Playtime linked to learning
Remembering its youngest visitors, Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Farmington dedicated its new interpretive playground Wednesday – the first of its kind for the National Park Service. “I think it’s very, very exciting,’ Joanne Hanley, general superintendent of the national parks of western Pennsylvania, said before the program began. “I’m very proud of what was done here.’
Located in the back of the Fort Necessity/National Road Interpretive and Education Center, the playground interprets the historic areas of the park for the children with a slide and climbing structures that resemble the fort built by George Washington and his men for the battle of Fort Necessity in 1754 and a Conestoga wagon that brought pioneers west along the National Road in the early to mid-19th century.
The playground also includes several educational wayside exhibits with games that help children learn about the French and Indian War and life along the National Road.
There also are seven picnic tables on a patio area adjacent to the playground so visitors can bring a meal to enjoy outdoors. In addition, Fort Necessity offers another picnic area in the rear of the park so visitors have plenty of picnic opportunities.
Hanley noted that families traveling a distance to reach the national park will be able to unwind on the playground.
“This gives kids a chance to get their energy out and gives parents a break, but they’re also learning while they’re playing,’ said Hanley. “They can play on this and then go out and see the real fort and play on the wagon and go see a real Conestoga wagon at Mount Washington Tavern.’
Gregg Behr, executive director of the Grable Foundation, which offered financial support for the exhibits, said, “The trustees of the Grable Foundation are pleased to have supported this program. As a foundation dedicated to the well-being of kids in the region, we’re concerned not only with opportunities for children to learn but also to experience creativity and wonder. This is a place that combines those ideas – a chance for kids to play but also to learn what an important place Fort Necessity is.’
Chris Siefert, deputy director of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, which consulted on the playground design, said what makes a good playground is “appropriate experiences.”
“It’s not so much the colors or the shapes or the composition, it’s that there are experiences,” Siefert said. “We say in the Children’s Museum that we’re in the experience business and that’s what makes a playground good.’
He added, “We believe strongly in play. Children learn through playing much more than a lot of us know or appreciate. It’s something we encourage.’
In addition to Behr and Siefert, the National Park Service invited children from Wharton School, part of the Uniontown Area School District, and the Spring Valley Bruderhof to the dedication. The Spring Valley children sang several selections for the ceremony, which was moved to the auditorium because of inclement weather.
Hanley addressed the children, explaining the significance of national parks.
Hanley said, “We have 390 national parks in this country and in each of these 390 places, something very, very special happened – something special in our history, like a Civil War site or the Statue of Liberty or Martin Luther King’s birthplace or a very beautiful place like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or Yellowstone. Fort Necessity is just as special as those places and when you grow up, your job is to protect the national parks because the national parks belong to everybody.’
Behr told the children, “For one day, I wish I was 6 years old again so I could play with you.’
He commended the park service for building the playground and said to the students, “You’re going to learn about what happened in this special place and what it means to be an American.’
Siefert told the children, “I hope you have fun. That’s what it’s all about.’
Officials braved a downpour to conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Hanley; Behr; MaryEllen Snyder, chief of interpretation; and Smokey Bear.
While rain prevented the children from going into the playground, they remained good sports and enjoyed bag lunches inside the interpretive center as well as activities in the classroom that included a lesson with animal furs.
Debbie Maendel, one of 22 children from Spring Valley’s first through fourth grades, said it was her first visit to Fort Necessity and that she enjoyed “everything.’
Scotty Burnsworth and Nathan Kuritz were among the 48 kindergarten students from Wharton School who came to the dedication. Both considered officials’ invitation to come back.
In fact, Kuritz said, “Tomorrow, I think I’m going to come here after school.’