Children’s center looks for building volunteers
Imagine a playground where children can learn about nature and wildlife while exercising their bodies.Imagine a place where a fence isn’t just a fence, but a musical instrument that children can play to create music.
It’s all part of the “Natural Playscape,” a new concept in playgrounds being introduced by Child Care of Southwest Florida at the Joseph H. Messina Children’s Center at 4650 Fowler St. in Fort Myers. BB&T bank is the sponsor for the first phase of construction. The bank will be providing volunteers every Saturday for seven weeks, starting Aug. 14, in addition to a $7,000 gift to pay for materials and supplies. Additional volunteers are being recruited.
“The Natural Playscape will be an educational experience to help children appreciate nature and wildlife as well as inspire creativity and exercise their minds and bodies,” said Messina Center Director Tammy Aronson. “Research has shown that green spaces lower children’s stress levels, decrease the rate of attention deficit disorders and reduce incidents of bullying.”
Aronson said the Natural Playscape will include hills to roll down and climb, rocks to climb, a pond and brook for children to explore, butterfly and sunflower gardens and pathways of different textures including brick, pavers, mulch and stone.
This first phase also will include a musical fence based on the “guiro,” a percussion instrument made from a gourd with parallel notches cut in one side that, when rubbed with a stick, makes a ratchet-like sound commonly heard in the rhythm section of Latin-American music.
“We’re excited to be a part of this wonderful new project for the community.Our employees will be helping with installing stepping stones, planting bamboo and planting garden beds,” said Robert Bassett, Area Executive of BB&T. Bassett said the project was selected by the bank as a Lighthouse project, where employees volunteer their time to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.
The BB&T volunteers are taking part in the company’s second annual Lighthouse Project. Each Lighthouse team selects a project to assist a non-profit agency and completes that project during August and September to make a positive impact on the lives of people in need. BB&T officials said they hope their efforts encourage others in the community to volunteer their time and support organizations such as the Joseph H. Messina Children’s Center.
The Natural Playscape is incorporating “Community Garden Beds” to teach children and their families about growing their own fruits and vegetables. Twelve beds will be constructed and made available for “adoption” by families at the Joseph H. Messina Children’s Center who wish to grow their own food.
Supplies for the garden beds were provided by Target with volunteers from Fiddlesticks Country Club providing labor for the installation and compost materials donated by Lee County Solid Waste.
“We have many low-income families in our center who really need the food that these gardens can supply. And an extra benefit is that families and children will be able to strengthen their family bond by working together for a common goal,” Aronson said.
Aronson said she hopes to remove all metal playground equipment from the center’s grounds when the entire Natural Playscape plan is implemented. Child Care of Southwest Florida, Inc., intends to replicate the plan at its other five centers in the future, depending upon funding.
Volunteers are being recruited to assist in the first phase of the project, as well as other phases to be implemented during the next year. For more information or to volunteer, call Aronson at 278-1148.