The Westlock Child Care Society is moving on to the next phase of fundraising for the daycare’s new outdoor learning environment.
“We will be finishing off our first phase next week when our slide arrives,” said WCCS inclusive program coordinator Wanda Bertelsen.
Phase 1 included the south play area of the daycare which is specifically for infants and toddlers. The plastic equipment was removed last fall and some new additions to the area are now visible.
The new design includes creating an area with garden beds, benches and tables, a group teepee, additional trees and plants, beautifying the chain link fence, redesigning the existing hill with balancing activities, creating a new hill with a climbing wall, reforming the bike paths, tunnel areas, another playhouse, shelters, shady areas, art, activity boards and more.
The design is meant to fuel critical thinking, which then develops into executive functioning skills for higher level learning. It is also meant to be inclusive to all children, said Bertelsen.
“The connection to nature has been diminishing for children over the last few decades and that connection is so important for their development overall,” she said.
A naturescape provides opportunities for other development as well, as there are creative aspects for children to interact with. There is also a focus on sensory activities.
“The sensory aspect of playing with rocks and grass and leaves and trees and digging in the dirt far outweighs just going up a plastic slide,” said Bertelsen.
“Playing in the mud is a wonderful sensory experience I think we all remember from our childhood.”
The child care society received $11,453 in Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grants last year to help begin the project, which was matched by already raised funds, which is a requirement of the program.
CFEP grants are awarded to non-profit societies and organizations with plans to build, buy or update a facility or programming.
The society will be applying for another CFEP grant this year to help complete Phase 2 and 3 of the outdoor learning environment and is currently fundraising to match that potential grant.
“We’ve got a spaghetti supper May 5 at the Memorial Hall and we’ve had a contribution from the Legion for $2,000,” said Bertelsen, adding they have also applied for several grants from local groups and have an upcoming bottle drive in the works.
The society has also teamed up with Alberta Treasury Branch which is adding 15 per cent to donations up to $5,000 per fiscal year through the ATB Cares. If you donate through ATBcares.com and enter the Westlock Child Care Society as your cause, the bank will donate the additional funds to the society.
