Play is Powerful: A reflection on the Nature Play Corps experience

After coming home from a long day of exploring, den-building, and generally having a blast together out in nature, the Nature Play Corps interns often marveled at the fact that we got to play all day. 

But we weren’t just playing; we were learning. After all, what better way to emphasize the idea that people learn through play than to do so ourselves!

And boy did we learn! We learned that a chair is not just for sitting, and no matter what affordances you think you are providing, children will always find some that you never would have thought of. We learned the thrill of risk, of climbing trees and nets and balancing on rickety homemade bridges. We experienced how play facilitates social bonds. We learned that with a little imagination, a tree can become a ghostly pirate ship and some pinecones and shells can become a delicious feast. We rediscovered our connections to nature, the feeling of mud caked onto legs and hands, the simple joy of lying back and looking up at the sky. We learned that all it might take to get kids playing outside for hours is the suggestion that there are ITs about or treasure to be found.

In short, we learned that play is powerful. 

Taking this internship was one of the best choices of my life. I played like a kid again and I got so much inspiration. In working with my teams each week to create play pockets I got to be extremely creative and view the world in a childlike way. I made 14 new friends who are fascinating, creative, supportive, fun and generally awesome playworkers/designers/people. I learned a ton from all of the staff and got to know them well enough that I felt comfortable asking them questions and having discussions outside of work hours. The network that we have created is truly incredible and is one of the most useful things that I will take away from the internship.

Watching the kids enjoy our play pockets and knowing that they were actually sad, as we were, that Friday was our last play day, I could see the results that we achieved. We put out the best products that we could and I'm so proud of us and our work. The Nature Play Corps experience, what I learned from it, and how it excited and energized me about future possibilities can only be seen as a success, and I know all of the rest of the interns would agree. 

To everyone who made this possible for us, THANK YOU! We know that it took a lot of behind-the-scenes work and caused some logistical nightmares but everything came together so well. 

I am so fortunate to have worked with all of you and I miss you all!

In betweens! Here and there!

Sarah Safley

The Lost Islands Map

The Lost Islands Map, a photo by Nature Play Corps on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Illustrating the pathway and play habitat locations for Week Two of the Nature Play Corps. The real question is: where is the treasure?

Be Great, Migrate!

Michael picked up a stick and waved it in the air.  He walked around the frame of the child-sized bird nest and promptly tossed it in.  He then ran back to the pile of sticks, struggled to lift one that was over twice his height, and began swinging it in the air.  When asked what he was doing, Michael didn't respond verbally, but instead looked around and pointed to something using the stick he was carrying.  He was entranced by the natural beauty surrounding him and, even though he wasn't more than a year old, found a way to communicate his interest in the natural world around him without verbalizing his thoughts.

Building a bird's nest in the Be Great, Migrate! play habitat

Just prior to his interest in nest building, Michael had crawled under nets, leaped over string "power lines", and acted like a bird with his two older brothers.  He was able to interact with and investigate the play habitat freely.  It was amazing to see how quickly he and the other children became interested in the bird themed play area and actually played the role of birds on a migratory journey toward warmer weather in the south.  Michael, in particular, proved that age is no obstacle when playing in and connecting with nature.

Assir Abushouk, Stephanie Rustem, and Debi Sabo

Picture This!

Children entering our pocket found picture frames scattered about the forest floor and on trees.  Some were small enough to hold, and some were large enough to get inside!

A view of some discovering frames , through a suspended frame.  

A cool moment of meditation.

Observation through the window provided by the frames led to discovery of some interesting things, like this rotten log!

 Children were also given disposable cameras to use to document their observations through the frames.  Here are some of the photos that developed out of those cameras:

Molly, Kara, Britani

I Spy: Through Animal Eyes!

The final week of our Nature Play Corps adventure brought Amelea, Kaitlyn, and Terry together and allowed them to see through animal eyes.  This actually means that they decided to create a play habitat for children to observe wildlife, interact within wildlife habitats, and build their own creations with natural materials.

