Pop-Up Play Event

In collaboratoin with Pop Up Adventure Play I hosted a "Block Party" for my neighborhood to ring in Summer Solstice.  For the culminating event I closed down a section of a street here in Burlington VT.  With approval from the city (Police and Fire Departments) I gathered materials to flll the large space I had to work with for children through adult age to gather and play! It was 2 hours and maybe too short as everyone was just getting into the play.

My hopes and dreams were to have a huge black plastic tunnel but it was the logistics of timing and getting it to the site without a large vehicle.  I also had hopes of filling the street with people and the space felt big for the amount of folks that gathered.   The flow up and down the street was great productive and hit all materials!  

I anticipated the summer flow being slow and hard to reach but with 12+ children 8-10 adults it was a success!  More adults needed to come play!  Children were inspired to have a lemonade stand, donation based and it didn't matter if you had any $ ( we traded popsicles!) stump and loose 12' board as teeter totter was strong and held 4 (7-15 yr. olds), stacking, hiding, climbing, canvas and paint, making a house with a box, mask making, bubbles, plastic tops/caps; sorting, dumping, music, color...

With volunteers, the work load is fun and exciting.   Interest and investment from community makes the idea of play a crucial goal to support learning and free play.