Young minds will bloom in the warm Georgia weather over Earth Day weekend as Sweetwater Creek State Park sets up the Imagination Playground.
Children will be surrounded by larger-than-life lightweight blocks and tubes, in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and have freedom to enjoy hours of open-ended play outdoors.
Imagination Playground blocks have been featured at other Atlanta venues, including Children's Museum of Atlanta.
Families may wonder why the blocks come in only one vibrant shade of blue. Developers of the program say a single color facilitates more imaginative play and prevents kids from engaging in competition that might arise when sharing multicolored toys.
This stimulating opportunity for outdoor exercise and creative play is provided free through an AmeriCorps grant and will be assisted by AmeriCorps volunteer rangers. Parents will be able to relax and enjoy the lovely scenery of Sweetwater Creek while the kids are occupied.
The Imagination Playground is recommended for children ages 4-12 and will be available from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 23. The event is free, but visitors will need to pay the standard state park fee of $5 for parking.
The event will not be held in inclement weather.
Georgia's state parks offer a wide variety of family activities that focus on nature and man's footprint on the earth. In keeping with this theme, Sweetwater Creek honors Earth Day weekend by offering additional kid-friendly activities April 23.
Imagination Playground participants can pause their building 1-3 p.m. to enjoy two interactive programs about bees.
Perplexed by Pollinators runs 1-2 p.m. Kids and their parents will discover what pollinators are and learn about the positive effect that bees have on our entire ecosystem.
Then, from 2 to 3, How to Make the Honey participants can take part a Q&A with a beekeeper, make a bee-themed craft and even see an enclosed bee hive up close.
Sweetwater Creek State Park is at 1750 Mount Vernon Road, Lithia Springs, Ga. 30122. Questions about any of these programs can be emailed to redtop.programmers@dnr.ga.gov or call 770-732-5871.
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