Imagination Playground Awards Five New Host Partners with a $7,500 Playground Set
New York, NY (PRWEB) June 02, 2014 -- Imagination Playground, LLC, creators of a breakthrough playspace concept that encourages child-directed, unstructured free play proudly announces the following five organizations who will each be awarded an Imagination Playground and on-site Play Associate Training valued at over $7,500. The new Host Partners are:
1. Camp High Hopes, Sioux City, IA
2. Central Park East II School, New York, NY
3. Holmes Elementary Inclusion School, Boston, MA
4. Knight Enloe Elementary School, Roanoke, AL
5. Lawton Alternative School, San Francisco, CA
“We read each and every nomination, all of them heartfelt, and most of them reflecting an understanding of the need for play in a child’s daily agenda,” explained Dave Krishock, President of Imagination Playground. “Not only are we proud to award playgrounds and identify new Host Partners – but this nomination program re-energized all of us at Imagination Playground in our mission – to promote child directed free play as a solution in balanced child development.”
The recent nomination program received over 6,000 entries from as far away as Europe and Australia. Each nomination described in up to 100 words how a school or organization uses play to advance children's learning. Each of five selected organizations will have a made to order, hand-finished playground set delivered in approximately ten business days. Here are excerpts of each school’s submittal:
1. Camp High Hopes, Sioux City, IA – “We are a year-round camp and recreational facility for kids and teens with disabilities! At camp, we have every kind of fun imaginable. We play life-size board games, sing karaoke, create paper plate dream catchers, do science experiments, and sing camp songs…”
2. Central Park East II School, New York, NY – “Play is a huge part of the daily curriculum (even though we don't have a playground, just a concrete yard). There are blocks in every single classroom, even 5th grade, so kids can enjoy play without limits or specific goals, and let their imaginations lead the way. Hands-on learning and creativity is always encouraged…”
3. Holmes Elementary Inclusion School, Boston, MA – “Our teachers create thematic based play centers that are linked to the curriculum and standards to engage their students in learning while playing. In the upper grades, students participate in cooperative play activities such as four-square, kick-ball and more…”
4. Knight Enloe Elementary School, Roanoke, AL – “We use play to help our children engage in activities to motivate the body and mind educationally and physically. We engage in competitive activities such as running, jumping, dancing, climbing and exercise fitness. We also have other activities such as our robotic team which uses play to build robots which teaches them in areas of math, science and technology."
5. Lawton Alternative School, San Francisco, CA – “The Lawton community believes a well-rounded education consists of high academics, socio-emotional development and physical education. From hands on activities to end of the year performances where students practice all year long to put on plays, skits and dance routines. These uses of play throughout the year start in kindergarten and keep building as the student’s progress…”
Shares Krishock, “We know that Imagination Playground is transforming children’s lives by providing the opportunity for child directed free play – Imagination Playground does positively impact a child’s mind, body and spirit. Host Partners are our best friends and closet colleagues; made up of schools, family centers, museums and other institutions and are Imagination Playground’s ambassadors and allies in play. These colleagues share innovative ideas, build play programs and advance play to help families and children. This nomination program has expanded our network of influencers to communicate and promote this vital message – which will lead to more children playing.”
Imagination Playground launched the nomination event to drive awareness of the power of play and take the opportunity to acknowledge organizations that are advancing play through resourceful and innovative ways. In an age where children are trending toward electronic consoles and parents and caregivers are challenged with helping children to maintain healthy bodies, unstructured, child-directed play has become a critical component to a healthy social, emotional, and intellectual development.
About Imagination Playground, LLC
Imagination Playground is a breakthrough playspace concept designed to encourage child-directed, unstructured free play. The kind of play that experts say is critical to children’s intellectual, social, physical and emotional development. With a focus on loose parts, Imagination Playground offers elements that allows children to constantly reconfigure their environment and to design their own course of play. Giant foam blocks, loose parts and fabric overflow with creative potential for children to play, dream, build and explore endless possibilities. Imagination Playground offers product to serve child development organizations – day care centers, kindergartens, elementary schools, children’s museums – and science, nature, discovery centers, camps, community centers, children’s hospitals, public park and recreation departments and more - in the North America and over 50 countries overseas. For more information visit http://www.imaginationplayground.com.
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Dave Krishock, Imagination Playground, http://www.imaginationplayground.com, +1 2125247616, [email protected]
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