Online Training

Upcoming Live Training Sessions

Featured:
Designing Early Childhood Play Environments
July 14, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time
Guest presenter: JC Boushh
Register here
The act of play is a crucial component in the successful growth of the brain, body, and intellect, and playgrounds by their very name are grounds on which to play. Properly designed early childhood playgrounds provide a safe environment designed specifically to foster and enhance the opportunities for a child to play alone, with a caregiver, or with other children. Participants will learn about the elements of outdoor playground design for children 2-5 years old, learn how to incorporate a variety of early childhood design features, and to facilitate children’s play value by the combination of setting, challenge, and opportunity, which facilitates fully engaged exploration of the environment during independent, self-directed time.

Fundraising 101
July 15, 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Register here

• Develop a budget for your community project
• Utilize our database of 100+ fundraising ideas
• Prepare fundraising strategies for individual giving,
  corporate sponsorship, foundation grants and special events.

Introduction to Imagination Playground in a Box
July 16, 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Register here
Learn:

• The three main components of Imagination Playground in a BOX
• Preliminary results of testing the concept in three different locations
• Where to find an Imagination Playground in a BOX near you
  

Engaging Your Community Past Build Day
July 17, 3:00 p.m. Eastern time
Register here
Learn:

• How to celebrate you build’s success
• Strategies for developing a playground programming committee
• Three programming events to keep folks returning to the playspace

On-Demand Training Sessions

Building Nature Play Back Into Your Community
May 12, 2009
Presenters: Martha Erickson, MaryLynn Pulscher, Mary Vidas, Melissa Hanson
Listen to a free recording

• Learn about the current realities of outdoor play
• Get ideas for starting programs in your neighborhood
• Examine case studies on how free-range play is being brought back to communities across the country

Fundraising 101
Allie Taylor & Tiffiney Carney
April 13, 2009
Listen to a free recording

• Learn how to develop a budget for your community project
• Research our database of 100+ fundraising ideas
• Prepare fundraising strategies for individual giving, corporate sponsorship, foundation grants and special events

Crisis in the Kindergarten
June 2, 2009
Presenters: Joan Almon and Edward Miller
Listen to a free recording
KaBOOM! has partnered with the Alliance for Childhood to bring you Crisis in the Kindergarten: Why Children Need to Play in School, based on the Alliance's new research report with the same title. Time for play in many kindergartens has dwindled, replaced by lengthy lessons and standardized testing. This webinar, with report authors Joan Almon and Ed Miller, will include recent research findings on just how little time children have available for play and recommendations for creating more playful classrooms. Read the Alliance for Childhood’s new report (pdf). Read some additional questions and answers from the webinar (pdf).

• Learn to employ an eight step guide to planning a community led project
• Discover the Asset-Based approach to community projects.
• Identify and activate committees essential to success.

Incorporating Service Learning Into Your Build Day
Kathryn Lusk & Kiva Wilson
Feb 24, 2009
Listen to a free recording

• Learn how to structure a Service Learning Team
• Learn how to implement four Service Learning projects

• Identify the three primary grant maker types
• Locate grant opportunities
• Prepare succinct yet compelling grant proposals.

The Benefits of Nature Play
Erin Baker
February 12, 2009
Listen to a free recording

• Learn the current definition of nature play
• Research identifying how nature play impacts children’s behavior positively
• Discover how to infuse nature play into your playspace
  

Incorporating Loose and Found Parts Into Play
Erin Baker
March 18, 2009
Listen to a free recording

• Learn the theory of Loose Parts
• Locate resources for reusable loose parts
• Discover the cognitive, social-emotional and physical benefits of play with loose and found parts

• Learn the history of Adventure Playgrounds
• Discover the roles and activities of a Play Worker and Associate
• Identify the core principles of play

Introduction to Imagination Playground in a BOX
Erin Baker
March 27, 2009
Listen to a free recording

• Learn the three main components of Imagination Playground in a BOX
• Hear preliminary results of testing the concept in three different locations
• Discover where to find an Imagination Playground in a BOX near you

KaBOOM! Tools:

• Learn who is in the Alumni Network cohort
• Find resources and tools are available to network members
• Join the network

Introduction to 100,000 Playspaces in 100 Days
Listen to a free recording

Playful City USA Part II: Developing an Action Plan for Play
Tia Hodges
Duration: 60 minutes
Listen to a free recording

• Develop concrete action steps for your community’s Action Plan
• Reach out and engage elected officials
• Hear examples from previous Playful City USA communities
  

Playful City USA Part III: Performing a Playspace Audit with the KaBOOM! Playspace Finder
April 8, 2009
Tia Hodges & Jason Cooper
Listen to a free recording

• Learn how to use the KaBOOM! Playspace Finder
• Get core requirements of a playspace audit
• Learn ways to release results of your audit

Playful City USA Part IV: Answering Your Playful City USA Questions
Tia Hodges
March 11, 2009
Listen to a free recording

• Get answers to any lingering questions you may have about the Playful City USA application

• Learn to integrate the Playful City USA framework for promoting play in your community
• Identify the benefits of Playful City USA recognition
• Acquire resources to support Playful City USA application efforts

Children’s Health: The Value of Playgrounds
JC Boushh
February 13, 2009
Listen to a free recording

• Research studies linking play with children’s creativity and imagination
• Learn play’s role in strengthening a child’s immune system
• Discover the value of play in enhancing children’s motor coordination and attentiveness

Why Play Matters
Recorded Nov. 20, 2008
Presenter: JC Boushh
Duration: 60 minutes
Listen to a free recording

• Distinguish the benefits of structured vs. unstructured play
• Discover the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits of play
• Learn the seven types of play
  

Playgrounds, Mental Health and Brain Development
Duration: 60 minutes
Listen to a free recording

• Understand the relationship between physical activity and neurogenesis
• Learn how play activates the vestibular system
• Discover research demonstrating the relationship between brain stimulation and novelty of play