Abundant Playscapes

26/02/2019

Thanks to the US Play Coalition for sharing and inviting him to deliver a PLAYTalk at our Play Conference! This is going to be good!

PlayTALK Spotlight: Michael Hynes, Ed.D., is the outspoken Superintendent of Schools for the Patchogue-Medford School District in Medford, New York. On our PLAYtalk stage he will discuss the “Importance of a Whole Child Education and Play in School.” PLAYtalks are our version of TED Talks and 15-20 minute dynamic, entertaining, enlightening, engaging, inspiring, informative talks by thought leaders in the play world.

His article, “Play, Recess and Mental Health,” was #1 for 2018 in EDUCATION WEEK. Read it here: https://mobile.edweek.org/c.jsp?cid=25920011&item=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.edweek.org%2Fv1%2Fblog%2F95%2Findex.html%3Fuuid%3D77019

15/05/2017

This gorgeous hunk of red oak wants to be included in the Wickiup Hill Wondering Woods natural playscape project. It is about 42" wide at base of trunk and also 10' tall. I'm thinking about standing it upright to be a climber (again) and getting a chain saw to cut out a tunnel. What do you think it wants to be?

02/03/2017

Please consider supporting this talented artist (and my niece) Andrea Slu. She is doing great things and is such a positive influence on young children through her teaching of art class. Thanks!

ATTENTION! I WANT TO SHARE ART WITH YOU! Thank you for getting to here, I hope my story helps inspire you to donate but as an appreciation of my thanks I want to send you an art piece! *Please include your address with your donation and  I'm going to be busy, busy, busy getting these to you as  ...

24/02/2017

I wanted to share this recall for all my child care & home playground friends.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Little-Tikes-Recalls-Toddler-Swings

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled swings and contact Little Tikes for a refund in the form of a credit towards the purchase of another Little Tikes product.

22/02/2017

Project installation is about 50% complete. Re-storing an old wooden playground in Evanston, IL. The carpenters and installers are doing an amazing job rebuilding Penny Park playground!

27/11/2016

Just completed phase 1 for the Academy of Early Learning playscape. I hope the children have as much fun playing there as I had building it!

12/08/2016

Was in Evanston, IL last night at a Community Input Meeting sharing our proposed design for the Penny Park Playground restoration project. Great questions and discussion for an awesome project!

http://evanstonnow.com/story/government/bill-smith/penny-park/2016-08-12/75730/neighbors-happy-with-new-penny-park-plans

After a couple years of controversy, the handful of neighbors who turned out for a 2nd Ward meeting Thursday evening seemed pleased with revised plans for rebuilding Penny Park.

18/07/2016

Some images from a great project I am working on down in Van Buren County, IA - at the Van Buren County Hospital CCC. We are almost completed!

13/07/2016

Very good listen on the value of play. Among the guests were Dr. Stuart Brown from the National Institute on Play and a play ICON in the industry and Bambi Yost, Asst. Professor of Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University. We need more of these types of forums for discussion and putting the message out there.

http://iowapublicradio.org/post/playgrounds-and-importance-play

As outdoor playtime has dwindled for many kids in the United States our understanding of the importance of that time has grown. "Kids are 71 percent less

30/06/2016

A great read. I've been wondering whether we need to re-think how we allocate operating funds and capital improvement monies in parks & recreation. Some folks in the public sector are going to figure this out and move money & resources toward open-ended play and playworkers.

Stroll through your local playground on a summer day and take note of what’s missing: swings, seesaws, jungle gyms, and, all too often, children....

28/06/2016

27/06/2016

Was up in Mankato, MN on Saturday for the Midwest Play Conference at Minnesota State. Heather Von Bank and all her team did a fabulous job - one of the best 1-day conferences I've been to in a long time! Lisa Murphy, the Ooey-Gooey lady did the keynote. Met some old friends and some new ones including Tom Bedard who had a great presentation on sesnory tables.

04/03/2016

A very good short video on the benefits of a natural playscape. Enjoy!

Find out how 3 schools have improved learning, behaviour, physical activity and creativity through natural play materials and landscapes.

24/02/2016

Had a wonderful day yesterday at the Great Lakes Park Training Institute at Pokagon State Park, IN. Delivered a presentation called "Playgrounds - Trends & Opportunities". Great group to share with. Been 24 years since I was there the last time. Looking forward to being with them & sharing more stuff sometime soon.

05/12/2015

It was an amazing week on the road. Spent the first part in State College, PA doing a playground safety training with my good friend John Balicki. Made it over the Creamery for ice cream one of the nights.

