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Foresters knows the impact of a playground

Posted by KaBOOM! on June 4, 2012
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“There’s nothing better than running around on a playground and in the grass and having a good time. The value of a playground in your community is immeasurable.”

So says a volunteer at a recent playground build made possible by KaBOOM! National Partner Foresters. It’s hard to argue against the value of a playground. “Speaking from experience,” says another volunteer, “I grew up where there wasn’t one… I’m happy that I can help a kid say, 'I was able to play at a playground.'”

In 2012, Foresters will build 20 playgrounds and support 26 DIY playground improvement projects, providing children and their families with a safe place to spend quality time together and have fun. Three builds in Atlanta, Houston, and Los Angeles (pictured) have already been completed. 

In addition to building playgrounds with KaBOOM!, Foresters is a member of the Leadership Circle within the KaBOOM! National Partner Program. This means Foresters provides long-term guidance and support for KaBOOM! by investing in programs that have a lasting impact on the well-being of families.

See more on the impact of a Foresters Playground Build:

Learn about how you can impact your community with Foresters at MyForesters.com.

 

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Infographic shows how KaBOOM! playgrounds spark community change

Posted by KaBOOM! on May 24, 2012
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We know KaBOOM! helps communities build playgrounds in a matter of weeks, but a new study proves what we have seen anecdotally from more than 2,100 playground builds since our founding in 1996: that our impact goes beyond a healthy playspace for kids.

A report by Knight Foundation finds that KaBOOM! projects help volunteers and local organizations cultivate the skills, confidence and inspiration they need to get more involved in their communities. KaBOOM!: Playgrounds that Build Communities provides lessons for groups seeking to engage volunteers in community change efforts. Key to the success is our approach. KaBOOM! offers a highly structured playbook that yields a quick, achievable win motivating people to become more engaged in improving neighborhoods.

This great infographic from Knight Foundation illustrates how our playgrounds spark community change:

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Playing for a day at the White House

Posted by KaBOOM! on April 11, 2012
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We at KaBOOM! play every day, but usually not at the White House.

On Monday, April 9, we participated in the 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll. We teamed up with the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition at the 'Eggtivity Zone,' which got kids moving on the South Lawn of the White House:

 

First Daughter Sasha Obama enjoyed making her way through the obstacle course we made with an Imagination Playground:

 

Kids were naturally curious about the Imagination Playground, made of loose parts and designed to spark creativity:

 

Children came out in their Sunday best for the occasion. But that didn’t stop them from playing hard and having fun!

 

First Lady Michelle Obama stopped by the Eggtivity Zone to cheer on the kids!

 

The First Family came out to play, with the Easter Bunny in tow. Approximately 35,000 people attended the annual event throughout the day:

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We can’t let the Play Deficit hurt our children

Posted by KaBOOM! on April 10, 2012
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by Paula Jenkins

I’ve been a teacher for 21 years. And through my work, I’ve seen the Play Deficit first hand.

Since I began teaching, the number of hours kids spend outside playing has plummeted. Kids are spending more and more time behind TV and computer screens. And equipment like swings are being pulled from school playgrounds because they are considered "too dangerous."

We can’t let the Play Deficit hurt our children. We must let them play.

Play is crucial to healthy social, emotional, and cognitive development. Every day, I see kids learning important lessons on the playground. And I’m sure you can understand how grateful I am when they return to class calm and focused after running around with their friends.

Please join me and other educators and help KaBOOM! fight the Play Deficit.  Be a part of their Spring Donor Drive and your gift will be matched dollar for dollar by the A. L. Mailman Foundation.

Right now, their goal is 365 donors to help KaBOOM! support a 50-state attack on the Play Deficit by helping:

  • Build playgrounds in disadvantaged communities.
  • Create an interactive map so they can identify cities where the Play Deficit is most rampant – and concentrate their efforts there.
  • Ensure that at least one model playful city exists in each and every state. Their Playful City USA program provides grants to municipalities that offer innovative programs to get children active, playing, and healthy.

Investing in children is investing in all our futures. Please help and let them play everyday.
 

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Join our national effort to map every playground in America

Posted by KaBOOM! on April 6, 2012
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Currently only one in five children lives within walking distance of a playground -- and you can help us change that. Are you ready to do some good? Join our national effort to map and rate every playground in America, and help us activate 200,000 people to do the same.

