PLAYFUL PITTSBURGH COLLABORATIVE NEWSLETTER
Play for Change UnConference, updates and more!
Fall is here and brings with it exciting opportunities to play!
If you haven't heard about Play for Change, our October conference co-hosted with Philadelphia Playful Learning Landscapes, we hope you'll read more and help us to spread the word. 25 teams of five to seven individuals from across Southwestern Pennaylvania and West Virginia will convene for this day-long event to think more critically about play. The event will include keynote speakers, lightning talks, hands-on activities, and time for action planning.
Over the past year, work has continued on the Elizabeth Street Parklet and Hazelwood Play Trail. With funding from the Heinz Endowments, work has included reconfiguring the path through the KaBOOM! playground, planting 12 trees and hundreds of shrubs and grasses, weeding and cleanup of existing trees and shrubs. Click on the link above to see some in-progress photos!
Fall is here and brings with it exciting opportunities to play!
If you haven't heard about Play for Change, our October conference co-hosted with Philadelphia Playful Learning Landscapes, we hope you'll read more and help us to spread the word. 25 teams of five to seven individuals from across Southwestern Pennaylvania and West Virginia will convene for this day-long event to think more critically about play. The event will include keynote speakers, lightning talks, hands-on activities, and time for action planning.
Over the past year, work has continued on the Elizabeth Street Parklet and Hazelwood Play Trail. With funding from the Heinz Endowments, work has included reconfiguring the path through the KaBOOM! playground, planting 12 trees and hundreds of shrubs and grasses, weeding and cleanup of existing trees and shrubs. Click on the link above to see some in-progress photos!
Our Recess Advocacy Team is hard at work preparing for next steps. Visit our website to learn more and sign up for updates!
We hope to see you soon!
Visit our website to learn more!
Events
Play for Change
Tuesday, October 30
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Carnegie Museum of Art
Member Spotlight
Each month we will spotlight one of our wonderful partners and the work they do through audio collected and edited by SLB Radio.
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP)- Click the name to hear PDP staff discuss the importance of play in their work.
Monthly Blog
This article is part of our Member Blog Series, which showcases Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Members' efforts and commitment to ensure that play is a critical element in the lives of people of all ages. Each month, a different member organization will share their take on how play is a part of the work they do. This month we're reaching into our archives to a post from SLB Radio in 2017.
March 2017
SLB Radio
Capturing the Sounds of Play
How do we capture the sounds of play? How do we share our thoughts about play? Here at SLB Radio, we use audio to encourage, amplify, share and archive the ideas, stories, and feelings of children, youth and families. Click below to go to this post and hear the voices of youth from around the city discussing their thoughts on the importance of play!
“Almost all creativity involves purposeful play.”
— Abraham Maslow
Registration open for Play for Change conference October 30th
Play means more than toys and games! It is a connector—play can shape the way children, adults, and communities interact with one another and think about their days, how they use their community space, and most importantly how to solve problems. For children, play is how they learn. For communities, it can be the key to building engagement and ownership in our shared public spaces or to addressing some of our most critical challenges.
Tuesday October 30th
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Carnegie Museum of Art
Register Now
Play means more than toys and games! It is a connector—play can shape the way children, adults, and communities interact with one another and think about their days, how they use their community space, and most importantly how to solve problems. For children, play is how they learn. For communities, it can be the key to building engagement and ownership in our shared public spaces or to addressing some of our most critical challenges.
ABOUT
In partnership with the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative and Philadelphia Playful Learning Landscapes, join us on Tuesday, October 30, at the Carnegie Museum of Art and Schenley Plaza in the Oakland community of Pittsburgh, in a day-long event to think critically about play. There will be keynote speakers, lightning talks, hands-on activities and action plan time.
We will convene 25 teams of 5-7 individuals from neighborhoods, boroughs, and cities from across southwest Pennsylvania and West Virginia to:
Explore WHAT is play, and WHY play?
Understand the play continuum and the role of “playful learning,” such as the Six C’s (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, culture/community, creativity, and connectivity) and their importance in positioning our children for the future.
Consider a “play community.” Why they are important? And, how to define a vision, mission, purpose, and goals in the creation of your own playful community. We’ll talk about lessons learned from the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative and the Philadelphia Playful Learning Landscapes.
