Blog

Healthy Starts: Infants/Toddlers

(Orange Co.) Kehillah Jewish Preschool

Kehillah Jewish Preschool has transformed their toddler space into an engaging outdoor learning environment.  A large arbor spans over their existing path and creates a sense of entry into the space.  They have built a multipurpose deck for gathering and dramatic play and a play house with an adjacent mud-kitchen.  They also built a large open-air storage area, which will be part of a gathering area at the entrance of the outdoor learning environment.  They have also added a large arbor in their infant space to create a shady spot for the little ones to enjoy some time outdoors.

Address: 1200 Mason Farm Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Phone Number: (919) 942-8914

County: Orange
Local Partnership: Orange County Partnership for Young Children

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 103

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2019)

Healthy Starts: Infants/Toddlers

(Orange Co.) Future Scholars Childcare and Development Center

Future Scholars has created a vibrant outdoor learning environment (OLE) for their toddlers. They installed a primary pathway for wheeled toys, a large teepee, raised beds for growing healthy snacks, a multipurpose deck with shade sail for gathering, and an acoustic wall. They have also expanded the fence on the side, to increase the size of their OLE.

Address: 114 W. Corbin Street Hillsborough, NC 27278

Phone Number: (919) 245-2222

County: Orange
Local Partnership: Orange County Partnership for Young Children

NC Star Rating: 4

Capacity: 55

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2019)

After Renovation (2021)

Healthy Starts: Infants/Toddlers

(Orange Co.) Community School for People Under 6

Community School for People Under Six transformed an unused area on the side of their building into an engaging new outdoor learning environment for their toddlers. There is a primary pathway, a deck for gathering, and a fruit and vegetable garden. They recently added a library under a large shade tree, and they plan to add some stumps and logs in this area for gathering. They also plan to add more plantings and acoustic play.

Address: 102 Hargraves Street, Carrboro, NC 27510

Phone Number: (919) 929-1543

County: Orange
Local Partnership: Orange County Partnership for Young Children

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 65

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2019)

After Renovation (2021)

POD 4

Blue Ridge Community College: Nessa’s Young’uns Natural Play Center

• Existing carport structures have been removed from both OLEs.

• A fence was installed to create a new infant OLE. Trees, sod, an arbor with a porch swing, sitting and balancing stumps, and a flagstone pathway have been installed in the infant OLE.

• The fence line was extended for all OLEs to increase space and capture a natural hill for increased play value.

• Trees were planted, sod installed, and a mud kitchen was created in the toddler OLE.

• Large shade trees were also installed along the fence for both OLEs.

• A new raised garden was created out of repurposed apple boxes.

Address: 520 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28303
Phone: (828) 435-9161
Website: View
Director: Vanessa Gilliam
NC Star Rating: 4
Capacity: 69

Schematic Master Plan (2018)

After Renovation (2018)

Children enjoy embankment slide

Earthworm discovery

Toddler enjoys the mound

Water play and mud kitchen

Painting with natural materials

Stepping stone pathway

Balancing and climbing logs

Infants enjoying their new play area

POD 4

Fayetteville Technical Community College: Children’s Center

• For the first phase of implementation, the center removed existing overgrown shrubs and installed a synthetic turf multipurpose lawn for toddlers.
• Future plans include extending the toddler path and adding planting beds and seating areas.

Address: 2201 Hull Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
NC Star Rating: 5
Capacity: 231
PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Schematic Master Plan (2017)

After Renovation (2019)

Pergola garden planter

Toddler playground grass in courtyard

Pergola with flower garden and artificial turf

Fruit and vegetable garden

POD 4

Cape Fear Community College: Bonnie Sanders Burney CDC

• The center added a new garden bed and additional blueberry shrubs.
• A mud kitchen was added adjacent to the sand play area in the Preschool OLE.
• The OLE is used by both CFCC and UNCW Early Childhood Education students for observations.

