SEATTLE CHILDRENS PLAYGARDEN
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Mission Statement
The PlayGarden's mission is to provide children of all abilities a safe, accessible and adventurous place to play.
About This Cause
Seattle Children’s PlayGarden, founded in 2002 and governed by a 7-member Board of Directors, improves the lives of children with physical or mental disabilities by providing them with full access to a safe indoor/outdoor recreation space and offering inclusive programs that encourage their potential. Our expansive gardens; adaptable playground equipment and basketball court; animal coops with bunnies, chickens, and geese; bouncy volcano and water feature; tree fort lookout; musical art sculpture; and ADA compliant buildings provide a place for all children, including those with special needs, to play, learn, and grow. We are dedicated to providing an opportunity for all children to gain a deep love of nature and a newfound respect for people with disabilities. Our site and programs are accessible to a broad range of underserved populations including families of children with special needs, low-income families, and families of color. No child is turned away due to financial hardship. Located in an ethnically and economically diverse Seattle south-central neighborhood close to I-5 and I-90, families of children with disabilities convene from all over the Greater Seattle area. A year-round preschool began in 2010 serving toddlers from ages 2 ½ to 5. In 2011 we doubled its enrollment, and in 2012-2013 we expanded the enrollment by 25% as well as expanding our operating hours by 60%. Our programs include: • Outdoor Preschool – fully inclusive, nature-based preschool program for children ages 3-5 years, connecting children to nature, expanding early language and literacy skills, developmentally appropriate mathematics, health and wellness through Garden to Table snack preparation, and active play. • Summer camps – fully inclusive nature-based camps for children ages 1- 18 • Art with Ms. Arni – for children ages 3 and up, freeing the creative genius in every child. • Community PlayDates – free nature based educational play to visitors. The PlayGarden fosters deep connections to community and to nature. Many of our high school and college camp counselors eagerly return each year. Several campers are now junior and senior counselors. The counselors remark how they have changed as a result of their work at the PlayGarden, gaining a deep love of nature and a newfound respect for persons with disabilities.