Learn more about transforming public spaces into community play and playful learning spaces such as hands on installations of playful learning modules.
Develop action plans for infusing play in your community. What challenges at the school, neighborhood or city-level do you think ‘play’ may help address in your own community? How do we design communities with intention to address these challenges? We’ll talk about the Hazelwood Play Trail case study.
All while considering issues of equity, transportation, safety, play across the ages, community input and more.
HOW TO REGISTER AS A TEAM
Register your team now! Each team may have 5-7 members. All team members should be from a particular neighborhood or region and members should represent different organizations or skill sets. People to consider for inclusion in your team could be: an early childhood educator, a local municipality representative, perhaps a parent, an artist, a librarian, a school administrator, etc.Team registrations will be given priority over individual registrations. In addition, we will provide a team stipend of $250 to help cover travel costs. Please note that there is a limit to teams based within Allegheny County to help balance team participation from the wider 10-county region and northern West Virginia. Registration is limited to the first 25 teams. When registering as a team, please send an email to Yu-Ling Cheng at conference@tryingtogether.org. Yu-Ling will provide your team with a specific “access code” so you can register as a team.
HOW TO REGISTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL
If you would like to be a part of this UnConference but don’t have a team, please register as an individual. Registration preference will be given to team registrations first but if space and demand allows, we will create a team of individual registrations. Please note that individual registrations will not receive a travel stipend. Click here to register as an individual. If you have questions, please email Yu-Ling at conference@tryingtogether.org for more information.
"Ritual grew up in sacred play; poetry was born in play and nourished on play; music and dancing were pure play.... We have to conclude, therefore, that civilization is, in its earliest phases, played. It does not come from play...it arises in and as play, and never leaves it."
— Johan Huizinga (Dutch Historian)
Exciting News from the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative
As the summer winds to a close and we look to a new season of play, the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative has lots of playful news to report!
Work on the Elizabeth Street Parklet and Hazelwood Play Trail continues! Once planting and paving are complete, we'll host a community day in late September/early October. Stay tuned!
Our Recess Advocacy Team is hard at work looking at next steps. Sign up for our newsletter (first one coming soon!) to learn more.
We are in planning stages for a Play Convening to happen in Pittsburgh in October. Some goals are to deepen understanding about playful communities and the value of playful learning as well as to share our regional story of play as a change agent. More information coming soon.
We also continue to highlight playful opportunities in and around our region. Check out our events below!
As the summer winds to a close and we look to a new season of play, the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative has lots of playful news to report!
Work on the Elizabeth Street Parklet and Hazelwood Play Trail continues! Once planting and paving are complete, we'll host a community day in late September/early October. Stay tuned!
Our Recess Advocacy Team is hard at work looking at next steps. Sign up for our newsletter (first one coming soon!) to learn more.
We are in planning stages for a Play Convening to happen in Pittsburgh in October. Some goals are to deepen understanding about playful communities and the value of playful learning as well as to share our regional story of play as a change agent. More information coming soon.
We also continue to highlight playful opportunities in and around our region. Check out our events below!
Visit our website to learn more!
Events (Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative hosting or participating)
Alphabet Trail and Tales
Saturday, September 8, 2018
10:00am to 1:00pm
Blue Slide Park
Beechwood Blvd. at Nicholson Street
Sunday, September 9, 2018
11:00am to 2:00pm
Wightman Park
5612 Solway Street
Buzzword Pgh Talk & Play in Hazelwood
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
6:00pm to 7:00pm
KaBOOM! Playground and Elizabeth St. Parklet
5113 Lytle Street
Member Spotlight
Each month we will spotlight one of our wonderful partners and the work they do through audio collected and edited by SLB Radio.
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy - Click the name to hear conservancy staff discuss the importance of play in their work. Pittsbourgh Parks Conservancy is a founding member of the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative!
Monthly Blog
This article is part of our Member Blog Series, which showcases Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Members' efforts and commitment to ensure that play is a critical element in the lives of people of all ages. Each month, a different member organization will share their take on how play is a part of the work they do.
September 1, 2018
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Member Blog
Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse
Work Your Creative Muscles by Choosing to Reuse!
