Recruitment of Kindergartens and Daycare Centers Until the 12th
Open to Residents on Weekends and Public Holidays
The Early Childhood Forest Experience Centers in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, will begin operations starting this March. The Yangcheon-gu Early Childhood Forest Experience Centers are places where young children can play in the forest, learn about nature, and develop social skills and creativity, receiving positive responses from local children and parents.
Seoul Yangcheon-gu will open six children's forest experience centers in the district starting this March. The photo shows children using the Sinjeongsan Children's Forest Experience Center. Provided by Yangcheon-gu.
There are six Early Childhood Forest Experience Centers located at Sinjeongsan (2 sites), Jiyangsan, Yongwangsan, Maebongsan, and Galsan, each covering an area of over 10,000㎡ and equipped with outdoor experiential learning spaces and safety facilities. Each facility features play equipment made from natural materials such as rocks, trees, and soil instead of artificial structures, allowing children to play using elements from nature, which is a distinctive characteristic.
The district office operates regular classes (Monday to Friday) this year to support periodic forest experience activities for children and is recruiting institutions to participate until the 12th of this month. The program targets kindergartens and daycare centers located in Yangcheon-gu, with up to 20% of participants allowed from institutions in other districts. Selected institutions can use the Early Childhood Forest Experience once a week at a designated time.
On weekends and public holidays, the centers are open to general residents with their families, and in spring and autumn, the ‘Early Childhood Forest Family Festival’ is held to experience nature together with family.
The district has been sequentially establishing and operating Early Childhood Forest Experience Centers since 2015, starting with Sinjeongsan Ureongbawi, to provide opportunities for children who lack access to nature in the busy urban environment. Last year, from March to November, about 48,000 people participated in 1,768 forest experience programs.
Qualified Early Childhood Forest Instructors reside at the centers to run seasonal customized programs and guide play activities. Additionally, the centers operate an ‘Eoullim Class’ where children with disabilities and non-disabled children participate together, helping not only physical development but also social relationships and emotional growth.
Lee Gijae, the district mayor, said, “I hope children can grow physically and strengthen their immunity through forest experience activities, as well as develop healthy minds,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to provide high-quality, nature-friendly educational programs.”
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