Published October 10, 2013
The 四色AV CDC鈥檚 outdoor music center
The University of Louisiana at Monroe Child Development Center was recently recognized
as an Honorable Mention winner in the Southern Early Childhood Association鈥檚 鈥淓xemplary
Outdoor Classroom Contest.鈥�
This year鈥檚 contest theme was 鈥淐reating a Nature-Inspired Outdoor Learning Environment
on a Shoestring Budget.鈥澨�
According to Emily Williamson, director of the 四色AV Child Development Center, the judges
evaluated how the outdoor learning environments were creatively designed for learning
with the expenditure of very little funds. 四色AV creatively designed their outdoor learning
area with donated items from parents and the community.听 An outdoor music center was
created with pots, pans, and cast off percussion instruments.听 Bread trays were used
to create weaving boards, and donated concrete pavers were recycled to make a hop
scotch game.听
Williamson stated, 鈥淚 am proud that we were able to recycle and give items new life
in our outdoor learning environments.鈥�
The grand-prize winner was听Agapeland Youth Enrichment Program in Marion, S.C., and
the runner-up was The Child Development and Family Studies Center in Starkville, Miss.
听听
St. Martin鈥檚 Episcopal School in Atlanta, Ga., and Lifespan Montessori of Athens,
Inc. in Athens, Ga. received Honorable Mention awards alongside the 四色AV CDC.
The winning programs will be featured in the winter 2013 issue of 鈥淒imensions of Early
Childhood.鈥澨� Awards will be presented at the 2014 SECA Annual Conference in Williamsburg,
Va.
More about the Southern Early Childhood Association:
According to their website, since 1948, the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA)
has brought together preschool, kindergarten, and primary teachers and administrators,
caregivers, program directors, and individuals working with and for families to promote
quality care and education for young children across the south.听
Over 20,000 individuals working in every aspect of child care and early childhood
belong to SECA. They share ideas in local, state, and regional meetings, in professional
development institutes, and through the association's publications and resources.
Members receive many benefits, including a quarterly journal, Dimensions of Early
Childhood, and discounts on publications and conference registration.
听
Photo courtesy