Our Creative Education Team meets a lot of people (especially adults!) who claim they aren’t creative. We respectfully but emphatically disagree! We believe that everyone has the capacity to be creative, they simply need to exercise their creative muscles. Play is a wonderful way to do this. Using reclaimed materials to enhance play can take this “creative workout” even further.
Most of our Creative Education activities are, in one way or another, a form of Loose Parts Play. Loose parts are wonderful for so many reasons: they are open-ended, they are movable, they are captivating, and they can be revisited again and again with different results. They provoke exploration and risk-taking.
“Ritual grew up in sacred play; poetry was born in play and nourished on play; music and dancing were pure play.... We have to conclude, therefore, that civilization is, in its earliest phases, played. It does not come from play...it arises in and as play, and never leaves it.”
— Johan Huizinga (Dutch Historian)
A Month in the World of Play
Whew!
What a whirlwind summer we're having! We hope you're finding time to play and enjoy each day. We've been busy at work (read: playing!) bringing play to the Pittsburgh region and having fun everyday! We've got exciting news to share in the coming months and hope you'll join us at one of our many play pop-ups around the city. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and stay tuned to our website's events calendar to learn more. Check out some images from our play pop-ups below and find more photos on our social media pages.
Whew!
What a whirlwind summer we're having! We hope you're finding time to play and enjoy each day. We've been busy at work (read: playing!) bringing play to the Pittsburgh region and having fun everyday! We've got exciting news to share in the coming months and hope you'll join us at one of our many play pop-ups around the city. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and stay tuned to our website's events calendar to learn more. Check out some images from our play pop-ups below and find more photos on our social media pages.
Events (Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative hosting or participating)
Every Tuesday until August 28th
4:00pm to 6:00pm
West Ohio Street near the closed bridge. Closure of the bridge has affected Gus's ice ball stand and this pop-up was established to bring more traffic while also offering fun activities! The Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative offers play activities for all ages!
KidsPlay
Every Tuesday until August 28th
10:00am to 11:30am
Market Square Downtown. Presented by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative partners to offer hands-on activities for young children.
Hazelwood YMCA Community Picnic
Saturday August 4th
2:00pm to 4:00pm
KaBOOM! Hazelwood (Lytle St.)
Presented by the Hazelwood YMCA, the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative will offer hands-on activities and information about the Hazelwood Play Trail.
fitUnited School Health Lunch+Learn
Monday August 27th
11:30am to 1:30pm
1250 Penn Avenue
The Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative's Recess Advocacy Team will present in partnership with Trying Together, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and United Way's Be There Campaign.
Member Spotlight
Each month we will spotlight one of our wonderful partners and the work they do through audio collected and edited by SLB Radio.
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP)- Click the link to hear hospital staff discuss the importance of play in the work of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Monthly Blog
This article is part of our Member Blog Series, which showcases Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Members' efforts and commitment to ensure that play is a critical element in the lives of people of all ages.
August 1, 2018
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Member Blog
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy - Frick Environmental Center
When nature gives you rain, make mud pies!
We’ve had record rainfall this year in Pittsburgh, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun outside. Mud--yes, mud--offers endless opportunities for sensory exploration and dramatic play. Or, as one source put it, “Mud is a versatile and under-rated material.”
In Kinder Nature Camp at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, we have a whole day dedicated to dirt! Campers spend the day learning what dirt is made of, what lives in it, and engage in various dirt related activities, the best of which involve mud.
For years, our Kinder Camp director wanted to find a way to help kids really immerse in mud play. This year, a plastic wading pool filled with soft topsoil provided the solution. Our youngest campers, ages 3-5, can take off their shoes, squish the mud between their toes (or fingers), and step out onto paper to make footprints, handprints, and more. Once kids get in the pool, other possibilities arise. One group built a mud “snowperson!”
"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
— Fred Rogers
How are You Making Time to PLAY?
The word PLAY evokes something different for each of us. Here at the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative we think it's important to find a way to play everyday. Find that moment of joy in everyday and share it with someone. Or join us at one of the many events where we'll be playful this month!
Progress continues on the Elizabeth Street Parklet as part of the Hazelwood Play Trail. Check back soon to learn more about our Community Day/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony/Trail Marking when the parklet is complete!