Spent yesterday in Ithica, NY visiting a true master in the field of play: my friend Rusty Keeler. Not only is he amazing in the field of play, but is an equally amazing person. We biked (bicycled) to Ithica Falls, The Anarchy Zone and the Downtown Commons. Great conversation and time spent with Rusty!

27/10/2015

It's been a busy week of training and presentations; last week I was in Torrance, CA with my friend Paul doing a playground safety training and last Friday was in Madison, WI to deliver a presentation called "Playing With Your Food - Place-making and Building Community Through Locally Grown Food & Play" at the Midwest Environmental Educators Conference.

Tomorrow, I am very excited to be a guest lecturer at the University of Iowa's Therapeutic Recreation Department to give a talk on Inclusive Play. Thanks Bri Swope for the opportunity!

12/10/2015

Spent a glorious Saturday morning with about 300+ children as they assisted with design ideas for the new natural playscape.

02/10/2015

Here are photo images from my most recent volunteer build with Matthew 25 & TransAmerica. This is the 8th build day I've done with them, and really appreciate the opportunity to work with those great organizations. These are from our project at Taylor Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, IA. They kicked butt and accomplished a ton of stuff!

01/10/2015

Busy travel and presentation week at Abundant Playscapes! We were in Griffin, GA doing a Certified Playground Safety Training session with my good friend and fellow trainer, Tom Kalousek. Always enjoy getting filled up with Tom's wisdom. Our second stop took us to West Des Moines, IA for the IPRA Fall Conference. Shared a bit on playground safety and the Value of Play. Always enjoy hanging around with IPRA folk!

01/10/2015

Had the honor and privilege to present again at the Iowa Park and Recreation Association's Fall Workshop in West Des Moines. Had a packed house - we needed extra chairs to fit in all the people! Thanks to Steve, John, and everyone at IPRA for putting on such a great conference!

26/09/2015

My awesome daughter Rachel Malkusak, who works for KaBoom, was lead project manager for the Hayt Elementary School build! Thanks to Discover Card and the Chicago Public Schools for their support and action!

26/09/2015

Parent Volunteer Work Day at Little Angels Learning Center: These are photos from our early September work day. We had some tired items in the playscape that needed a little TLC and the parents did an awesome job! Great work, a great day and they finished in time for all to see the Hawkeyes football game

05/09/2015

Abundant Playscapes is honored to be working with Linn County Conservation on a new playscape environment project! Working through the design program phase - the imagination & thought process of children amazes me each and every time.

TODDVILLE - Linn County Conservation is constructing a play area to give children the chance to interact with nature.

12/08/2015

During my child input design session, guess what we discovered outside? Pretty cool! What kind of frog is that?

12/08/2015

Was up in Cedar Rapids, IA yesterday leading a meeting for a project I'm working on. I stopped by Squaw Creek County Park on my way back home and saw the new playground from Fry & Associates; Jack Fry & Kevin Marshall - nicely done! Please tell Bryan he did an awesome job on the install!

11/08/2015

Was out for a walk at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area the other evening. Took this photo image of my playscape at TTRA. One of the most popular play environments in the Iowa City area!

09/08/2015

I wanted to invite anyone who is interested in offering input to help me develop the design program for a new inclusive natural playscape at Wickiup Park in Linn County, IA. I'll have three [3] children's input sessions and two [2] adult/community input sessions over the next several weeks. All input sessions will be held at Wickiup Park and everyone's input is valued. Thanks and hope to see you all at one of the sessions!

09/08/2015

Here is some good information and writings on risk in play. Winnie Nap Bulthuis

After a successful tour of Australia we are receiving lots of emails requesting direction to further resources. Great that so many of you have been motivated to make a change to your policy, procedure and practice. Here is a list of the resources we think will be most helpful. Get stuck in, and Enjo…

23/07/2015

Looks like the Penny Park Playground, and the Preserve Penny Park group, made the Chicago Tribune; with a quote or two from Abundant Playscapes as well.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/news/ct-evr-wood-playground-penny-park-tl-0730-20150724-story.html

Parks consultants told Evanston officials recently that Penny Park, the city's only wooden playground and a recreation place for generations of families, could be restored to near its original status.

17/07/2015

Last night, I was invited to participate in a Parks & Board meeting in Evanston, IL to discuss the future of a play environment. What a treat to be a part of such an open, respectful and passionate dialog.

From the patience, professionalism and openness of the staff/park board to the passion and commitment from the community, I came away with knowing the children of the City of Evanston are in good hands.

I appreciate being a very small part of the process/dialog and thank the staff and people of the City of Evanston for such an inspiring night.