Wednesdays this summer at Lismore Summer Rec have a whole new curriculum! Youth ages 9 and up are gathering with staff, and youthLEADarts NS program leaders, Melanie and Shelley to vision, create, and design the perfect outdoor adventure space for our community.
This is part of a 3-5 year plan, driven by youth, with the additional mentorship of local community members and volunteers who will help with the construction of the outdoor play space. The planned space will integrate the LEAD values of Listen, Empathize, Act and Drive, as well as elements of “risky play”.
In our first Wednesday session, we played with elements of design and explored these elements through drama, a Lego construction station, brainstorming and team work.
We are compiling a list of loose bits we are asking the community to donate such as pallets, tires, rope and milk crates. We will also incorporate fallen trees left near the hall into a trail which community members of all ages will be able to access and use as an outdoor gathering space for years to come.
Youth are excited to discover and employ engineering, design, creative and collaboration skills in the first steps of this project that walkers, explorers, visitors and residents can enjoy as they engage with the environment around them.
Thank you to Free to Play, and the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia for your financial support as we dream, build and create this community space together.