Links
Alliance for Childhood - The Alliance for Childhood promotes policies and practices that support children’s healthy development, love of learning, and joy in living.
America's Promise Alliance - America’s Promise Alliance is a cross-sector partnership of more than 300 corporations, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and advocacy groups that are passionate about improving lives and changing outcomes for children. They have made a top priority of ensuring that all young people graduate from high school ready for college, work and life.
Children & Nature Network - The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) was created to encourage and support the people and organizations working worldwide to reconnect children with nature. C&NN provides access to the latest news and research in the field and a peer-to-peer network of researchers and individuals, educators and organizations dedicated to children's health and well-being.
KaBOOM! - KaBOOM! is a national non-profit dedicated to saving play for America's children. KaBOOM strives to create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities. Ultimately, they envision a place to play within walking distance of every child in America.
Let's Move - Let's Move is a campaign developed by First Lady Michelle Obama presenting a plan for providing play and healthy choices for kids and parents.
National Centre on Accessibility (NCA) - The National Center on Accessibility promotes access and inclusion for people with disabilities in parks, recreation and tourism. Based at Indiana University and established in 1992 through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service, NCA has emerged as a leading authority on access issues unique to park and recreation programs and facilities.
National Physical Activity Plan - The National Physical Activity Plan is comprised of a growing collection of organizations and individuals dedicated to developing a plan that will empower all Americans to be physically active every day.
Natural Learning Initiative - The purpose of the Natural Learning Initiative is to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children, through environmental design, action research, education, and dissemination of information.
NFL Play 60 - NFL Play 60 is a national youth health and fitness campaign sponsored by the National Football League. NFL Play 60 encourages kids to be active for at least 60 minutes a day.
Playworks - Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that supports learning by providing safe, healthy and inclusive play and physical activity to schools at recess and throughout the entire school day.
Sajai Foundation - The mission at the Säjai Foundation is to teach children about how to live a healthier life by encouraging them to get outdoors, to get active and to make smart nutrition decisions.
The Strong Museum - National Museum of Play - The Strong® is a highly interactive, collections-based educational institution devoted to the study and exploration of play. Independent and not-for-profit, The Strong is situated in Rochester, New York, where it houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to play. These enable a multifaceted array of research, exhibition, and other interpretive activities that serve a diverse audience of adults, families, children, students, teachers, scholars, collectors, and others around the globe.
Voice of Play - From the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association, the Voice of Play's goal is to increase the awareness and education of the benefits of children's play.
Where do the Children Play? - Where Do the Children Play? is a one-hour documentary for public television that examines how restrictive patterns of sprawl, congestion, and endless suburban development across America are impacting children's mental and physical health and development.
Zest Quest® - The mission of Zest Quest® is to create an environment that educates and inspires children and their communities to lead physically, emotionally and intellectually healthier lives. Through a unique, interactive, standards-based curriculum and associated programs, Zest Quest® seeks to give each individual the knowledge and tools to live a healthy lifestyle.
"Play Unplugged" initiative kickoff in Largo Central Park - March 10 - "Play Unplugged" is designed to help parents, caregivers and local service providers address the barriers and fears impeding children's free play. The initiative kicks off with an event March 10 at Largo Central Park. With the help of Pop Up Adventure Play, a New York-based play advocacy organization, the park will be filled with hands-on-games, discovery stations and a plethora of recycled materials including old refrigerator boxes, pieces of old fabric and scraps of wood and paper. Organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, will be conducting tree climbing lessons. Along with the large event on March 10, the following Monday, McMahon will hold a "train the trainer'' day for caregivers from day care centers throughout Pinellas County. The program will provide more discussion on free play.
Certified Interpretive Trainers Course in Charlotte, NC - April 16 to April 20 - The National Association of Interpreters (NAI) is hosting a Certified Interpretive Trainers (CIT) course at the Reedy Creek Nature Center in Charlotte, NC. Completing this course will help interpreters demonstrate they have skills and knowledge to perform effectively. The course is open to any interested individuals, but is of particular interest to those working in nature centers, museums, zoos, living history sites, etc.
26th International Council for Children's Play (ICCP) World Play Conference - June 17 to June 20 - The 26th ICCP World Play Conference will be held in Tallinn, Estonia on the 18 and 19 June 2012, organised in co-operation with Tallinn University and the Estonian Union for Child Welfare. Children need time and space to play as part of their everyday lives. 'Play' is provided and organised in many different forms, from educational activities for pre-school children to childcare services for school-aged children; from playwork settings to youth services; from outdoor play to play in the virtual environment for children of all ages; from sports and leisure activities for young children and teenagers; and many, many more. This conference will explore what can be learnt from research about the provision of play by adults in the light of the widely-held view of children's need for undirected time and space in their lives from a practical, philosophical and historical perspective.