Over a weekend in August, we hosted a successful Nature Exploration Area (NEA) Construction and Installation Workshop at Rolph Nicol Jr. Playground, in partnership with the Low Income Investment Fund and SF Recreation & Parks, with funding support from the Department of Early Childhood.
To meet the growing demand for natural play spaces in early childhood, schools, and parks, the workshop was designed to equip contractors and builders with practical tips and techniques for creating natural and sustainable NEAs that foster children’s creativity and connection to nature.
Led by nature play expert Nick Moore of Rocky Mountain Woodworks, over 30 participants representing 9 construction companies and 3 design firms collaborated on the construction of key elements including stump clusters, hop skip and jump features, branchwork, and borders using repurposed downed logs from SF Rec & Park and the Presidio Trust.
“We learned, laughed, struggled, and ultimately succeeded in building an amazing nature exploration area in just 48 hours!” remarked Nick Moore. “I was inspired to be surrounded by so many talented people from different backgrounds and skill sets working together for one common goal.”
A heartfelt thank you to our workshop partners and participants for creating a fun and engaging NEA, where kids of all ages can explore, create, and connect with nature. The combination of natural challenges and loose parts promotes physical activity, sparks creativity, encourages teamwork, and helps kids learn to navigate risks—while fostering a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world.
- Check out the new pop-up Nature Exploration Area at Rolph Nicol Jr Park on Eucalyptus Dr. and 24th Ave. near Stonestown and Lowell High School.
- Discover other great nature exploration areas across the city here.
- Learn about the 11 features of an NEA in our NEA Playbook and Design Guide.
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This project is a collaboration of the Low Income Investment Fund, the SF Recreation & Parks Department, and the SF Children & Nature Collaborative with funding support from the Department of Early Childhood. Special thanks to Rocky Mountain Woodworks for leading an in-depth hands-on workshop, to KABOOM! for lending us tools, and to the Presidio Trust for donating some beautiful Monterey Cypress logs for the border work.