THE HSC
PLAYGROUND
PRoject A case for support:
$1,500,000
COME PLAY Amorphous LogS
Court Sport Blacktop
Wacky posts
HILL SLIDE
CLIMBING AREAs
with us! outdoor volleyball court
gathering areaS
track and field jump pits
sand areaS
STORAGE AREAS
Road hockey area
bridges
Many of our favourite childhood memories involve outdoor activities. In fact, outdoor play is one of the many things that characterize childhood. At Hillfield Strathallan College, an important part of our strategic plan is resilience and wellness. We fully believe in the importance of developing and implementing a comprehensive integrated wellness program. There are so many wonderful elements with wellness and our teachers and staff believe learning should be an adventure.
THE HSC
PLAYGROUND
PRoject
Outdoor playgrounds are truly special places where adventure occurs spontaneously. The best outdoor playgrounds are designed in such a way that children’s play can come to full expression, where children can run, jump, climb and sing—all while discovering the natural world around them. Many of the developmental tasks that children must achieve—exploring, risk-taking, gross motor development and the absorption of knowledge—can be effectively learned through play.
A New Place to Play Since 1962, Hillfield Strathallan College has been providing exceptional education, nurturing children to become healthy and active lifelong learners. The HSC campus is undergoing a progressive revitalization and, while our indoor educational spaces have evolved to reflect this regeneration, our outdoor spaces are still in need.
helping us grow our goal $1,500,000
When conducting the annual Child Care and Early Years Act inspection, it was determined that a number of the outdoor play structures suitable under the Education Act were not in compliance with the CCEYA. As a result, many of the materials had to be removed from the playgrounds, leaving the spaces less than suitable for a stimulating and fun play space for our students. Accordingly, there is a great and urgent need to revitalize our playground spaces to ensure that we provide age- and stage-appropriate activities that promote physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. Moving towards natural features that powerfully stimulate children’s sense of wonder and discovery will ensure that the needs of our students are met as well as compliance with CCEYA regulations. HSC is delighted to be collaborating with fellow Alumnus Adam Bienenstock ’84 and Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds. His team of designers, landscape architects, trainers, educators and contractors are world-renowned nature and play experts. Their work is internationally renowned for supporting teachers, families and communities toward a new level of engagement with outdoor play. We are thrilled to have joined forces with Bienenstock on our Playground Project.
The Playground Project Jill Bienenstock ’84 & Adam Bienenstock ’84 $100,000 Glenn Marshall & Lisa Knap $10,000
HSC is launching The Playground Project to raise the necessary funds to design, create and install vibrant new playground spaces throughout our campus and to continue to bring wellness further into our community. We are looking to HSC parents, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to help raise the $1.5 million needed to create multi-use activity space and bring our old playgrounds into the future. With your help, we will create the new and exciting outdoor play spaces our students need.
Proposed New Playgrounds: • • • • •
Montessori Toddler Playground Junior Toddler Playground Natural Courtyard Playground Big Toy Playground Senior School Blacktop
(ages 18 months–2.5 years) (ages 18 months–2.5 years) (combined space for Montessori/Junior School, ages 3–5 years) (ages 5–12 years) (ages 9–18 years)
Some of the highlighted requests are part of an inclusive proposal created by early education faculty and students: • Gross motor/climbing challenges • Musical area • Surfacing that is accessible after/during rain events • Natural furnishings/seating • Revitalized sand area • Green spaces and additional plant material • Shade • Fort-building opportunities & loose parts
The spaces and components will encourage and stimulate the following: • • • • • • • •
Large muscle development Balance and coordination Gross motor/fine motor development Motor planning Core strength Problem solving Social skills and language development Hand-eye coordination
MONTESSORI TODDLER PLAYGROUND
$235,000 (total of individual costs) (ages 18 months–2.5 years) In addition to nature-based climbers, bridges and a sand play area, this playground will include a dedicated music corner to promote collaboration, large muscle engagement, language development and rich sensory experiences. Trees, shrubs, grasses and vines will provide needed shade, while the installed irrigation system will ensure long-term sustainability.
