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Acorn Group, Inc.
Blending the skills of nationally certified interpretive planners, designers, and educators, The Acorn Group offers services in interpretive and educational master planning, exhibit design, interpretive center design, curriculum development, and evaluation.
PlayCore and GameTime partnered with The Acorn Group to develop the downloadable Play Trail Activity Booklets. Full of engaging activities for families to do before, during, or after trail experiences, these booklets are designed to enrich children's outdoor experiences, instill lifelong connections to the environment, and increase engagement with the natural world. These free resources correspond with GameTime's Play Trail product line and play pocket themes. GameTime also works with The Acorn Group on the development of playful signage to promote environmental literacy along trail networks.
To learn more, visit www.acorngroup.com
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American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR)
AAPAR serves more than 8,000 professors, teachers, trainers, and community leaders who promote meaningful physical activity and recreation across the lifespan. The association is dedicated to enhancing quality of life by promoting creative and active lifestyles with particular focus on inclusive, community-based programs.
PlayCore and AAPAR partnered together to create Play On! Playground Learning Activities for Youth Fitness, a standards-based physical education curriculum that utilizes the playground to promote fun, physical activity and partnered with AAPAR and researchers from Western Michigan University to conduct an independent study on the effectiveness of the program.
To learn more, visit www.aahperd.org/aapar
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Innovative Learning Concepts
Innovative Learning Concepts, Inc. uses its multi-sensory TouchMath program to engage students of all abilities and learning styles in a variety of mathematical concepts, from elementary skills to pre-algebra.
PlayCore and Innovative Learning Concepts, Inc. have partnered to help bring the TouchMath program outside to the playground, as a fun and creative way to reinforce the TouchMath classroom curriculum.
To learn more, visit www.touchmath.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=playcore.welcome
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Dr. Joe Frost
Housed at the library of the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, the Joe L. Frost Children's Play and Play Environments Research Collection is one of the country’s most comprehensive sources of research materials for the study of childhood play and play environments. Dr. Joe Frost has worked with PlayCore and its companies on several publications, books, papers and programs, all focused on play dynamics and the developmental benefits of playgrounds and play environments. As an ongoing PlayCore partner, Dr. Frost has significantly helped inform the fields of play research and provided critical information for promoting play for people of all ages and abilities through numerous PlayCore-sponsored reports and studies.
To learn more, visit www.uiw.edu/frost/index.htm
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National Learning Initiative (NLI)
A research and design assistance program in the College of Design at North Carolina State University, NLI creates environments to support human development and a healthy biosphere. It promotes the experience of children and families in the natural world through environmental design, action research, education, and information.
NLI has partnered to develop NatureGrounds®, Pathways for Play, and assisted with significant product and play behavioral research, and outreach training.
To learn more, visit www.naturalearning.org
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National Lekotek Center
Since 1980, The National Lekotek Center's "therapeutic play" philosophy has grown to include a network of 20 affiliates, who serve over 6500 families annually. Lekotek offers a vast model of programs including; family play sessions, toy lending libraries, Compuplay programs, and other services, such as home visits, that meet the unique and diverse needs of families.
Developed in partnership with the National Lekotek Center, 2Play Together, offers a rich inclusive play program specifically designed to promote inclusive play, understanding, and fun between children with and without disabilities on the playground. As the country's leading source on play for children with special needs, PlayCore is proud to partner with The National Lekotek Center to carefully evaluate a variety of products through their AblePlay Rating™ system to assess how it meets the needs of children of all abilities and support more inclusive play opportunities.
To learn more, visit www.lekotek.org
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Robert Leslie Publishing
Robert-Leslie Publishing, The Early Childhood Company, strives to help young children succeed by learning about the world and their place in it. With over thirty years of experience in the early childhood and educational publishing arenas, their mission is to provide consistent publication of exciting, developmentally appropriate, research-based learning materials for children, teachers, parents, and school administrators.
PlayCore and Play & Park Structures partnered with Robert Leslie Publishing to create a unique standards-based program for outdoor play, the Outdoor Creative Play & Learning System.
To learn more, visit www.robert-leslie.com
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SiteMasters
Teri Hendy, as the principal of Site Masters, brings over 25 years of experience in researching, designing, teaching, writing and consulting about playground equipment and play areas. She serves as a key member of the ASTM committee for playground safety, and helps to shape the guidelines that playground manufacturers follow for compliant playground equipment. With her expertise and keen understanding of these issues, Teri has been instrumental in the creation of PlayCore's Safety Resource Guide and Playground Supervision Guide, two publications that assist site owners in developing and following safety and maintenance programs for their play space.
To learn more, visit www.sitemastersinc.com
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University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is an engaged, metropolitan university committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service, and dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of the region through strategic partnerships and community involvement.
PlayCore has partnered with University experts on projects and programs such as GameTime’s GT Jams ™ Music & Movement Playbook and advisory team of professionals to help with the product and program development of an adult outdoor fitness equipment line. PlayCore also supports the University through offering internships to students looking for professional experience and development.
To learn more, visit www.utc.edu
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