Take a child out into nature, and what are they naturally drawn to play with? It’s pretty universal… sticks and rocks. So this is the perfect playground for a child… an area filled with sticks and rocks, inviting the child to stack, build, and create. Imaginations went wild this day. In additional to the simple joys of stacking and weaving, a few of the items the children created were spaceships, a computer, a police station, and a chemistry lab.
The Create with Nature Zone at Blake Garden was created by Zach Pine, an environmental artist, dedicated to “connecting people to nature and to each other.” I love what he did here! For anyone out there interested in children, art, and/or nature, please visit his website for more information… www.naturesculpture.com.
I wish there were more of these zones, perhaps in all communities, where children could play with natural items in a safe, inviting environment. This one is a 45-minute drive from our home… just a bit too far for us to visit regularly. How I’d love to have one closer!
Interested in going? The gardens are open Monday – Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. Sorry… closed weekends and UC Berkeley holidays! For location and additional information, visit the Blake Garden website… laep.ced.berkeley.edu/blakegarden/
Other posts about our visit this day (kids also loved the bamboo tunnel!!)…
hike.wander.wonder 
One of the best unknown gardens in the Bay Area.
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So true!
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Very cool! I am definitely going to plan a trip up here. (I’m really excited about that tunnel especially.) This has been great inspiration to get my daughter doing more creating in the backyard as well. I’m thinking i might also make up a batch of homemade playdough for her to use out there as well for some sculpture creating. too bad it wouldn’t last thru a rain though…. luckily it won’t rain here for a couple more months. I’ve definitely book marked the Zach Pine site, and will keep my eye out for his upcoming events. Thanks for the resources!
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An upcoming event that looks awesome is The Nature of Art Festival, to be held September 23rd at Redwood Regional Park. Check it out… http://www.artinnaturefestival.org/Home.html . As for a home “Create with Nature Zone”, my little one collects sticks and rocks everywhere we go. They make great backyard stacking and building materials. The sculpture idea sounds fun!
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Anything that get’s your children outside is a good thing. G
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Absolutely!
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Great idea for community parks.
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I agree. And schools. School gardens are very popular now. This would be a nice extension.
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Looks like so much fun. Wish we had some place like that in L.A. 🙂
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Your boys would love this! I wish we had one closer to our home. This one is a 45-minute drive…
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Wonderful!!
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Yes, this is such a wonderful idea.
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What a great idea…
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Isn’t it?
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