MONTESSORI TODDLER A C L B
D
E G H
F I
K
A B C D E F G H I J K L
J
LEGEND
Primary Entry Bridge Gathering Area Amorphous Log Storage Unit Hill Slide Amorphous Log Sand Area Carved Chair Curriculum Cabinet Open Area under Pines Music Area
JUNIOR TODDLER PLAYGROUND $235,000 (ages 18 months–2.5 years)
A specialized creativity area will offer open-ended play to develop language, visual-spatial skills, collaboration and fine motor engagement, while natural furnishings (log-carved benches, activity tables, stump seating) give children and educators comfortable settings to engage, observe and collaborate. Plants, trees and shrubs will improve the aesthetic quality of the Toddler space and encourage the children to engage with their natural surroundings.
junior toddler LEGEND
F
A B C D E F G H I J
G
D J
E C
H I
B
Primary Entry Storage Bridge Creative Area Sand Area Carved Chair Music Area Hill Slide Amorphous Log Wacky Posts
A
NATURAL COURTYARD PLAYGROUND $265,000 (ages 3–5 years)
This playground will be used by both Montessori and Junior School students. Key elements include a Gathering Area that features sensory surfacing, vertical art panels and nature-based furnishings, as well as a Double Sideways Tree Climber. This climber is a one-of-a-kind structure that provides engaging gross motor challenges and large muscle activities for a wide range of play. Trees, plants and shrubs will fully complement the design.
COURTYARD (Early Education) LEGEND
E D C F
H A
B
G
A B C D E F G H
Primary Entry Creative Area Wacky Posts Willow Hut Sand Area Secondary Entry Shrubs/Tunnel Climbing/Gross Motor
Big Toy Playground
$300,000 (ages 5–12 years) This conceptual playground shares many of the features of the Courtyard Playground, but on a much larger scale. In addition to a wide sand play area, trees and nature-based furnishings, children can enjoy large climbing rocks, logs, slides and other features specifically designed for this age group.
Senior School Blacktop
$250,000 (ages 9–18 years)
Our senior students are in need of a space to expend extra energy and release stress from their daily academic pursuits. This blacktop will feature a dedicated space to play court games and road hockey, as well as the addition of a multi-purpose volleyball and basketball surface and enhanced jump pits. These spaces will also provide much needed space relief for senior Health and Physical Education classes.
“Play is the highest form of research.” - Albert Einstein
NAMING OPPORTUNITIES THE HSC
PLAYGROUND
PRoject
Hillfield Strathallan College – Natural Courtyard Playground Gathering Area – $25,000 This donation will cover the costs of all the elements and materials associated with the gathering area including the sensory surfacing, vertical art panels, stump seating and furnishings. This area allows educators and children the flexibility to take learning outside in a beautiful space where they can gather, engage and create with one another.
Courtyard playground greenery – $40,000 This donation will cover the costs of all the plant material for the Natural Courtyard Playground. This includes trees, shrubs, grasses, vines and the irrigation system to ensure long-term sustainability. Plant material is one of the most crucial elements of the natural play areas, because it provides needed shade and a multitude of sensory experiences. Greenery also improves the aesthetic quality of this highly visible courtyard space.
Creative Play elements – $50,000 This donation will cover the costs of the wacky posts, mirror panels, vegetated hut, loose parts and the hand-carved, crawl-through log tunnel. These elements are crucial to the balance of the natural play space, as they offer open-ended play that encourages language development, visual-spatial skills, collaboration and largen muscle engagement. This donation will help transform this space from a gross motor-centric space to a creative and engaging playscape.
Sand Area – $50,000 This donation will cover the costs of the Sand Area, including activity tables, water stump, natural log, stump border and storage. Sand is one of the best examples of open-ended play—it provides children with the opportunity to dig, build and collaborate. The furnishings and the natural border give children a variety of surfaces to work on, either on their own or in collaboration with others.
Double Sideways Tree Climber – $100,000 This donation will cover the installation and costs of the custom double sideways tree climber with connecting ship rope. This unique feature provides cognitively engaging gross motor challenge and large muscle engagement. This element is carefully crafted to meet all safety standards and provide children of all ages with graduated challenge. The double sideways tree is a one-of-a-kind component that will be a profound centrepiece in the courtyard space.
NAMING OPPORTUNITIES THE HSC
PLAYGROUND
PRoject
Hillfield Strathallan College – Montessori Toddler Natural Playground Music Area – $25,000 This donation will cover the costs of the soaring amadinda, chime fence, whale drum and mirror panel in the music area. All of these instruments are used to celebrate the crucial difference between noise and sound. These instruments create a beautiful and calming sound, and consider children with sensory processing challenges who may be particularly sensitive to jarring noises. The music area will transform the way children engage in the space by promoting collaboration, large muscle engagement, language development and rich sensory experiences.
Montessori Bridge – $35,000 This donation will cover the costs of the installation of the natural bridge that welcomes children into the space. To address drainage issues that would prevent the space from being usable during rain events and wet season, this donation will also cover the costs of the culvert that drains water under the space. This donation will drastically improve the quality of this play space and ensure that it is usable year-round.
