The nature-inspired Playscape is the latest West Hill School (Preschool) enhancement, that promotes diverse play and learning experiences while teaching the children the social skills to work in groups, share, negotiate, and resolve conflicts. The Playscape has been designated as a certified by Nature Explore as a nature playground. 

The beautifully landscaped Playscape is comprised of intentionally designed engaging spaces dedicated to connecting children to their interests, to each other, and to meaningful experiences with nature as a part of daily learning. Children have the freedom to choose from 15 different nature-inspired areas that utilize natural materials in the real world designed to satisfy their individual interests, developmental levels, and skillsets.

Gathering: Envision a canopy and tall oak trees providing plenty of shade for cozy group meetings where children skip over West Hill family and alumni dedication bricks to sit upon perfectly sized boulders with their friends. The Gathering Area is where their time on the Playscape begins and ends.

Messy Materials: Here the children have collected sticks of various sizes – from enormous to tiny. Collectively or solo, they build amazing forts, bird’s nests, yurts, towns, and obstacle courses. The greatest part about Messy Materials – it’s all about loose parts and there’s no cleanup. Just leave the materials out for tomorrow’s exploration!

The West Hill Happy Hill: This grassy knoll is the perfect spot for watching the clouds float by or energetically rolling down the hill. Sled riding in the winter months, anyone? Yes, please!

Bird Watching: Behind an eight-foot wall with lots of child-level viewing holes, many bird feeders entice the local wildlife to flourish in this tucked-away corner of the Playscape.

Music/Theatre: With its installed instruments, wooden stage, and natural beam for audience seating, this area is a budding thespian’s dream.

Water, Dirt Digging and Mud Kitchen: These areas were designed to flow into each other and they are the most action-packed areas every day. The children love to mix the dirt and the water to make concoctions – adding in leaves, grass, flower petals and other seasonal natural materials. The symbolic representation that explodes in this area draws the delight of the children and the teachers!

The Sallie S. Teaf Playscape allows the children to enjoy being children while inspiring their wonder, adventure, experimentation, and safe risk-taking. The children have the freedom to choose among the areas to satisfy their individual interests, developmental levels and skillsets. The possibilities are endless!

Join us for a Community Playdate on our Playscape in the fall. Call 61-525-7660 for dates and details. 

Now Enrolling for Summer Camp 2020 & Fall 2020