Division partners with Helen Schuler Nature Centre for Nature Play Pop-Up
On Friday, it was Lethbridge School Division’s opportunity to host a Nature Play Pop-Up in collaboration with Lethbridge Plays and the Helen Schuler Nature Centre.
Westside Division families, and members of the public, were invited to visit the centre to build, create and explore with loose parts. The free, drop-in nature play activity for early education families include bus service from Dr. Probe Elementary School, Nicholas Sheran Elementary School and Mike Mountain Horse Elementary School.
Nancie Neiboer, an Early Learning Support Teacher in the Division, explained the format of the morning play-based activity.
“Families were invited to come play today, and there are lots of natural loose parts that kids can engage in with their families,” she said. “We’re also just letting families know about the importance of play and how it helps with child development.”
Youngsters and their families had the opportunity to interact with a wide range of items supplied by the nature centre, to help put their creativity to the test.
“We’re hoping that they see how important play is and that kids can play with a variety of different things and it doesn’t just have to be toys bought from a store and that they can just engage in nature and things around them,” said Neiboer.
The partnership with the Helen Schuler Nature Centre is one of many the Division benefits from across the city.
“It’s fantastic to have partners throughout the community so that we are not the only ones promoting the importance of play and that early-intervention piece,” said Neiboer. “It’s been awesome to co-ordinate with them. They have all of the supplies here are we are really just the host. We are taking the supplies they have and putting them out and showing families different ways to engage with the kids through play.”
Oct. 11 will be the next opportunity to EEP families, this time from north and south Lethbridge, to experience an outdoor play day at Helen Schuler.
Play time