Gross Motor Elements – $50,000 This donation will cover the installation and costs of the berm, hill slide and amorphous log climber. The embankment slide is a gross motor challenge that provides motor planning and vestibular opportunities. The amorphous log is an open-ended natural gross motor challenge that allows children to engage their large muscles.
Montessori playground greenery – $50,000 This donation will cover the costs of all the plant material for the Montessori Toddler Natural Playground. This includes trees, shrubs, grasses, vines and the irrigation system to ensure long-term sustainability. Plant material is one of the most crucial elements of the natural play areas, as it provides shade and a multitude of sensory experiences, and it greatly improves the aesthetic quality of the toddler space.
Sand Area – $75,000 This donation will cover the costs of the Sand Area, including natural stump tables, water stump, natural log borders, storage unit and log-carved armchair. Sand is one of the best examples of open-ended play—it provides children with the opportunity to dig, build and collaborate. The furnishings and the natural border give children a variety of surfaces to work on, either on their own or in collaboration with others.
NAMING OPPORTUNITIES THE HSC
PLAYGROUND
PRoject
Hillfield Strathallan College – JUNIOR TOddler Natural Playground Natural Furnishings – $25,000 This donation will cover the costs of the natural furnishings in the area, including the log-carved armchair, activity tables and stump seating. These furnishings will give children and educators comfortable settings where they can engage, observe and collaborate.
toddler playground greenery – $35,000 This donation will cover the costs of the plant material for the Junior Toddler Natural Playground. This includes trees, shrubs, grasses, vines and the irrigation system to ensure long-term sustainability. Plant material is one of the most crucial elements of the natural play areas, as it provides needed shade and a multitude of sensory experiences, and it greatly improves the aesthetic quality of the toddler space.
Creative Play Elements– $50,000 This donation will cover the costs of the wacky posts, creative area and hanging amadinda. These elements are crucial to the balance of the natural play space, as they offer open-ended play that encourages language development, visual-spatial skills, collaboration and fine motor engagement. This donation will help transform this space from a gross motor-centric space to a creative and engaging playscape.
Gross Motor Elements – $50,000 This donation will cover the installation and costs of the berm, hill slide and amorphous log climber. The embankment slide is a gross motor challenge that provides motor planning and vestibular opportunities. The amorphous log is an open-ended natural gross motor challenge that allows children to engage their large muscles.
Sand Area – $75,000 This donation will cover the costs of the Sand Area including the natural stump tables, water stump, natural log borders, storage unit and log-carved armchair. Sand is one of the best examples of open-ended play—it provides children the opportunity to dig, build and collaborate. The furnishings and the natural border give children a variety of surfaces to work on, either on their own or in collaboration with others.
THE HSC
PLAYGROUND
PRoject What Will New Playgrounds Offer?
Come Play with Us!
Each of the proposed new playgrounds will be rich in natural features and will provide children with a wide range of age appropriate activities to promote physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. These structures are part of HSC’s strategic plan by implementing integrated wellness programs that can be personalized by curriculum, philosophy, faculty and students.
The Playground Project depends on the generosity of our HSC friends and family. Your donation or sponsorship will benefit every student at HSC as well as the community at large. There is an extensive range of donation and sponsorship levels available, and we welcome the opportunity to share more information with you.
Connection to Nature
The new playgrounds will be full of plants and greenery that are native to the area. All trees, shrubs and fallen logs are designed to welcome children and provide them with a unique space to play and learn about their natural environment.
Tailored Design
Hillfield Strathallan College is committed to raising 75% of the $1.5 million needed for our fundraising goal by June 2018. Once we have reached this target, our plan is to begin this eight-week project in hopes that the early education component will be completed by September 2018 and the remaining elements will quickly follow. Please visit www.hsc.on.ca/playgroundproject or contact us directly:
Natural environments have advantages over traditional purpose-built playgrounds, because they stimulate more diverse and creative play. Each playground will be age appropriate and specifically tailored to encourage children to explore and create without limitations placed upon them by the designer.
Marc Ayotte
Full Accessibility
Director, Advancement and Communications 905-389-1367, ext. 161 zahra.valani@hsc.on.ca
These spaces have been designed to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers including every child, regardless of a child’s physical, cognitive or developmental ability.
Head of College 905-389-1367, ext. 182 marc.ayotte@hsc.on.ca
Zahra Valani
Rebecca Llewellyn
Associate Director, Advancement 905-389-1367, ext. 107 rebecca.llewellyn@hsc.on.ca
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!