Zoo to You (Member Magazine) – Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo – Summer 2016
G’day mate! If petting stingrays, hopping with kangaroos, and walking among birds wasn’t enough, the zoo’s Australian Adventure is now even more adventurous! We’re tapping deeper into the kids’ imaginations with our new Outback Springs play stream. Children can gently splash, build, collaborate, and play in this unstructured environment.
Connecting the ideas of educational, natural, and unstructured play, Outback Springs has become the hit of the season. “There is a push to get kids back outside and interacting with nature in an organic way,” says Educational Manager Kristin Tetzlaff. “At Outback Springs, kids can discover the environment around them.”
Kristin Tetzlaff adds, “Outback Springs helps inspire people to have authentic experiences with nature. It creates a connection for kids to learn about the world around them.”
Research supports that free play develops executive skills in children. At Outback Springs, kids can kick off their shoes and step into new adventures through sharing, problem solving, and communication. Kids discover the importance of these skills for themselves in this unstructured environment.
Adults are encouraged join in with kids at Outback Springs – letting them lead. When adults play with their children, it affirms their confidence and helps them grow. And it builds memories that will last a lifetime.
Sara Valentine, interpreter team leader, loves that Outback Springs is a place where guests can slow down and enjoy the outdoors. She explains that even in the zoo, everyone is on the move trying to see every exhibit. In the midst of that, Outback Springs is a place where guests can relax and kids can play. She said, “The play stream is designed for them to explore nature in an unstructured way, without rules or restrictions. They can be kids and use their imaginations, which is awesome.”
Buckets, smooth stones, and sticks are in the stream to spark imaginative free play. You can find similar props at home to replicate a free play environment.
Join us at Outback Springs to reconnect nature this summer. Help kids build dams in the stream and use their imagination in the land down under. We can’t wait to share this new adventure with you.
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