Lakeshore Kids & Company
is celebrating their
3rd year as a certified
Nature Explore Classroom.
Summer 2011 Kick Off celebration began with an outdoor
event which allowed families time to enjoy the Nature
Explore Classroom together. A Trike-A-Thon was sponsored using the Nature Explore Bike Path, with all proceeds
benefiting St. Simon and Jude’s’ Hospital.
Two new arbors, with crawling vines, were added around the bike path this year to create an interesting pathway for children to maneuver. New reed fencing surrounds the toddler playground, and a giant earth berm was installed to create shading. Some of the tot-turf was replaced with nature relief prints. Older children have created stepping stones and were busy this summer refurbishing an outside table.
The classroom is experimenting with new plants this year, such as Japanese egg plant. One classroom is creating a circle of sunflowers based on a literacy activity which is helping to bring the indoor classroom outside. The classroom continues to share harvested herbs with families throughout the growing season.
Staff attended the Nature Explore We Dig Dirt workshop where they discovered effective ways to facilitate meaningful infant and toddler learning experiences in well-designed outdoor spaces. This workshop addressed practical strategies for some of the challenges of working with very young children outdoors, and ideas for helping infants and toddlers grow up with a sense of wonder.
