🌿 Investing in Nature-Based Play and Learning in Tucson 🌿
At PNC, we’re thrilled to collaborate with incredible partners in Tucson to foster high-quality, nature-based outdoor play and learning environments for young children. Together, we’re creating spaces where children can explore, discover, and thrive in harmony with the natural world.
✨ What we’re building together:
* Interactive play areas featuring natural surroundings and sensory elements.
* Professional development for teachers to implement nature-based curricula.
* Family engagement opportunities to deepen connections between home, school, and nature.
A huge thank you to the UA School Garden Workshop for leading these enhancements, providing technical support, and sharing their expertise on how gardens can thrive in the desert. We’re also grateful for the partnership of the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD1.org) and the Brichta Infant & Early Learning Center, whose collaboration makes this impactful work possible.
And there’s more to come! Future enhancements include a farm stand, where children can sharpen their math skills by selling produce, and—yes—a chicken coop to bring learning to life. 🐓🥬
These efforts are backed by research. Recent PNC-funded studies by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) revealed:
📊 Nearly 49% of children ages 3-5 play outside less than once a day.
📚 A literature review highlights that nature-based pre-K programs promote better learning and development outcomes for children.
By combining research-driven practices with local expertise, we’re cultivating a brighter future where children connect with nature and grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
Together, we’re planting the seeds of a lifelong love for learning—and the environment. 🌱
#PNCGrowUpGreat #NatureBasedLearning #EarlyChildhoodEducation #OutdoorPlay #CommunityPartnerships #Tucson
Cathleen Walker, Sally McCrady, Brett Plains, Kyle A. Steinbuch, Jeffrey Quijano, JD, LLM, CFP®, Annabel Whiting, Moses Thompson, Jaime Garcia, Dorella Anaya, Corie McGrath, Shannon Anderson, David Crummey, Mary Zier, Heidi Hurst
Shoutout PNC and #PNCGrowUpGreat for partnering with us on an exciting school garden project at Brichta Early Learning Center in the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD1.org). We're in the midst of a full garden revamp and nature play area. Stay tuned as this amazing project comes together!