Natural playground close to reality
Boys & Girls Club of Yarmouth seeking in-kind donations from businesses, individuals
In-kind donations are being sought for a natural playground for the Boys and Girls Club of Yarmouth.
The club has been fundraising toward the $220,000 project for three years and has reached almost $176,000. They are now looking for donations of labour and/ or goods to reach their goal, says executive director Jodie Pothier.
“We’re to the point where we can cut playground costs by having trees donated, gravel, grass, mulch or excavation,” she said.
The Boys and Girls Club of Yarmouth has been offering child care in the area for 51 years and one of its strongest mandates is outdoor play.
Pothier says youngsters spend a minimum of two hours outside each day, every day, unless it’s very stormy. In the summer they’re outside even longer.
“We want to go back to what we believe in for childhood, learning how to climb on rocks and trees and taking risks and understanding how your body works and functions. Pushing your own limits,” said Pothier.
The natural playground design includes a “bear” cave, with a stage on top; a sand kitchen with a hand pump and dory nearby; raised garden boxes, water cascades; musical instruments and more.
“Every piece that is being put into the playground allows the children to use their own imagination and create their own little world,” says Pothier.
The club plans on adding a few more trees, berry bushes and bird houses to the design.
The 66 youngsters at the Bond Street facility range in age from three months to five years.
The Boys & Girls Club of
Natural playground design.
Yarmouth also provides child care at NSCC Burridge and five after-school elementary sites — a total of 212 youngsters.
The Yarmouth club received a foundation grant from the B&G Club of Canada toward the project, an anonymous source donated $25,000 and, most recently, the 100+ Women Who Care of Yarmouth County donated $5,500.
“We are very thankful to the community,” says Pothier.