Sep 5, 2016 | adventure playground, Cardboard, Children, Guest Writer, Photos, Play, Playwork, Playworker Development Course, Pop-up Adventure Playgrounds
Erica came to us with her background in Landscape Architecture hoping to take more of a playwork approach to her work. Pop-Ups Morgan has been her Playworker Development Course tutor since January, and was able to meet her at the adventure playground on Governors...
Aug 15, 2016 | Children, Guest Writer, independent organisers, loose parts, Photos, Play, Pop-up Adventure Playgrounds, Singapore, weather, Zan
The ladies at Chapter Zero warmly welcomed Pop-Ups Zan to Singapore when she visited in June 2016. They have since joined the Playworker Development Course and are trying their hand at putting theory into practice. Here is an account of their first ever pop-up! We...
Aug 7, 2016 | Children, niblings, Play, playranger, Playwork, playworker, Playworking Auntie, Zan
She ran straight past me and launched her 14-month-old self up the playground slide. This is not the first time she has done this, but apparently the excitement and freefall of going down the slide wasn’t quite enough so ever since she could walk, all...
Aug 3, 2016 | Children, event, Play, playday, Pop-up Adventure Playgrounds, scrapstore, Zan
By Zan I have been busy celebrating Playday UK, which is held on the first Thursday of August every year. Playday is a fantastic opportunity for folks all over the UK to do big, public events to raise the profile of play. And this year, I have been able to get...
Jun 22, 2016 | Adventure Play, adventure playground, campference, interview, Photos, Play, Playwork
Jill Wood is one of our favourite people. We first met her on the 2014 tour – she hugged us tight when we left, and has been a tremendous Friend to Pop-Ups ever since. Most recently, she put me up in her spare room for months while we worked together at the AP...
Jun 14, 2016 | adventure playground, campference, Children, Erin, Morgan, photo, Play, The Land Documentary, video
In 2013, Erin Davis arrived at The Land with a film crew. Suzanna drove over for a visit, and put Erin and I on the phone to say hello. We didn’t get long to talk though, as Erin had to go suddenly as the children were “launching the boat.” The...
Jun 6, 2016 | Book, campference, interview, PhD, Play, Playwork, Professor Fraser Brown, Zan
Although we are both British, Fraser and I actually met in Atlanta, Georgia at the IPA/TASP conference in 2010. I presented about playrangers and he was one of the people who joined my audience. Soon after, I enrolled at Leeds Beckett University to study Playwork as a...
Jun 5, 2016 | box, Children, Guest Writer, Play, Pop-Up Adventure Play, Pop-up Adventure Playgrounds
By Beverly Baumgartner Beverly signed up for our resource pack before reaching out to us for help. The idea of a pop-up adventure playground is exciting enough but most organisers are nervous for their first but we are here to support everyone. Beverly reflects here...
May 30, 2016 | Adventure Play, adventure playground, campference, car, loose parts, Play, Playwork, Pop-Up Adventure Play, Pop-up Adventure Playgrounds, Santa Clarita Valley Adventure Play, Tour, tree, US
By Zan We have talked a lot about our focus for our Playwork Campference, about the focus on practice, and the emphasis on you. We haven’t yet told you much about where we will be doing this, and the delightful hosts of our event. Ladies and gentlemen, Pop-Up...
May 23, 2016 | adults, adventure playground, campference, Morgan, Play, Playwork, practice, Santa Clarita Valley Adventure Play, theory
Years ago, I visited an adventure playground. It was a place that once was rich and thriving, but in recent years something had shifted. The children were bored, the site seniors were raising funds to have builders come in and create some new equipment. It had lost...
May 16, 2016 | campference, Morgan, Play, play conference, Playwork, practice, Santa Clarita Valley Adventure Play
By Morgan So, Suzanna and I have been to about 3,412 conferences over the years, mostly on the subject of play. It’s always good to meet with friends, and be introduced to new ideas and new advocates for children’s freedom. Plus, there’s usually...
Feb 20, 2016 | Adventures, Children, Play, playworker, Playworking Auntie, Reflection, Zan
Last year was a busy year. Not only was I buzzing around the world with Morgan, but I was also preparing my heart to have an upgrade in status: I was no longer in the youngest generation within my family. Yes, 2015 was the year that I became an auntie to two adorable...