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NAture play spaces

Creating a nature play space

Looking to enhance your outdoor area with a nature play space? Explore these fantastic resources below!

Natural Materials

Use logs, stones, sand, and water to create spaces that ignite exploration and creativity. Build climbing structures, balance beams, and sandpits all inspire adventure.


Plant Life

Infuse your space with vibrant native plants, shrubs, and trees that uplift the spirit and support native pollinators. These living elements not only brighten up the environment but also offer habitats that are vital to wildlife.


Wildlife Attractions

Set up bird feeders, gardens, leaf piles, and insect hotels. This affords opportunities for children to caretake for other living things and observe their habits in every season.


Sensory Elements

Design areas filled with scents from herbs and flowers, soothing sounds from water features, and delightful textures underfoot. These features awaken curiosity and support holistic development.


Creative Zones

Unleash the imagination in creative spaces for artistic expression! Encourage children to transform natural materials into inspiring artwork and sculptures, discovering the many possibilities of plentiful natural materials.


Adventure Paths

Ignite a spirit of adventure with trails and obstacle courses. Incorporate stepping stones, rope bridges, and tunnels to create a thrilling playground of possibilities. Varied terrain and climbing opportunities also afford fun challenges.


Quiet Retreats

Create peaceful spaces with benches or hammocks where children can unwind and connect with the beauty of nature, savoring serene moments.


Remember, a great nature play space offers a little something for everyone. With various experiences, you’re sure to inspire joy and creativity in every child’s outdoor adventures!

Resources for how to Create a nature play space

Robin Moore created a free resource called National Guidelines for Nature Play and Learning Places (2014) with the Natural Learning Initiative and the National Wildlife Federation:

https://outdoorplaybook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Nature-Play-Learning-Places_v1.5_Jan16.pdf

NWF and NLI - Nature Play at Home (2017): 

https://blogs.nwf.org/-/media/NEW-WEBSITE/Programs/ECHO/NWF-ECHO_NaturePlayAtHome.pdf

Playcore - Nature Grounds: Putting Nature into Play along with many resources provided by Moore and Cosco: 

https://www.playcore.com/programs/naturegrounds

Green Schoolyards America (provides lots of information about nature play space and design):

https://www.greenschoolyards.org/nature-play 

Nancy Strinste's Nature Play at Home: https://earlyspace.com/book/

The National Recreation and Park Association has courses to become a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) and what that means for nature play spaces in public settings. Also an interesting mention about nature and water-inspired play spaces that are grant funded through NRPA and inclusive play spaces.

https://www.nrpa.org/


https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2019/december/nrpa-and-american-water-partner-on-the-building-better-communities-program/
 


https://www.nrpa.org/publications-research/park-pulse/park-pulse-survey-providing-all-abilities-play-spaces/


Earthscape: https://www.earthscapeplay.com/

Learning Dimensions and the National Arbor Day Foundation's NatureExplore certified nature playgrounds.

https://natureexplore.org/

The Future is a Playground (June 30, 2023 in the Washington Post) - A great article about the importance of nature play spaces: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/06/30/future-of-the-playground/ 


Andrew Post, Playscapes by Post: https://www.playscapesbypost.com/


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