Dr. Reed Channell cardboard box. and WSC stud ent observe children’s art project on ‘Outdoor Classroom’ designed to meet children's needs An outdoor playground, at first glance, is just a place for children to play safely. The WSC Department Children’s of Child Studies, has made and School, Family their new outdoor facility an extension of the classroom and call it an ‘Outdoor Classroom.” A training center for college students who plan to work with the preschool child, the Children’s School has youngsters 3 to 5 years of age. One group of children in the Day Care section from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. is on a paying basis. They are children of _ faculty, staff and students. Two other sections are chosen on a once a year drawing and attend two and one-half hours a day. The only stipulation is that the parents take a college course for two hours credit wherein they receive parent education to enhance the relationship with their child. “Parents are aided in recognizing what their child is learning and how to be effective parents,’ said Dr. Reed Channell, director of the Children’s School and Associate Professor of Child and Family Studies.’’ The Outdoor Classroom, located adjacent to the Education Building on the north, is designed with a large variety of textures, sizes, shapes and colors to stimulate physical and intellectual development,’ said Dr. Channell. This fall the outdoor classroom site was contoured, planted and fenced. It Up, Up, Up Goes the Barrel, Up the Hill and Down .. . includes a (small to adults, large to children) hill for sledding and tubing in the winter and is perfect for rolling in barrels. There are 12 different textures in the cement walks including washed rock, stone, brick and sections cut with different patterns. Children riding tricycles feel the different “bumps” as they ride around the walks, The sections are also used as teaching aids. The octogonal pit around the climber will be filled with sawdust and there will be a large sandpile and a shallow wading pond for Sailing boats with a Japanese bridge crossing over it. Even a storage shed to store play equipment will become part of the “classroom” with stairways up and down. In the.curve of one of the “‘hills”’ will be a small amphitheatre and a tunnel. “We plan to plant shrubs and bushes that make seasonal changes and a garden plot,’’ said Dr. Channell. “As the trees and shrubs grow, nature walks will become possible. Hopefully birds will come and build their nests. Even the rocks are put in to be used as “‘counting rocks.”’ Dr. Channell pointed out that children have very specific needs from 3 to 5 years and planned play experiences are to help the children’s needs to be met. “As children become independent, have safety limits set, feel love and develop a sense of belonging their self-esteem is increased and they develop confidence as well as gain feelings of achievement and success. “Children are also beginning their first symbolic functioning with letters, numbers, relationships, colors, Sizes and shapes. All the senses are used by an enriched and stimulating environment,” said Dr. Channell. College students are involved in all the activities and may be working toward a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor degree. Reed Channell along with Robert Arway and Tom Day from the Child and Family Studies Department, assisted by Fred Kendall and Rich Daems, College Planning, assembled the log climber which looks like a giant lincoln log set. The Outdoor Classroom has been a cooperative effort,’’ said Dr. Chan- nell. Grass was brought in by Campus Planning from the front of the Administration and Social Science Buildings as parking space was enlarged. It was put into place by the Maintenance Department. Pine trees, furnished by the college, were brought in and planted. The WSC Skills Center North will build the storage building and pool, labor free, incorporating student programs and talents. College Development assisted ‘Outdoor classroom has been a cooperative effort.’ in finding a donor interested in the project to add needed funds for equipment. “A state appropriation of $14,000 covered the basic excavation, con- touring, planting and fencing,’’ said Dean W. Hurst, Assistant to the President for College Development. “The Dr. Junior Edward and Blanche Rich Foundation, set up after the death of the late Dr. Rich, became interested in the project and donated $5,000 toward completion. The facility will be memoralized in the name of Mrs. Rich’s father, Matthew S. Browning, a prominent Ogden business man,”’ he said. In addition to the Rich foundation donor 17 others made donations varying from $5 to $150 for approximately $490. The Department of Child and Family Studies has sponsored bake sales within the School to also help raise money. Both child and student benefit from the reciprocal program: the child develops as the student learns.