The word PLAY evokes something different for each of us. Here at the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative we think it's important to find a way to play everyday. Find that moment of joy in everyday and share it with someone. Or join us at one of the many events where we'll be playful this month!
Progress continues on the Elizabeth Street Parklet as part of the Hazelwood Play Trail. Check back soon to learn more about our Community Day/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony/Trail Marking when the parklet is complete!
Events
Every Tuesday in July and August
4:00pm to 6:00pm
West Ohio Street on the Northside near Gus and YiaYia's ice ball cart
In partnership with Northside Leadership Conference and City of Pittsburgh Mayor's Office - Each week we will bring playful activities for all ages
KidsPlay
Every Tuesday in July and August
10:00am to 11:30am
Market Square Downtown
In partnership with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership - Each week we'll have fun playful activities for kids and families
Member Spotlight
Each month we will spotlight one of our wonderful partners and the work they do through audio collected and edited by SLB Radio.
Venture Outdoors - Click the name to hear Venture Outdoors staff discuss the importance of play in the work their organization. Check out our member page to learn more about why Venture Outdoors is a partner of the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative!
Monthly Blog
This article is part of our Member Blog Series, which showcases Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Members' efforts and commitment to ensure that play is a critical element in the lives of people of all ages. Each month, a different member organization will share their take on how play is a part of the work they do.
July 1, 2018
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Member Blog
Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center
Pretend Play - Why it's important to your child's learning
Many parents have asked over the years why children would be encouraged to engage in pretend play in the housekeeping, woodworking and block play areas in a preschool classroom and/or infant/toddler setting. It’s important for your child to be ready for kindergarten and are questioning what early childhood professionals are thinking. Pretend play for both boys and girls in the various areas of the room greatly contributes to their respective learning process and integrates their understanding of their life experiences.
"It is a happy talent to know how to play."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Time for Play is Now! Exciting News from the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative...
It's time to play!
The 6th annual Ultimate Play Day at August Wilson Park was a huge success! If you weren't able to join us, check out some great images from the day (photos courtesy:Ben Filio)! Be sure to visit our FaceBook and Twitter for more photos.
We're thrilled to announce that the Collaborative received grant funds from The Great Remake to offer PLAY for all and bring play to more communities in the upcoming year. More info to come soon!
It's time to play!
The 6th annual Ultimate Play Day at August Wilson Park was a huge success! If you weren't able to join us, check out some great images from the day (photos courtesy:Ben Filio)! Be sure to visit our FaceBook and Twitter for more photos.
We're thrilled to announce that the Collaborative received grant funds from The Great Remake to offer PLAY for all and bring play to more communities in the upcoming year. More info to come soon!
Member Spotlight
Each month we will spotlight one of our wonderful partners and the work they do through audio collected and edited by SLB Radio.
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh - Click the name to hear hospital staff discuss the importance of play in the work of the Children's Hospital. We're honored to have Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh as a member organization!
Monthly Blog
This article is part of our Member Blog Series, which showcases Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Members' efforts and commitment to ensure that play is a critical element in the lives of people of all ages. Each month, a different member organization will share their take on how play is a part of the work they do.
June 1, 2017
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Member Blog
United Way of Southwestern PA's fitUnited
Making More Spaces for Play
Racing down the slide. Trying to touch the sky with each pump of your legs on the swing. Making memories with your friends. Thinking about all the ways you can play at a park or playground yet?
Call to Action
Are you a parent, caregiver or educator in Allegheny County with children in grades Pre-K through 6th grade? The Recess Advocacy Team would like to know how you feel about recess! Take our recess survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/recessAlleghenyCounty
Update: The survey is currently closed.
Check out our website for all things Playful Pittsburgh!
"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
— Fred Rogers
Thank You for Joining Us at Ultimate Play Day!
We hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did! This event was a part of Remake Learning Days, a collection of hands-on, relevant and engaging educational experiences in neighborhoods across southwest Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
We have some pictures posted on the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative websitealready, so be sure to check those out and tag us on social media with any photos you took!
We hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did! This event was a part of Remake Learning Days, a collection of hands-on, relevant and engaging educational experiences in neighborhoods across southwest Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
We have some pictures posted on the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative website already, so be sure to check those out and tag us on social media with any photos you took!
