Nature Play areas seem to be popping up all over the country but the first one that our family enjoyed was installed by Five Rivers Metroparks in their Englewood Metropark. Again we found out about this awesome play area from another homeschool family. This post is part of our Best Nature Centers, Nature Play Areas and Hiking Trails in the Miami Valley blog series. We hope to add many local parks so that more families will be able to go out and enjoy them!
Since we live over 25 minutes away we do not visit as often as we would like but we always enjoy what time we do spend in the woods at Englewood Metropark Nature Play Area.
Within this play area you can find a picnic shelter that is reservable and is often the place where the naturalists meet during nature programs.
For the parents there are a few sets of chairs provided but we have been known to grab a blanket or camp chairs out of the back of our van if we are meeting a large group to play.
One of the most exciting things that my children enjoy is the massive fallen tree that children can climb onto and jump off of!
That tree really is huge, one of the largest that I have seen that children are supposed to play on AND I have another picture to prove just how big it really is!
The park features a slide and tunnel built into a hill which the children love to run up the hill, slide down and then zip through the tunnel.
They often repeat this a few times before getting tired, lol but once they rest they may get back at it again.
For smaller children there’s another large log that is smaller but still provides lots of fun to climb on.
Just past the large fallen trees and the slide is an area of logs on the ground that provide a perfect place for practicing balance beam style walking.
Just beyond the walking beams is the creek and fort building area! My children have always enjoyed this area especially for Eldest who was big into Parkour for awhile.
This area has both tree limbs for fort building and bridge building along with large rocks to use as a way to cross the creek without getting wet- hopefully, lol.
Buckets from the sand area provide some fun while playing in the creek or you could bring your own nets and buckets from home.
Do you have a nature play area that your children love to play in? please leave a comment about what things your child enjoys doing while being out in nature!
Nothing like a breath of fresh air in a natural area.