We’ve now had 2 seasons to use our newly renovated playground (the first phase was completed in the fall of 2025) and continue to explore ways that good design can deepen the children’s connections to the natural world and enhance our capacity to support free exploration and investigation outdoors.
LCP was founded 20 years ago with a strong commitment to the natural sciences in mind – our location at the foot of Great Blue Hill, offers a wealth of opportunities to engage with nature. Our interest has been in encouraging children to deeply engage with their environment – both indoors and outdoors – to discover, ask questions, express their curiosity, and engage. Our curriculum develops from observations of and interactions with children around these interests and discoveries that are deeply meaningful to them.
Our decision to work with a designer and educator from Nature Explore (Dimensions Educational Research Foundation) worked very well for us. The teachers at Learning Circle had many ideas and wishes coming into this project, based both on our observations of the children’s use of the space over many years and on the challenges we faced in using the space well over time. Having an opportunity to begin the design process with opportunities to bring multiple perspectives together – a process that included interviews with the children, and both teachers and current family members talking with the designer and educator – helped us articulate those long-standing wishes and work together towards a design that could deeply connect to our school’s philosophy and culture. We have not been disappointed!
Our Outdoor Classroom has clearly designated areas that children can access freely. We included gathering spaces, where children meet, plan, read, and join activities together. Children work at and under a clear table in the Art Area, where we will have dedicated storage for a variety of materials soon. At the edge of the Art Area is a clear outdoor easel, looking towards a steppingstone path with native plantings under our three cherry trees – a great spot for observations, reflection, and inspiration. We are planning to add a “little library” to this space, so that there will be better storage for the books and pamphlets children often access as they share ideas siting on our benches that wrap around the cherry trees. This year we are using tabletop blocks and other small manipulatives in a space that will be developed into a deck with block storage and play space, so that our stage will be freed up for dancing, drama, and music (something children had wished having more space for recently). Our sand and water play spaces have moved and now have clearly designated areas.
The mud kitchen that has seen so much use over the years is enhanced by its location near a new digging area. Watching children dig in dirt (so different than sand!) through the seasons as it’s texture changes and puddles form, has been an inspiration as we watch joyful and free engagement with mud and dirt! Our newly created large area for larger loose parts has been a wonderful spot for the changing natural loose materials – leaves in the fall, ice collections, logs – as well as wood cookies, scarves and other elements we add to the space.
Having space specifically designed to riding toys has greatly improved play patterns. Children access their riding toys on their own and know where to ride safely without their play interfering with other play spaces around the playground. Just having an open shed has given unanticipated advantages as children freely access the space and materials they need.
The children are just now beginning to access the Nature Nook for more private play and as a place to watch from and develop pretend play ideas. When spring brings seasonal changes to the plantings surrounding this area, this will likely be a spot to stop in the midst of investigations.
We replaced a traditional play structure with one that is much more open-ended and have seen huge advantages to this open design. Children can play under or on top of our new structure, climb or slide, and access from any side. The play is rich as children choose their level of risk and create spontaneous pretend play themes as they explore and connect with each other.
The expansion of our fenced in space to include a wooded area has offered opportunities for an additional gathering space, investigations of trees and undergrowth, and space for additional native plantings. Our paths connect with stepping stumps, which the children love to use as they move through this space. We plan to add two hammocks on one side of the wooden area as well.
Playground development is never truly complete, as needs arise and new ideas emerge. We’ve planned for a second phase of work that will include a greenhouse that will replace our older raised beds for gardening opportunities. We plan to complete the deck for a finished construction area, and add an entry arbor, and will add additional plantings as well.
Please use this link to access some photos of the first two seasons using our new Outdoor Classroom!