Designed in collaboration with Thorne Nature Experience’s educators and staff , the Natural Playground at Thorne takes the center’s mission “To build Earth stewardship by providing youth with joyful, hands-on, place-based environmental education experiences that foster an emotional connection to nature.” and elevates it.

This client and consultant we’re aligned from the start on this project and it was a joy to have the opportunity to elaborate on Thorne’s mission through providing nature-based physical literacy development opportunities; children are presented wither sand & water play areas, slides, log borders, boulders to scale, a log mash to climb, and a never-ending source of sensory engagement from which to develop their skill.

Gross motor, fine motor, socialization, proprioceptive, vestibular skills and creative are all challenged in this immersive environment, ripe for outdoor unstructured free play. The native plantings compliment the landscape elegantly while providing further sensory engagement and zone control; mitigating unwanted interactions and erosion passively while adding structure and enhanced sensory opportunities to the space.

We are exceptionally proud of our work with the Thorne Nature Experience and plan to further expand on our initial playground design in the near future.