Address: 411 N Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 362-7336
Website: View
Director: Leslie King
NC Star Rating: 5
Capacity: 60

Schematic Master Plan (2017)

After Renovation (2019)

Raised garden bed adjacent to wheeled toy pathway

Raised planters provide opportunity to interact with vegetation

Loose parts play

Mud kitchen

Shape NC

Johnston Community College Child Development Center

Johnston Community College, located in Smithfield, NC, diversified their outdoor learning environment by adding two primary pathway loops, one in their preschool area and one in their toddler area.  An arbor over the pathway provides shade and the opportunity for growing vines.

They also added a mud kitchen, and expanded their existing fruit and vegetable garden for more opportunities to experiment with growing healthy food.  Fruit trees also help the children understand the growing cycle, while also providing shade.

Address: 245 College Road, Wilson, NC 27577

Phone Number: (919) 209-2010

County: Wilson
Local Partnership: Johnston

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 97

Schematic Master Plan (2020)

Before Renovation (2019)

After Renovation (2020)

POD 4

Davidson Community College: Kirk Child Development Center

• New installs include an earth play area, natural loose parts, balance logs, tire planters, and a butterfly garden.
• A boy scout troop helped to install raised garden beds.
• Annual family days were held in the OLE during the “Week of the Young Child”.
• This year, a Trike-a-Thon raised $2,700 for St. Jude’s Hospital.
• Large shade structures have been installed in the OLEs.

Address: 297 DCCC Road, Thomasville, NC 27292
Phone: (336) 249-8186, ext. 4831
Director: Whitney Parker
NC Star Rating: 5
Capacity: 99

Schematic Master Plan (2016)

After Renovation (2019)

Wheeled toy play

Class picnic

Freshly picked cantaloupe

Earth play

Making tire planters

Stump circle

Digging

Toddler flower garden

POD 4

Alamance Community College: Demonstration Development Daycare

• Classes from the Horticulture Department installed a fruit and vegetable garden.
• Crape Myrtles were planted and tire planters were added around trees.
• A Horticulture class is planning to future settings such as an infant deck and pergola.
• They held a training through the partnership with 75 participants who toured their OLE.
• Through participation in this project, children now spend more time outside.
• The teachers view going outdoors differently – it is not just a place for play, but a place where the children can eat lunch, have circle time, and learn.

Address: 1247 Jimmie Kerr Road, Graham, NC 27253
Phone: (336) 506-4123
Director: Caroline Sykes
NC Star Rating: 5
Capacity: 58

Schematic Master Plan (2016)

After Renovation (2019)

Looping pathway

Sheltered preschool sand play area

Looping garden pathway

Alamance Garden Gate

Enclosed fruit and vegetable garden

Balancing and seating log

Toddler sand play area

Loose parts play

POD Wake County

ABC Land, Inc.

ABC Land, located in Wendell, NC, has initiated OLE improvements to create a more active and productive site as a participating POD-Wake demonstration center.

New raised beds were constructed with reusable materials, which support produce-harvesting activities. Blueberries and figs have been planted throughout the outdoor learning environment, adding to the edible landscape. In all, ABC Land has 349 square feet of vegetable garden, 621 square feet of fruiting shrubs, and 8 fruit trees.

The children especially enjoy a bamboo teepee where pole beans grow, providing a nice shady nook on hot days covered in green beans for snacking. They also look forward to picking and eating the blueberries lining the entry path to their garden. The fresh produce is used in cooking activities with the children and is also incorporated into meals and snacks. Other improvements implemented are the naturalization of the space with ornamental perennials and shrubs planted in colorful tire planters.

A total of 205 pounds of fresh produce was harvested in 2014 and 2015, with over $4,800 being spent on OLE improvements during that time.

Address: 610 Raymond Dr, Wendell, NC 27591

Phone Number: (919) 365-3212

NC Star Rating: 5

Capacity: 80

These gardening activities remind me of my childhood. Activities like canning are becoming a lost art and it is important to pass them onto future generations… if they grow up and can’t buy food, they will at least have the skills to plant a seed.

Schematic Master Plan (2013)

Before Renovation (2013)

After Renovation (2018)

Thornless blackberry tunnel

Blueberry bushes along fence

Shaded infant/toddler area

Apple tree planting beside play equipment

Colorful tire planters

Fruit and vegetable garden planting