The Mattapoisett YMCA is already one of the Southcoast’s most accessible natural settings for children to learn and have positive experiences in nature. Now, the staff at the YMCA is excited about a new design for an outdoor certified Nature Explore classroom that will offer children an outdoor space where they can engage in activities to help them further appreciate and understand the natural world.
Joe Marciszyn, the executive director at the Mattapoisett YMCA, said now that he has a conceptual plan in hand, the next step will be raising the funds to construct the outdoor classroom and go before the required town boards and commissions for the proper permits. Basically, the plan is still in Phase I.
Staff gathered for what Marciszyn called “a huge planning” meeting on December 10, 2013 to discuss the concept of creating the Nature Explore space, an idea Child Care Director Tricia Weaver came up with while visiting the Hidden Hollow at the Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich one day.
Weaver said she envisioned an outdoor space “where kids could be outside and learning and enjoying nature.” She said that when she saw the Sandwich Nature Explore classroom, she had one thing only on her mind.
“That this was the perfect location for one,” said Weaver. She clearly envisioned a thoughtfully-designed outdoor space for kids to climb, build, dig, make music, and experiment with the elements at the Mattapoisett YMCA.
“We want to bring that kind of experience to Mattapoisett,” said Marciszyn. “A place where kids and their families can truly come on the weekends and be in the environment.”
A place, simply, to unplug while plugging into nature.
Marciszyn said the engineer came out to the site and came up with a couple of different conceptual plans before deciding on which one best fit the site.
The majority of the space for the Nature Explore area is east of the existing pavilion, which will be incorporated into the design.
The dirt road that passes the pavilion would be reconfigured to accommodate the various stations within the outdoor classroom that includes an open-space area and designated areas for music and movement, “messy materials,” building, nature art, climbing, and gardening. All of these components, including a gathering area, are required in order for the space to be accepted as a certified Nature Explore classroom.
Instead of just constructing a playground with swings and slides and standard play equipment, Marciszyn said the staff “wanted something different.”
“Something with its roots in nature versus the plastic stuff,” said Marciszyn.
The YMCA will hold a “Party with a Purpose” luau fundraiser on Mattapoisett Harbor on September 26 from 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm. Tickets are $50 and are available at the Y or online at www.ymcasouthcoast.org. Proceeds will help fund the next phase in the development of the Nature Explore Classroom.
Nature Explore is a collaborative program of Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation.
By Jean Perry
