STEAM Outdoor Play Area Ceremony

Children in east Gainesville enjoyed a new outdoor play area that specializes in cultivating their scientific and engineering skills.

Episcopal Children’s Services and PNC Foundation celebrated the opening of a new outdoor play area at the ECS Gainesville Head Start/Early Head Start Center at 530 NE Waldo Road on Thursday.

The area is called the “STEAM Ahead with Outdoor Learning” area.

It was funded by a $56,000 grant from PNC Foundation through PNC’s signature philanthropic initiative called PNC Grow Up Great.

The initiative is a $500 million initiative that helps prepare children from birth through 5 years old for success in school and in life, particularly un underserved communities.

Martha Cox, the vice president of grants for ECS, greeted the audience and introduced the speakers before the ribbon cutting ceremony.

There was also a surprise guest from Elmo of Sesame Street to greet the children.

"It [the grant] truly transformed this space," Cox said. "This is so important to us because we serve the most vulnerable children. When we can supply children with amazing teachers with the best skillset and practices in early education with the support of PNC, that is where the magic happens."

Teacher Cynthia Davis thanked ECS and the PNC Foundation for the STEAM Ahead Play area.

"You have no idea how it changed the dynamic of the center," Davis said. "I can't thank you enough."

The outdoor play area was created to provide a learning environment specifically designed to build skills for STEAM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math, and provide a hands-on learning experience with materials that support creativity and exploration.

Features of the play area include five areas that address STEAM learning such as a gardening area to learn how plants grow, a building area with shapes and ramps to strengthen mathematical learning, an art and music area to develop creativity and imagination, a trike path for tricycles to help children build physical skills, and a water and sand station to examine how the two properties flow.

The new playground will serve over 65 preschoolers at the center.

This year, mark the 20th anniversary of PNC's Grow Up Great initiative, and PNC is focused on outdoor play and learning to help build or rebuild nature-based play and learning spaces in PNC markets throughout the nation.

Chris Kalin, PNC regional president for North Florida, said outdoor physical activity is crucial for child development to increase collaboration, problem-solving, and social skills.

"This is a unique space for the brain to grow and develop," Kalin said. "They can interact with their peers and get physical fitness. Getting engaged outside will help them develop the passion for it."

Natalya Bannister Roby, Ph.D., is the ECS President & CEO and became the first woman of color to be the CEO of Episcopal Children’s Services in January.

Her passion in children education extends from when she worked at the PACE Center for Girls’ as the executive director for the Alachua County branch and the senior director of center operations for Florida and served at the Boys & Girls Club at Woodland Park in Gainesville.

"With this event, you truly see the power of early learning," Roby said. "Investing in early learning strengthens the entire community. It's important that the play area brought the STEAM aspect to it, which can help them succeed regardless of their circumstances."

Roby said that investments like this strengthen the foundation children need to be successful in life.

"These opportunities go a long way," Roby said. "They feel special knowing that there are people who care for them in the community."

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