We value your feedback, as it would allow us to further improve upon future events. If you have not done so already, please complete the Remake Learning Days survey. Ultimate Play Day is listed as event 1106 in the dropdown menu. Fill Out the Survey Now!
"Play is the highest form of research."
— Albert Einstein
6th Annual Ultimate Play Day Sunday, May 20th 1-4 pm
Won't you join us for a day of play?
This Sunday, May 20th 2018 from 1-4 pm the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative will be hosting the 6th annual Ultimate Play Day at August Wilson Park in the Hill District and we hope you'll join us! This free and open to the public event is held in a different location each year in order to highlight the many wonderful playful assets Pittsburgh has to offer. If you haven't been to August Wilson Park it's a park to see! Check out some photos below, courtesy of our wonderful partner, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
Won't you join us for a day of play?
This Sunday, May 20th 2018 from 1-4 pm the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative will be hosting the 6th annual Ultimate Play Day at August Wilson Park in the Hill District and we hope you'll join us! This free and open to the public event is held in a different location each year in order to highlight the many wonderful playful assets Pittsburgh has to offer. If you haven't been to August Wilson Park it's a park to see! Check out some photos below, courtesy of our wonderful partner, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
"Play is the highest form of research."
— Albert Einstein
Play is in the Air with the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative
We're so excited you've decided to join us in play!
If you found us through FaceBook, Twitter, a web search leading you to our website, NEXTPittsburgh or at one of the many wonderful events where we've been playing recently, welcome! And if you've been following us for awhile, thank you for being a part of our playful community!
We've had many exciting things going on and are thrilled to share them with you. Don't forget to come out and play with us at Ultimate Play Day on Sunday May 20th from 1-4 pm at August Wilson Park. We'll have so many fun activities for you we're not sure 3 hours will leave you enough time! Join us for a FREE day of play.
We're so excited you've decided to join us in play!
If you found us through FaceBook, Twitter, a web search leading you to our website, NEXTPittsburgh or at one of the many wonderful events where we've been playing recently, welcome! And if you've been following us for awhile, thank you for being a part of our playful community!
We've had many exciting things going on and are thrilled to share them with you. Don't forget to come out and play with us at Ultimate Play Day on Sunday May 20th from 1-4 pm at August Wilson Park. We'll have so many fun activities for you we're not sure 3 hours will leave you enough time! Join us for a FREE day of play.
Visit our website to learn more!
EVENTS
Ultimate Play Day 2018
Sunday May 20th, 2018
1:00pm - 4:00pm
August Wilson Park
Join us for the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative's 6th annual day of play!
Hazelwood Family Yoga
Wednesday May 2nd, 2018
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Carnegie Library - Hazelwood
MEMBER BLOG
This article is part of our Member Blog Series, which showcases Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Members' efforts and commitment to ensure that play is a critical element in the lives of people of all ages. Each month, a different member organization will share their take on how play is a part of the work they do.
May 1, 2018
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Member Blog
Venture Outdoors
Play
What does being outside mean to you? Take a moment and think. Maybe it’s a sanctuary—a place to escape a high-crime neighborhood, leave the city and smell fresh air, or just be free.
For me, the outdoors means fun. As a little girl I was painfully shy, and the outdoors was one of the only places I could relax. Moving around took my mind off being self-conscious, and I could play with other kids without feeling anxiety. Most of my happy childhood memories are from playing outside with my sisters. Whether it be sliding around in mud, catching fireflies, raking leaves, or throwing snowballs, there was something fun to do no matter the season. Play and the outdoors go hand in hand.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Each month we will spotlight one of our wonderful partners and the work they do through audio collected and edited by SLB Radio.
Carnegie Museum of Art (CMoA)- Click the name to hear museum staff discuss the importance of play in the work of the museum. CMoA is a founding member of the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative!
"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
— Fred Rogers
Pittsburgh: A Playful City!
Let's Play!
We could not be more excited to share with you the newest publication about play in Pittsburgh! If Kids Built a City: Possibilities for Play in Pittsburgh is a beautiful booklet put together by Root + All with generous support from The Grable Foundation. View the pdf via the link above or as a pdf on our website.
