Maleno Adventure Woods Anniversary Celebration

Research shows us that many of the fundamental tasks that children must achieve, such as, exploring, risk-taking, fine and gross motor development and the absorption of vast amounts of basic knowledge, can be most effectively learned though outdoor play.* This was one of the drivers behind the Erie Zoo asking for a natural play area last year. On Saturday, August 4th, we celebrated the one year anniversary of Maleno Adventure Woods' grand opening!   Owners and staff members were on-hand to play and to give away free T-shirts and popcorn.  The weather stayed true to the overall sunny and warm weather that Erie has experienced all summer, encouraging the great turnout. Children and parents alike climbed up the "treehouses" and bounced across the rope bridges.

This year, we built jumbo-sized "Jenga-like" building blocks for the Adventure Woods play area.  The kids stacked the blocks to play the game, as well as using them to build their own play structures.  Imagination at its best!  

* Johnson, J., Christie, J., Wardle, F. (2010). The Importance of Outdoor Play for Children. Retrieved from: http://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/2010/outdoor- play