Monstrous Adventure Playground event to mark National Play Day on August 1st
To mark National Play Day which raises awareness about the importance of play and celebrates a child’s right to play, The City of Calgary will host a free Monstrous Adventure Playground event on August 1st from 3-7 p.m. at Prairie Winds Park.
The playground is designed to promote independence, confidence and creativity through unstructured play – meaning there are no rules! A much larger version of The City’s Mobile Adventure Playground, children are encouraged to use their imaginations with a variety of materials and loose parts such as boards, tires, tape, cardboard, tarps, hammers, nails, and hand saws. Children are free to build, demolish, assemble and change their environments as they desire.
“We know that the average child in this country and in Calgary are not getting enough of the health benefits that come with leading an active lifestyle. Playing is a great way for kids to get active,” says Heather Cowie, Manager East Region, Calgary Recreation. “The City values play as an essential part of every child’s life, vital to their development. Through play, children learn about themselves and the world around them. We are very excited to see what Calgary’s little people will create at this event.”
The City is providing opportunities for play by designing playgrounds that are more conducive to natural outdoor play in our parks, providing free Mobile Adventure Playgrounds throughout the summer at outdoor sites across the city, leading the development of a Play Charter with over 25 Calgary and area organizations, and training summer camp and program leaders in creating environments that support child-led play.
The Monstrous Adventure Playground event is held in partnership with IPA Canada, Early Childhood Coalitions of Calgary, IdeaLab Calgary, Parks Foundation Calgary, SensaKids, Telus Spark, and VIVO for Healthier Generations.
For more information, visit Calgary.ca/playday.