Ever wonder how many parks are in Pittsburgh? Or where you can borrow a cake pan shaped like a skeleton? Did you ever walk one of Pittsburgh's famous city steps and wonder how many there are? Check out the publication to read more about play in Pittsburgh.
Let's Play!
We could not be more excited to share with you the newest publication about play in Pittsburgh! If Kids Built a City: Possibilities for Play in Pittsburgh is a beautiful booklet put together by Root + All with generous support from The Grable Foundation. View the pdf via the link above or as a pdf on our website.
Ever wonder how many parks are in Pittsburgh? Or where you can borrow a cake pan shaped like a skeleton? Did you ever walk one of Pittsburgh's famous city steps and wonder how many there are? Check out the publication to read more about play in Pittsburgh.
Visit our website to learn more!
EVENTS
Inclusive Innovation Week at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh **
Wednesday April 4, 2018
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
Guided Nature Walk
Friday April 6, 2018
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Frick Environmental Center
Saturday April 21, 2018
11:30am - 4:00pm
Frick Environmental Center
ARTventures: Print Making Sundays
Sundays in April
12:30pm - 4:30pm
Carnegie Museum of Art
** Look for the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative table at these events
Save the Date: May 20, 2018 for Ultimate Play Day
Member Blog
This article is part of our Member Blog Series, which showcases Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Members' efforts and commitment to ensure that play is a critical element in the lives of people of all ages. Each month, a different member organization will share their take on how play is a part of the work they do.
April 1, 2018
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Member Blog
Phipps Conservatory
Ways to Play at Phipps Conservatory
At Let’s Move Pittsburgh, we believe in the importance of daily play! With the first month of spring underway, the many different ways to play at Phipps Conservatory are more exciting than ever! The main conservatory pathway within Phipps Conservatory alone is over 2,500 feet! That’s 2,695.7 feet of space to hop and jump and stroll and wiggle through, to be exact.
In addition to the beautiful main conservatory space, there is also the outdoor play garden, which features the bug hotel, a space designed to be the perfect home for native bugs! This play garden also has a lot of other play spaces and fun activities for kids and adults to interact with like fountains, musical instruments and even a misting station!
"A good laugh is sunshine in the house."
— William Thackeray
Are you finding time to PLAY?
What does play look like to you? How do you define play? How can we find more time to play? All of these are important questions that we seek to answer everyday. Sometimes it's fidgeting with a device while sitting at your desk, or maybe it's finding time to walk outside during the day or on a beautiful night. Sometimes it's at a playground, sometimes it's a board game at home. Whatever way you define play, no matter how small or how large, find time to do it when you can!
Take a look at some pictures below from a mini pop-up play day at the Carnegie Library in Hazelwood with some students learning to build and work as a team last week!
We'll continue to provide and highlight opportunities in and around Pittsburgh for play and are always excited to partner in new and exciting ways!
We look forward to playing soon!
What does play look like to you? How do you define play? How can we find more time to play? All of these are important questions that we seek to answer everyday. Sometimes it's fidgeting with a device while sitting at your desk, or maybe it's finding time to walk outside during the day or on a beautiful night. Sometimes it's at a playground, sometimes it's a board game at home. Whatever way you define play, no matter how small or how large, find time to do it when you can!
Take a look at some pictures below from a mini pop-up play day at the Carnegie Library in Hazelwood with some students learning to build and work as a team last week!
We'll continue to provide and highlight opportunities in and around Pittsburgh for play and are always excited to partner in new and exciting ways!
We look forward to playing soon!
EVENTS
Saturday, March 3, 2018
12:00pm to 4:00pm
Carnegie Museum of Art (repeats on Sunday!)
Hazelwood Family Yoga
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Carnegie Library - Hazelwood
Family Hike with a Naturalist: Nocturnal Animals
Saturday, March 10, 2018
6:00pm to 7:30pm
Frick Environmental Center
Pot O' Gold Geocaching
Saturday, March17, 2018
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Schenley Park
Member Blog
These articles are part of our Member Blog Series, which showcases Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative PLAYers' efforts and commitment to ensure that play is a critical element in the lives of people of all ages. Each month, a different PLAYer organization will share their take on how play is a part of the work they do.
