s Day 13 of the March2Work campaign. Yes, Chris is the mastermind pilot behind the day of the plane – see for yourself.

Chris is at it all month, taking different modes of transportation to get to work all in the name of promoting outdoor play and safe routes for children.

Only 11 days left until he finishes his epic journey. Send him a tweet to help him on his way @chrisplayiom or leave a comment on his blog – Play Isle of Man

I have to fly back to Halifax later today. I’m hoping my pilot is more experienced.

Hula till it Hurts – March2Work

When we last tuned in, Chris was bouncing his way to work on a spacehopper in Douglas, Isle of Man. If you missed the introductory post on March 2 Work, just scroll down as it’s immediately below this one.

Earlier today, Day 7 in the March 2 Work campaign, Chris was really working it. He was winding his waist in a hula for humanity like he just stepped off a plane from the islands. Watch the technique, the uphill swivel, the get me there gyrations.

It was a grand day in Douglas, perfect for promoting the importance of outdoor play and safe routes for kids. Check in on Chris’ exploits for the rest of the month at Play Isle of Man, or on twitter @chrisplayiom.

Hats off to the kids who traveled the route with Chris – some real hula hoop champs in that lot.

Thanks for the fun video, we’ll be back to check in on you.

A Journey of Epic Proportions

How do you spice up your morning commute to work and at the same time make it more meaningful? Look no further than my friend Chris Gregory for an answer. Chris is a champion for play at the Isle of Man’s leading children’s charity The Children’s Centre. To raise awareness for outdoor play and safe and playful routes for children, he is taking a different means of self propelled transport every workday for the month of March. His epic journey started out with a 3 kilometer spacehopper commute. Do I hear sore thighs?

Isle of Man News covered the action too. Click through for their video segment – Hopping to work.

It seems like March came in like a lion for Chris. After regaining his lucidity, he penned a few humourous words about the inaugural March2Work jaunt in his Play – Isle of Man blog.

The spacehopper and scooter have now bit the dust as means of transport in this commuter odyssey. Tomorrow morning, Chris will be in a canter on his hobby horse as he makes his way along the home stretch of Douglas’ Woodbourne Road. He’ll stable the horse at his office digs and get on with his day’s work in support of play.

We’ll be dropping in periodically throughout March to see how Chris is making out. Personally, I can’t wait for the hula hoop next Friday and the grand finale piggy back – Chris please try and get video of these! Full schedule here.

Show your support for Chris, outdoor play and safe routes for kids by sending him a tweet or two to @chrisplayiom, or leaving a comment on his blog – Play – Isle of Man

ScreenShot Mondays – Let The Children Play

A couple of Mondays per month, PlayGroundology screenshots a cyberspot that focuses on playgrounds, or play. I hope readers dive in and explore. Even if you’ve seen the selection before, take a moment and check to see what content has been added recently.

Think of this as a very slow stumble upon, an invitation to relish something new or to revisit an old friend. Some of the people and places may be household names in the world of play and playgrounds, others not so much. I hope all will pique your interest in what they have to offer and further your own possibilities for playfulness.

Let The Children Play

Let The Children Play is a gem you don’t want to miss if you’re looking for ideas and inspiration to get the smallest of the small humming along to the outdoors beat.

The ‘Popular Posts’ section is well arranged and has plenty to choose from. One that caught my attention is super sized marble paintings! Why, oh why didn’t this exist in my early childhood world. This is all the fun of marbles, mess and mayhem rolled into one.

Super Sized Marble Painting. Source: Let The Children Play

There’s also a nice selection of blogs on play, outdoor play and early childhood under the ‘blog love’ tab. One of my favourite sections that I hope will grow and grow is ‘inspiring playscapes’. There are two school playscapes featured currently. I’d love to turn the clock back and have a go at playing in either one of them.

There’s plenty more chez Jenny in Australia. Drop in and find out for yourself. Oh and did I mention that Jenny was nominated ‘best individual blog’ and ‘best individual tweeter’ for the 2011 edublog awards?

ScreenShot Mondays will be back in two weeks. If you have any suggestions for a good subject, drop me a line at playgroundology@gmail.com.

ScreenShot Mondays – Active Kids Club

A couple of Mondays per month, PlayGroundology screenshots a cyberspot that focuses on playgrounds, or play. I hope readers dive in and explore. Even if you’ve seen the selection before, take a moment and check to see what content has been added recently.

Think of this as a very slow stumble upon, an invitation to relish something new or to revisit an old friend. Some of the people and places may be household names in the world of play and playgrounds, others not so much. I hope all will pique your interest in what they have to offer and further your own possibilities for playfulness.

Active Kids Club

That’s a sprite-like child jumping about on the Active Kids Club (AKC) masthead, a child who cannot contain his desire or joy about playing in the outdoors.

Kari Svenneby is the founder of this Canadian based organization that offers resources and structure to get kids up and moving in the outdoors. Kari shares lots of great ideas for activities in all seasons as well as cooking with nature tips and recipes.

She knows what she’s talking about as she’s mom to two kids and a classically trained chef. There is also a blog and an AKC network that is free to join.

If you’re looking for solid, fun ideas to encourage your kids to get outside then Active Kids Club is really worth a look. There is a lot of depth, creativity and good old fashioned common sense all over this site. Bravo to Kari and her collaborators.