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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.
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Friday, October 4 • 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Welcome, Introductions, Tours of Ithaca Children's Garden and Table Talks with US Fish and Wildlife Service and Ithaca Children's Garden Staff

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We kick off the Symposium at Ithaca Children's Garden!

Stop by for a Garden tour or talking table, discover play prompts throughout the Garden, and explore.

1:00-1:15 Welcome and Introductions with Erin Marteal, Executive Director

1:15-2:00
Garden Tour with Erin Marteal, ICG Executive Director
Learn about Ithaca Children's Garden's unique development path, partnerships, and funding.

Talking Table with David Stilwell, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Dig into the unique partnership between Ithaca Children's Garden and the US Fish & Wildlife Service to make nature play a priority for children.

Talking Table with Mara NewRoots, ICG Early Childhood Educator
Chat with Mara and learn about Playful Nature Explorers, ICG's outdoor preschool program and how it's accommodating children many other preschools aren't. This mixed-age, play-based, outdoor program is building a social-emotional foundation through play.

2:00-2:45
Garden Tour with Leigh MacDonald-Rizzo, ICG Education Director
Visit those hidden places children delve deep into play. Learn about ICG programs' commitment to child-led inclusive play

Talking Table with Lauren Salzman, ICG Educator
Dig deeper into two programs paving the way for inclusive nature play at ICG:
- After School @ ICG buses elementary school children to the Garden 5 days a week for free play every spring and fall.
- Gaia Girls uses the Girls Circle Friendship Module in partnership with the Advocacy Center to delve into human and plant relationships with middle school girls, outside, in the Garden.

2:45-3:00: Closing and a preview of an evening at the Hangar Theatre

Partners
avatar for US Fish & Wildlife Service

US Fish & Wildlife Service

US Fish & Wildlife Service has partnered with ICG on the Play Symposium and also the development of the Hands-on-Nature Anarchy Zone since 2013.


Friday October 4, 2019 1:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Ithaca Children's Garden 101 Turtle Lane, Ithaca NY 14850
  Plenary

Attendees (21)