March 1, 2018
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Member Blog
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Playtime at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Family Playshop
As we adults go about our busy modern lives, we often forget why young children need to play. It's easy to overlook that long before parents send their child to meet their first preschool or kindergarten teacher, children are learning with their families.
Play is an essential way that parents are their child's first and most important teachers. Every interaction a child has in the early years helps to form synapses, or connections, in the brain, building the physical infrastructure for future learning.
February 1, 2018
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Member Blog
Carnegie Museum of Art
The Art of Play
Last Saturday, I spent the better part of an hour with a young 7th grade artist in The Art Connection (TAC), the longstanding program for children in grades 5-9 at Carnegie Museum of Art, trying to figure out how to best peel the outside layer off of a golf ball. (I had no idea it was pink inside! But, according to my young friend with obvious prior experience, not all are pink. “It depends on the brand,” he said casually). Pliers, a coping saw, a nail and hammer. Some mild success. I was totally engrossed. My new friend was working on his latest project, where students were challenged to transform a functional, everyday object into something extraordinary. Generous enough to include me in his process, this young student and I were engaged in experimental play — a familiar state for an artist. That’s how we do what we do, after all.
"It is a happy talent to know how to play."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Februrary Newsletter
Hello!
We hope that wherever you are, you're staying warm and finding time for play everyday! February is a month of planning, playing and project management here at the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative.
Planning is underway for Ultimate Play Day 2018 at August Wilson Park in Pittsburgh's Hill District neighborhood. Our many partners and new community stakeholders are hard at work putting together an exciting day of play and exploration. Be sure to put Sunday, May 20th on your calendar! We're playing as much as we can, including our first mini pop-up play day in partnership with the Carnegie Library in Hazelwood on February 22nd. Check our events page to learn more! And for project management, the Hazelwood Play Trail is continuing to grow with community conversations and planning for the Elizabeth Street Project, the next stage of the play trail!
We look forward to playing together soon!
Hello!
We hope that wherever you are, you're staying warm and finding time for play everyday! February is a month of planning, playing and project management here at the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative.
Planning is underway for Ultimate Play Day 2018 at August Wilson Park in Pittsburgh's Hill District neighborhood. Our many partners and new community stakeholders are hard at work putting together an exciting day of play and exploration. Be sure to put Sunday, May 20th on your calendar! We're playing as much as we can, including our first mini pop-up play day in partnership with the Carnegie Library in Hazelwood on February 22nd. Check our events page to learn more! And for project management, the Hazelwood Play Trail is continuing to grow with community conversations and planning for the Elizabeth Street Project, the next stage of the play trail!
We look forward to playing together soon!
Events
Saturday, February 10, 2018
10:00am - 11:30am
Frick Environmental Center
ARTventures: Art Cat's Sketchbook
Saturday, February 10, 2018
12:30pm - 4:30pm
Carnegie Museum of Art
Every Saturday and Sunday until March 4!
Creative Conundrum Lab
Sunday, February 11, 2018
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse
Saturday, February 10, 2018
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Carnegie Museum of Art
Every Saturday and Sunday until March 4!
Wintergarden Yoga
Sunday, February 11, 2018
10:00am - 11:00am
PPG Wintergarden
Every Sunday in February!
Pop-up Play Day - Rigamajig!
Thursday, February 22, 2018
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Hazelwood
The first of many Pop-up Play Days!
Member Blog
This article is the first of a guest written blog as part of our Member Blog Series, which typically showcases Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Members' efforts and commitment to ensure that play is a critical element in the lives of people of all ages. Each month, a different member organization will share their take on how play is a part of the work they do. The Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative hopes that these stories of play from our diverse set of member organizations will encourage and inspire leaders in communities, businesses, schools, and families to prioritize play every day. This guest blog written by Brendan Hufford, a veteran teacher who believes creating healthier children starts with play.
February 8, 2018
Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Blog
Finding the perfect family-friendly place can be tricky. Aside from wanting your children to have a great time while learning, playing and appreciating the trip, you want to enjoy it too. But, it’s possible to get both. Here are a few places that both you and your children can enjoy without having to leave the city.
"We need to remember that children are trying, too -- trying to understand their feelings and their world, trying to please the people they love, trying to grow. When grownups and children are trying together, just about anything can be possible."
— Fred Rogers