Ripples

Recently I was emailing with a local Vermont artist about something unrelated to play. She must  have clicked through to the website from the footer of my email as after our exchange ended, she sent one more note:

“P.S. I am an art teacher in the Central school. An article that our staff shared on “The Land” inspired us to remove all rules from our playground so that students were allowed more risk taking and are encouraged to work out differences and make personal choices. It’s been an interesting change in philosophy for many of our staff members. We are pretty hands off unless we see someone being physically hurt or bullied.”

I mean, WOW.  It's so warming to hear from others tapping into the world of playwork and child-directed play.  Permission goes a long way.   Onward!

Why junk?

Loose parts come in all shapes and sizes, many more tidy and beautiful than junk. Playworker and author Arthur Battram explains why at The Land, swings and slides are replaced by old tires, broken down treadmills, grocery carts, old toys, sticks, mud.... He answers the question, WHY JUNK? 

Hats Off!

Hats off to Erin Marteal and her amazing team at the Hands On Nature Anarchy Zone at the Ithaca Children's Garden for their work creating the very first Ithaca Day of Play! An inspiring gathering of smartypants and play aficionados, the curious and determined, all scheming about the future of adventure play in the US.

Thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the good vibes and great ideas, and who has supported and inspired us along the way (looking at you, folks at The Land & Pop Up Adventure Play!) Onward! ‪#‎playwork‬ ‪#‎playrev‬ ‪#‎anarchyzone‬

Playworker Development Course

The Pop-Up Adventure Play Playworker Development Course has a couple of spots left in their remote study program!  Immerse yourself with fun, smart and experienced playworkers who've worked with kids and families in the UK and the US. 

Get $100 off your registration with code FREEPLAYMOVIE while spots are available, deadline Sunday, September 28, 2014. x

Ithaca Day of Play

Join us on Saturday October, 11 in Ithaca, New York for a gathering of change-makers who want to foster a culture of play.  Ithaca is home to the Hands On Nature Anarchy Zone at the Ithaca Children's Garden and THIS is the place to meet and get down with others who are creating successful adventure play projects in the US right now.  Many people write asking how they can learn more about creating adventure play sites... The answer: ATTEND THIS EVENT! 

Check out the lineup. We'll be there talking about the film and more.  Hope you can make it!

On The Anarchy Zone

The most exciting thing about the Hands on Nature Anarchy Zone at the Ithaca Children's Garden is how the play team talks about the playground as a space that is evolving. They are observing and responding to the kids and families of Ithaca, finding their footing with the practice of playwork, and experimenting with sustainable models for employing regular, well trained playwork staff.  

Like Plas Madoc (home to The Land), Ithaca is a very playful community, and for that reason, the AZ is an exciting and inspiring model in the US. Peter Gray makes important points in this piece, essential critiques that the AZ would probably not deny. But as Suzanna Law aptly states, we can't go "from zero to chainsaw."  And in the spirit of Bob Hughes, the defining quality of a good playspace should be CHANGE.

The Anarchy Zone is constantly changing. It is staffed and informed by Playwork. It is a baby, 2 years old, in the right place at the right time. Pay attention! It's the real deal.

Submit Your Photos

New Deadline!  Tuesday, September 30, 2014. 

We've received dozens of photos from throughout Europe and want even more!

Any era, anywhere in the world.  See below for details. x  

St. Paul's Adventure Playground

Bristol, England 

Photo courtesy of Tom Williams

Stewarts Road Adventure Playground

London

Photo Courtesy of Grant Lambie

Crumbles Castle Adventure Playground

London, since 1976

Photo courtesy of the Islington Play Association.

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Attention! The Land documentary seeks still photographs of adventure playgrounds from around the world, from any era, for possible inclusion in the upcoming film. 

Photo courtesy of Nancy Rudolph

The Anarchy Zone

Ithaca, NY, USA

Since 2012

Photo by Erin Davis

The Land

Wrexham, Wales, UK

Since 2012

Photo by Erin Davis

If you have pictures up your sleeve, please email up to 3 high resolution images of your favorite adventure play site to erin [at] playfreemovie [dot] com with the following information:

• The name of the playground (as it is known to the children).
• The city where it's located.
• The year the playground was established.
• To whom should we credit the photo.

Deadline: Friday September 19, 2014. But don't wait, send them today!  Now extended!

Direct questions to erin [at] playfreemovie [dot] com.  Play on!

Brains at Play

(Adorable) evidence that play is an ancient behavior essential to the survival of the species, and getting girls. Featuring a cameo-of-sorts from George Clooney. 

Why do we humans like to play so much? Play sports, play tag, play the stock market, play Duck Duck Goose? We love it all. And we're not the only ones. Dogs, cats, bears, even birds seem to like to play. What are we all doing? Is there a point to it all?

Via @NPR. x