Thanks to Inver Grove Ford and FoodSmith for their support.
Garlough Environmental Magnet School recently added a natural playground. It’s a collection of giant logs in a loose circle next to their existing playground and along the River-to-River Greenway trail. It expands possibilities for kids to play.
“I think the pure size of the logs was shocking to many kids,” said Abby Foss, a Garlough kindergarten teacher and member of the School Forest Committee that made the natural playground happen. “It was fun for them to see how high they were when they climbed on top of a log.”
Why a natural playground?: “Some of the greatest benefits of a natural playground is that it encourages creativity and imaginative play, while also promoting physical activity and strengthening gross motor skills,” said Foss. “Unlike a traditional playground where most items have a specific purpose (swing, slide, monkey bars, etc.), the items in the nature playground are relatively undefined.”
What do the kids do?: Whatever they can imagine. They play hide and seek, balance as they walk across the top of the logs, or just sit and have conversations.
- “One moment a group of logs may become a spaceship ready to launch, and the next moment those same logs help a student realize they can climb, balance, and jump in new ways!” said Foss.
- Last week a couple kindergarteners told Garlough’s magnet coordinator Kim Benton they were playing “cat guardians.” Another group of first grade students invited her to shop in their wood chip store.
- “Students are allowed to add small logs, branches, and sticks to the area,” said Foss. “Staff use this time to guide students in how they can be safe while playing with these items.”
- “They’re using it lots of different ways,” said Benton. “When we talked about making it, I don’t think we had any idea of what the kids would do, we just wanted to offer a place for them to do those kinds of things.”
How It Came Together
The School Forest Committee talked about adding a natural playground in October, but it came together in late January. Benton saw Southview Country Club taking down a giant tree while driving to Petco on Robert Street. She called and asked if Garlough could get the logs, and they said yes.
Timeline: “As soon as I made that call, it just snowballed very quickly,” said Benton. “It was done in three weeks.”
Lots of help: Southview Country Club donated the logs, a West St. Paul parks maintenance crew member carefully positioned the logs, wedging them in place so they wouldn’t roll and trimming the rough, splintery sections, an ISD 197 facilities crew dropped off mulch, and Garlough students helped spread the mulch.
Reaction: “The natural playground was built primarily during the school day, so students were able to experience the stages of development,” said Foss. “They saw dump trucks delivering the logs, and they watched the West St. Paul parks crew use chainsaws and a skid loader to place each log. This helped build anticipation. When the playground was open for play and discovery, the wide-eyed grins on the students’ faces said it all.”
What Is the School Forest Committee?
It’s a group of parents, teachers, and community members that work to keep the forest healthy and find ways teachers can use the forest for learning. A school forester recently walked the 40-acre property with Benton, gauging forest health and making notes for future projects.
- “What can we do now to help make sure this forest is here 20 years out?” Benton said. “Because trees take a very long time to grow.”
Projects: Their past work includes adding a new trail to Garlough Park. Future projects include creating gathering spots for teaching, making a map of the forest, and enhancing “Chipmunk Park” (a beloved section of the forest with a tree fort).
Get involved: Any community members interested in joining the School Forest Committee can reach out to Kim Benton.
More Natural Playgrounds?
The West St. Paul parks department is learning from the experience and hoping to add more natural playgrounds. They’re watching for logs they could potentially use in the renovated Kennedy Park to create elements of a natural playground on a smaller scale.
We keep the community informed thanks to the generous support of our members.
