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Ferndale's Nature Play Space

Ferndale Early Education Center is an example of all the good things public education provides. We have about 150 students totals. Our school offers Early Childhood Intervention, Pre-K and Kindergarten. Everyone from the students to the faculty love coming to Ferndale. Students are educated in an academically rich and loving environment.  Ferndale is a wonderful place for learning. When we take our children outside, it is less than ideal. The playground, which is all man made and very small, butts up against where the dumpster are stored. In the warm weather, the students must play with the stench of the trash. We also have a grass field. However, the field is only used a few times a year. At Ferndale, we would like to change how we use this space. We would like to create a Nature Play and Learning Space on our under-utilized field. This space would be used for learning and exploration. Our plan is to add to this space over time. This year, in phase 1, we will be constructing a raised bed vegetable garden. From the beginning, students will be involved. They will design the garden, plant the plants, and monitor their growth. Students will be responsible for the maintaining the garden as well. When the vegetables become ripe, students will harvest them and taste what they have grown. In addition to the vegetable garden, we will be planting a native plant garden to try to attract native species back to our schoolyard. Students will be able to examine how this garden changes throughout the seasons. They will be able to examine bugs, butterflies, and birds close up with magnifying glasses and binoculars. These gardens can be used to reinforce a variety of subjects like art, science, mathematics, literature. This year, we would also like to create a learning circle which would consist of tree stumps and a platform. This would serve as an outdoor classroom for the teachers. The last project of this year would be a tinker space. This space would allow students to use natural materials like stick, rocks, and pine cones to build and use their imaginations. Each year, we would like to add more to this space until we have reached our vision. In phase 2, we would like to add a slide into our hillside, climbing areas, and a dry creek bed complete with a bridge. All the money raised will go to making this vision a reality. We will be building this Nature Play Space in April and May of 2016. The students are so excited about this new playing and learning space. Your contribution will make all the difference to these young learners.

Organizer and beneficiary

Janet Liimatta
Organizer
Glen Burnie, MD
Lisa Rice
Beneficiary

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