New Playground to be the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada

The Joggins Fossil Institute has contracted Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds to design and install a new play space at the award-winning Joggins Fossil Centre in 2010.

Bienenstock are world leaders in playground design. According to them:

"As more and more studies are being released it is becoming very apparent that the children in nature movement is sweeping the world by storm. These studies are proving that early childhood development can be facilitated with the use of these playgrounds. These studies are proving that a typical play structure is not enough, will not improve all areas of development essential for happy healthy kids."


What is a Natural Playground?
"Playscapes are Natural Playgrounds. They are designed with the intent to bring children back to nature using: fallen logs, tree stumps for seating, vertical logs for forts, slides embedded in the side of hills etc... Playscapes and Natural Playgrounds offer a wide range of open ended play options for children while remaining safe."
Who are Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds?
Adam Bienenstock , C.E.O and Principal Designer began his career in landscaping in 1984. Currently, he is a director of the Child & Nature Alliance. In 2003, he reinvented Gardens for Living Inc. and launched Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds. To do so, he combined best practices in management and his passion for child development, art, nature and design.

The addition of a manufacturing capacity was quickly added when it became clear that no-one in Canada could efficiently produce the components he needed for their natural playgrounds.

The Joggins Fossil Institute is proud to be able to work alongside Adam and his team and to bring a unique play space to Joggins, which will enable local children to play alongside other children from around the world.

Melanie Cookson-Carter, Operations Coordinator said "The playground in Joggins has been unusable for some time. The children of Joggins have no where to enjoy safe, imaginative and fun outdoor play and we are pleased to be able to enter into a design process with Bienenstock for something fitting for this unique location. Off the peg wasn't going to work for us, we wanted something special and Adam and his team are able to deliver that for us."

The JFI is hoping that construction of the play space, the only one of its kind in the Maritimes, will be completed this year, thanks to funding assistance from the Province of Nova Scotia, Home Depot and CREDA.

If your company is interested in making a charitable donation to this unique Play Space project please contact Melanie Cookson-Carter at operations@jogginsfossilcliffs.net