Playful Neighborhood Clubs
Playing and exploring outside in the Lincoln Square area of Chicago.
In the Playful Neighborhood Clubs, children explore and play outside. Creative outside play is encouraged through simple suggestions and open-ended supplies. The Play Guide encourages small groups of children to interact, communicate and negotiate among each other.
Neighborhood Explorers Club
Each week Neighborhood Explorers explore the area through a neighborhood hike to a playful location. While walking, participants develop their observation, direction and map reading skills. At each play location, children participate in unstructured creative play.
Weekly Clubs are currently on pause.
DAYS OFF SCHOOL
Grades 1 - 5
Longer outdoor explorations in a similar format to the Playful Clubs are offered on the following days off school. A snack will be provided, but children should bring their own packed lunch. The location will be chosen closer to each date.
2023 Days Off School may return in March
The Playful Neigborhood After School Clubs put a twist on the "playworker" model that was developed in the U.K. and exists in some places in the United States. Playworkers work to supervise children and support, but not direct, their play. These Playworkers work mostly in Adventure Playgrounds. We do not have this type of playground in our area, but we do have several parks, standard playgrounds, and open spaces within walking distance. These spaces have the potential to provide kids with abundant opportunities for unstructured outside play. If given more time and some supervision, a group of children can pretend, build, move, experiment, and invent games together.