Boy swing on rope swing

Playing Out: A Taste of the Outdoors 3rd June 2009.

Organised by The Branching Out Project in partnership with B.A.V.O, B.C.B.C, Interlink, RCT Play Association and Play Wales, this Training event created an opportunity for Playworkers from Bridgend County Borough and Rhondda Cynon Taff to explore playing with the elements, adventurous play opportunities, reflective practice and realistic methods of incorporating these opportunities into individual play settings. 

With the scene being set in the breath taking beauty of the woodlands of Eco Dysgu, Playworkers explored and engaged with their natural environment through play. Complimenting the environment were additional materials that Playworkers could use to extend play opportunities.

Playing with fire, water, air, earth and adventure were being explored. Rope swings, den building, making fires, play fighting in fallen leaves, rolling down slopes in cardboard tubes, climbing trees, catapulting objects into to sky, toasting mash mallows, dough balls, or boiling water on fires, smoothing natural clay onto tree trunks, dressing up-camouflaging with the natural environment.

40 Playworkers attended. All took with them new ideas, enthusiasm, motivation, reflection, and a re-enforced importance of incorporating elemental and adventure play opportunities for children/young people in a play setting.

National Playday 2009: Make time for Play. Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd 5th August 2009

RCT Play Association in partnership with Valleys Kids, Interlink, Penywaun Enterprise Partnership, RCT Play Resource Library and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council ran a National Playday event to recognise and celebrate a child’s right to play.

Almost 4000 people came along to the event to help us celebrate and the sun also came out for a rare appearance in August. The day was an amazing success with children, young people and families having a fantastic time with various play opportunities offered including a giant water slide, Arts and crafts, go karts, Snug Play equipment, circus stuff, under 5’s area, cob building, Den Building, a climbing wall and lot’s more.

We also had a visit from ITV Wales, who came along to see the event and we featured on the early evening news with interviews from Gill Evans from Play Wales, Parents and most importantly the Children.

Due to the success of this event Chwarae Plant will be making this an annual event so book it in your diaries National Playday the first Wednesday in August next years will be Wednesday 4th August 2010 we hope to see you there.