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| Building in the Great Outdoors |
With my daughter turning three, we decided to take a little
Disney World birthday trip to celebrate in advance (before we have to pay for
her to go since only kids two and under are free). I know, it’s not a very nature oriented trip;
but like most little ones, my daughter loves that magical place! So we were pleasantly surprised when we found
that the resort where we stayed has its own “Nature Explore” outdoor classroom.
We’ve stayed at the Wyndham Cypress Palms in the past
because it has rooms with a full kitchen, living and dining area, and a bedroom
with a door. While my child is young and
taking naps, it’s important to have that door!
The complex also has a nice playground overlooking a beautiful
lake. And just on the other side of the
playground, new this year, is the nature classroom.
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| Outdoor Classroom Sign |
The sign to the outdoor area states, “Recognizing a
commitment to connecting children with nature.”
What a great idea! It has seven
stations (music and movement, garden, climbing, messy materials, nature art,
building, and gathering). Most of the
stations have objects set out for children to play with at any time during the
day. Plus, the resort holds special
guided nature activities there at selected times throughout the week.
The
whole outdoor classroom is beautifully landscaped, using many native
plants. The pathways are made of rock
and stone (no concrete). Bird feeders
and wind chimes hang in a large oak tree.
The garden has raised beds of butterfly-friendly plants, vegetables, and
herbs. The climbing area has various-sized
stumps for kids to move around and climb, while seed pods, pinecones, and
shells fill the pockets of the art table.
It was truly a spectacular outdoor classroom for a resort to develop,
embracing the environment for its hotel guests.
I applaud their commitment to children and nature! I only hope this is a trend to be found in
many more resorts, parks, and playgrounds in the near future.
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| Music and Movement |
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| The Gardens |
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| Climbing |
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| Gathering Area |
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| Nature Art |
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