Learning to observe wildlife from the tree house

In "I Spy Through Animal Eyes", the children were given free range within a network of trails that connected to five different experiences.  These included:  a pine straw nest, vine-lashed tunnel, small loose parts habitat creation, large loose parts lean-to construction, and a wildlife observation tree house.  It's important to note that our series of paths/play pockets included a central island with seating for parents to congregate while their children engaged in free play from pocket to pocket. 

I spy... a blue snake!

Our play habitat generated many many many fun memories, one of which we'll share here: Jimmy came trundling down the main trail with the force of a thousand rhinoceroses and decided to turn left at the first fork, following a secret path leading to a 4 foot high tree fort, constructed of fallen timbers, rope and disguised with foliage camouflage.  He was happy to be the first one up, where he immediately grabbed a pair of binoculars and peered over the railing, anxious to spot some "wildlife". [Prior to the program, representational images of local wildlife were placed in and amongst the surrounding trees.]

Coming through the tunnel

Instantly, he exclaimed that he saw a slithering "cobra" snake on the ground.  Soon, Jimmy hopped down and rambled back down the path to discover something new.  The trail took him to a tunnel in the underbrush where he felt inspired to slither and Ssssssssssss like a snake until he reached the end.  The exit led him directly to a smaller pocket, which had appropriate loose parts for digging and building miniature habitats.  As he was vigorously digging a snake hole, he overheard some other children crowing like birds in a nearby 3x3 foot nest.  This piqued his interest, and he quickly joined the jubilant baby bird congregation.

It was awesome to see a child take a continued hold of his imagination with minimal prompting in this foreign wooded environment.  The trail system afforded children the opportunity to freely explore their environment through self-directed play.  Success through animal eyes.  

Habitat Manor (Week 3)

Cooking mac & cheese in the homestead

It was bittersweet for all of us today as our last day together in Manteo. We were challenged throughout the week and the overall product ended spectacularly!

In the Habitat Manor the children first explored an open home complete with a table set, books, and windows through makeshift wallpaper from tablecloths. Carly (later named "Mom") welcomed them in followed by Will who came upon them exclaiming, "I see you have found my home!" The kids jumped into exploration of the rest of the path just a few minutes into the half hour slot. They crossed the path to a half dome beaver dam with a seashell entrance. In front of them pointing to the right read a sign that warned, "Danger!" Some were hesitant, others dared onward. Not far down the path they came across Courtney, a worried and lost bird watcher who claimed she had been lost for 2 days after being frightened from a mysterious growl. The children immediately guided her back to their home, where spaghetti (pine needles and leaves) and water (an empty mug) were provided for her care.

Some remained to take care of the lost birder, while Carly and Will helped them search for the unknown creature, later to be determined a bear. The second group was especially creative and excited, continuously racing up and down the trail running from bears and seeking refuge in the homestead. We all made loud noises to ward off the bear (played by the 4-H caretaker ). When the bear threatened to attack again some children hid the birder under a tarp and others bravely went to fight. The play continued with massive amounts of energy and it was hard to move the children on to the next pocket.

HONEY BEARS ATTACK!

One of our final prototypes for the pilot program was a trail system of bear tracks leading up to a bear den. It was fascinating to see the different approaches each group of children took when arriving at our site. Upon their arrival, the children were asked if they wanted to become "real bears" and received paw prints on their hands to make it so.

Bear paws

The children then were given free range of the "play habitat," which allowed for 1-5 kids to occupy the den space, and afforded the other children to discover various bones, and sticks, to forage for food, or to become bears themselves.

Ferocious bears in their den

It's about ten minutes into our third play session, and a little girl is staring me down.
"Honey Bears are vicious. They are mean to all the other bears," she says. "I'm a Honey Bear, and you are the other bears." Her glare melts the log between us, giving me a hint of what is about to unfold.
"Uh-oh, what does that mean for me?" I ask.
"RAAAAAAAWWRR!"
Suddenly, I'm being clawed and hit. I collapse over the log, clearly dead. No matter, a magical bumble bee helmet brings me back to life, so that I can properly enjoy being bound. Ahead lies being a bench, a log, and a horse. It's a good day.

Captive Benji makes an excellent bench for honey bears.

Katie Johnson, Benji Palmer, and Sarah Safley