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HCC's Regional Center for the Advancement of Children to Install Natural Playground
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Last updated:Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010 at 03:50 PM Posted:Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010 at 02:11 PM
Haywood Community College’s Regional Center for the Advancement of Children is finalizing plans for a natural playground at the center. Kemper Covington of Covington Landscape, Inc. is designing the playground with input from the teachers and staff of the center as well as input from parents of the children who attend the center.
According to Covington, a natural playground at HCC’s center is a perfect fit for the college’s sustainable mission. In addition, he says the trend of daycare facilities nationally as well as abroad is to go with natural play environments. “These natural environments encourage creativity and imagination. Children can learn so much from nature. Spending time outside makes them more aware of their surroundings. They become a more positive person while enriching their physical and mental health.”
Rita Wilson, RCAC Director agrees. “A natural playground is an extension of the learning environment. It is a way to take the learning environment from the inside outside. It is a great way to get children outdoors more and to get them moving early on in their lives.”
Covington asked faculty, staff, and parents to share what their favorite thing to do as a child was. Most recalled something from the outdoors because times were so much simpler without the advanced technologies of television, computers and electronic games. “For some of these children, this may be the only opportunity they get to go outdoors. Some may have parents who live in apartments or work shifts. It’s just the best route for children.”
Covington plans to incorporate local history and culture into the design. Sustainable practices will also be implemented when available. As much resources that can be used from the college campus as possible, ranging from rocks to manpower, will be employed to complete the project. This project is made possible through a North Carolina Community College Facilities Grant. The projected completion date is spring or summer of 2011.
Greg Boothroyd points out features of HCC’s Regional Center for the Advancement of Children’s proposed natural playground to his daughter Regan. She attends the center and is looking forward to the new play area.