Loading…
This year marks the 4th Ithaca Children’s Garden’s Play Symposium: a gathering for change-makers fostering a culture of play in their communities.

Join Ithaca Children’s Garden for three days of sharing, discussion, and play, while learning from local initiatives and play leaders from across the US. Featuring panels, play observation, presentations, and more, Ithaca Children’s Garden Play Symposium is highly relevant for educators, parents, play professionals, parks and recreation staff, city administrators, and anyone passionate about children, education, the great outdoors, health, well-being, social justice, or play.

The 2019 Ithaca Children’s Garden Play Symposium theme is Play for All: Equity, Access, and Inclusion. We are so excited to share that a keynote from Dr. Corliss Outley of Texas A&M University and Dr. Harrison Pinckney IV of Clemson University, will open the conference on Friday, October 4th. The authors of the seminal essay "Playing While Black," which addresses the impact of race on the recreation of black youth, their work has been instrumental in advancing the discussion of race, recreation, and youth development. The keynote is free and open to all. Register for the keynote only here.

Continuing Education: Continuing Teacher/Leader Education hours (CTLEs) offered in partnership with SUNY Cortland for a $20 fee. Certificates of attendance will be offered free of charge to all attendees.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day will be provided on Saturday and Sunday.

REGISTRATION UPDATE: Online registration has closed. However, walk-in registration is available! Simply shoot an email to leigh@ithacachildrensgarden.org if you’re planning on registering. Day only, student, and group rates are available.
Back To Schedule
Saturday, October 5 • 10:15am - 11:05am
Nature Play Gone Wild! How Zoos and Aquariums are Positioned to be Partners in and Providers of Play for Diverse Community Audiences

Log in to save this to your schedule, view media, leave feedback and see who's attending!

Tweet Share
For the past five years the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has invested over a million dollars in the support and growth of connecting children and families to nature through nature play. Learn how this initiative helped numerous zoos and aquariums launch a diverse set of programs, events, and opportunities, and focus their efforts on providing inclusive, equitable access for people in their local communities. We’ll share resources and discuss how AZA zoos and aquariums can be potential partners for collaborating on play-based experiences, resources, and community training.
Speakers
avatar for Liesl Pimentel

Liesl Pimentel

Manager of Education Programs, Phoenix Zoo/Arizona Center for Nature Conservation
Liesl Pimentel is the Manager of Formal Programs at the Phoenix Zoo and leads the Zoo’s nature play programming, community co-hosted pop-up events, family and early childhood educator nature play trainings, and supports local nature play initiatives and advocacy. She has administered... Read More →
avatar for Kari Hart

Kari Hart

Manager of Education Programs, New York Aquarium in Coney Island
Kari Hart is the Manager of Education Programs at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island. She is a nature play advocate and has worked at zoos and aquariums in Texas, Louisiana, and New York leading nature-based programming for children and families both on and off-site. She has implemented... Read More →
avatar for Samantha Polon

Samantha Polon

Manager of Hasbros Our Big Backyard, Roger Williams Park Zoo
Samantha currently serves as the manager of Hasbro’s Our Big Backyard at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI. She is an advocate for nature play and works to help remove barriers to getting all youth outside in their communities. She has presented on play theory and non-profit... Read More →

Nature Play Gone Wild! pptx
Saturday October 5, 2019 10:15am - 11:05am EDT
(LACS) Lehman Alternative Community School 414 Chestnut St, Ithaca, NY 14850
  Presentation - Breakout Session

Attendees (6)