Creating Landscapes for Children event July 18
Fred Meyer
On Sunday, July 18, Backyard Abundance is offering families the opportunity to learn how to provide children with outdoor play spaces that combine education with fun, right in their own back yards.
Presentation
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Southeast Junior High School
2501 Bradford Drive, Iowa City
Yard Tour
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Yard of Tony Malkusak
5051 Faye Drive SE, Iowa City
Both events are free and refreshments will be served at the yard tour.
Learn more and view pictures of the yard
When children spend regular time outdoors they are less stressed, have fewer behavior problems and learn valuable skills that will help them succeed in school and life. Plus, they have an opportunity to experience the joy and wonder of spending time in nature.
Fred Meyer, director of Backyard Abundance, has helped design outdoor play spaces at schools, child care centers and, most recently, at the Iowa City Recreation Center. “I am happy that we can show parents and grandparents that these wonderful outdoor play spaces can be a part of families’ yards, as well as community areas.” says Meyer. “When I was a child, I spent so much time outside, splashing in creeks, exploring, and learning. I want to help children have fun while gaining valuable skills in nature’s playground.”
Tony Malkusak is a local landscape architect who designs children’s playgrounds for a living. After attending an Arbor Day-sponsored Nature Explore training, he began creating a variety of activity areas in his yard, which attract not only his own children, but also many of their neighborhood friends. Nature art, music and movement, block building, and active play are just a few areas that will be discussed at the presentation.
The yard tour will give children the opportunity for hands-on play at Tony’s innovative and child-friendly backyard play space. Adults will learn how easy it is to combine learning and fun in outdoor play. It can be as easy as putting a few stump stools in a corner of your yard or collecting nature items for art activities. The cost for these play spaces can be minimal or free since nature provides the materials.
Those who attend the yard tour will also see the half acre of prairie grasses that Tony has planted in his yard. He added that his Italian upbringing will be evident in the refreshments that will be served.
No pre-registration is needed for either the presentation at South East Junior High or the yard tour. Children are welcome and encouraged to attend. For details on Arbor Day’s Nature Explore project, visit their website at http://NatureExplore.org.
Fred Meyer
Backyard Abundance Director