And The Winners Are!
The results are in! This summer, we did a special report about play and teamed up with KaBOOM and Foresters, a life insurance provider that champions the well-being of families, to invite communities across North America to rally around their local playspaces. Three winners will now receive an Imagination Playground in a Box—an interactive set that children can constantly reconfigure into their own course of play—worth $25,000.
This was no easy contest to win. More than 650 communities earned points online by posting photos, hosting meet-ups, and attracting fans. The top 50 playgrounds were then narrowed to 10 semifinalists, who had to get out the vote in order to win. These three very special communities earned thousands of votes by alerting the media and reaching out to their social networks. Please join us in congratulating:
Casita Elementary Playground (Vista, California)—Casita Center for Technology, Science, and Math is a magnet elementary school in Vista, California. It serves approximately 700 kids from grades K-5 as well as additional preschoolers. Casita is in a Federal Title I low-income neighborhood; 63% of the kids are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Overall, the school is a very energetic place. Teachers and administrators are continually coming up with the new ways of teaching and embracing new educational opportunities.
Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Preschool (El Cajon, California)—Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Preschool has been a part of the community since 1961 and serves approximately 100 students every week! The classrooms of the school open directly onto the playground and all the windows face toward it. The playground has not been remodeled in a long time and Imagination Playground will be its crown jewel centerpiece.
New Heights Learning Services (Calgary, Alberta)—The autistic children New Heights serves don’t automatically learn from the world around them as typical children would. They need to be taught and encouraged, but in order for this to work, the children need to be motivated to learn. With their Imagination Playground, New Heights hopes to encourage these kids to use and build their play skills and imaginative abilities.
A special thanks to all who participated! We hope that all will be inspired to continue mobilizing their communities to use, maintain, and improve their local playspaces.
by Elizabeth
On October 21, 2010 at 6:22 pm
YAH Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Preschool!! We are SOOO excited we made it to the Winner’s Circle!! Yahoo!!
by Melissia Hoyne
On June 29, 2011 at 11:45 am
“Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!”
by Rugby Boots
On September 11, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Its crazy how much more attention I aquire from the other gender when I smoke cigars!
by paris turf
On December 8, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Good story over again. Thanks:)