Green Schoolyards

A growing body of research reveals a strong link between children’s experiences of being outdoors in nature and their psychological well-being and overall development. PlayCore has partnered with the Natural Learning Initiative, College of Design, NC State University to develop NatureGrounds Best Practice guidelines to deliberately design nature back into children’s lives to benefit children’s play, physical activity levels, and to create richer play experiences for all users.

PlayCore has partnered with the Natural Learning Initiative, College of Design, NC State University to offer an educational resource designed to help professional and community activists promote playful trails and greenways across our nation. The partnership also included collaborations with Advisory Committee of experts from American Trails. Pathways for Play intentionally integrates play into community pathway networks to provide opportunities for playing along the way and encourage use by children and families.

Music is an expressive language that is woven through the cultural fabric of generations and civilizations. Recent brain-based research has explored the powerful combination that music and nature has on our physical, mental, and emotional health, and the collective benefits that build more harmonious communities.

Play is the foundation for learning, it is critical for healthy physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. Deeply committed to promoting the value of play, PlayCore is proud to bring together some of the world's most respected play scholars- our friends, mentors and inspirational partners-to share their thoughts, the research-based evidence, and their collective, inspirational "words on play" that empower us all to advocate for the many critical benefits of play.