How? It's easy:

  1. Watch this video
  2. Vote for us in the "What Would You Do With 200,000 GOOD Friends?" Challenge
  3. Download our mobile app and map away!

Feel inspired? Vote for us, then start mapping!

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Will you help KaBOOM! fight the Play Deficit?

Posted by KaBOOM! on April 2, 2012
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by Danielle Marshall, Director of Community Engagement

Our enemy isn’t a person. It doesn’t have a voice. It doesn’t jump out of the shadows.
But it’s an enemy nonetheless. It’s the Play Deficit. And it’s a real threat to our children.

Right now, an overwhelming majority of kids don’t have a safe place to play within walking distance of their home. Recess at school is on the chopping block across the country. And the public playspaces that do exist are often in disrepair.

We can’t let the Play Deficit hurt our children. We must let them play.

Children need play to grow into healthy adults, much as they need food, shelter, and love. Without play, kids fail to develop necessary skills like problem–solving, creativity, and perseverance.

Will you help KaBOOM! fight the Play Deficit? Be a part of our Spring Donor Drive and your gift will be matched dollar for dollar by the A. L. Mailman Foundation.

Our goal is 365 donors to help support our 50-state assault on the Play Deficit. You can help KaBOOM!:

  • Build playgrounds in disadvantaged communities.
     
  • Create an interactive map so our research experts can identify areas where the Play Deficit is most rampant -- and concentrate our efforts there.
     
  • Open school and private playgrounds to local communities after hours and on weekends.

Play is fun. But its loss is no laughing matter. Please help and let them play everyday.

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JetBlue wants you to "Vote Where We Play"!

Posted by KaBOOM! on February 27, 2012
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KaBOOM! National Partner JetBlue is looking for your help to decide where they should build one of their next KaBOOM! playgrounds! The Vote Where We Play Sweepstakes offers Facebook fans the ability to help pick the next city for a playground as well as a chance to win a weekend getaway to any JetBlue travel destination.

JetBlue is celebrating our partnership with KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to saving play, that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Together, JetBlue and KaBOOM! have moved 16 tractor trailers full of mulch and brought together 2,830 volunteers to build 11 playgrounds, which serve 5,680 children every year.

In 2012 we look forward to building five more KaBOOM! playgrounds in JetBlue cities! We are jetting off to build playgrounds Long Beach, CA in February, San Juan, PR in March, Boston, MA in June and New York, NY in September; and we want YOU to vote on the lucky city that will receive our 15th playground!

You can learn more about the sweepstakes and vote here!

UPDATE: The voting period has ended, and we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to residents of the San Francisco Bay Area! You'll be getting a new playground in August 2012!

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Not-so-scary playground

Posted by KaBOOM! on February 2, 2012
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You may remember our Scary Playgrounds: Let’s Find ‘Em and Fix ‘Em contest last Halloween, when we asked for photos of playgrounds that were in desperate need of repair. Our grand prize winner, Dan Watson of Fredonia, Ariz. recently wrote to let us know what they’re doing with the $1,000 VISA Gift Card they received:
 

"We are still adding equipment to the park as we remodel our larger park. 

The timing turned out really well, our local LDS ward was looking for a service project, so they helped paint the jungle gym, remove weeds from the basketball court, paint the court’s stripes and the basketball standards. We purchased curbing and engineered wood chips from local sources to make the playground safer. We replaced the backboards and rims. We moved a climber from our other park and are in the process of bringing over a slide and a 4-seat bouncer. We are rehabilitating the pieces now before we reinstall them. That will double the amount of equipment in the park.

We are also planning to add benches and tables and there is a movement to add a sand volleyball court. We are looking into the design and costs now. The only thing left that we really want to do is replace the jungle gym with a new small play structure.

We are still raising funds for our large park community build so it’s going have to wait for a while. But we are excited about breathing new life into this park and we again want to say thank you for your assistance. 

We are proud to say it’s not the scariest park anymore."

Dan Watson
Town of Fredonia

Before and after pictures of the Fredonia, AZ park

More after pictures of the Fredonia, AZ park

Thank you Fredonia for taking the initiative to fix up your playground! We hope the kids – and adults – enjoy it for years to come.

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