For Every Playground You Visit and Share–NWF Recieves $1

We’re so glad you found your way to the National Wildlife Federation! We’re excited to share a new project we have going and hope you’ll join us!  OK…here’s how it goes:

Have you ever heard of KaBOOM!?  If not, let me tell you…

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit that empowers communities to build playgrounds. They passionately believe that play has purpose, and that unstructured play in particular helps make children happier, fitter, smarter, more socially adept and creative.

Have you ever heard of Be Out There? If not, here we go…

Nature for the Next Generation:

• Engages multi-generations of families to pass on a love of the outdoors to a younger generation. It is through these outdoor experiences that we’re building a conservation ethic and concern for the natural world
• Promotes easy activities and new experiences while spending time outside, with help from Ranger Rick and other other children’s publications and NWF’s educational programs like Green Hour.

So, KaBOOM!  +  Be Out There = cool community service project!

Here’s where you come in:

1. Grab your camera, your children, grandkids or neighborhood kids and head outside. Take some photos of parks, playgrounds, trails and other “playspaces” in your neighborhood.
2. Afterward, go home, turn on your computer and visit kaboom.org/nwf.  Click on the big JOIN button and join both the KaBOOM! site and our team and start entering the information and uploading your photos into the “Playspace Finder.” Check out the video tutorial.
3. The KaBOOM! Playspace Finder is an online tool that allows users to identify and rate parks across the country. Is your local park or playground in there?  If not, you can help us win some money!
4. Here’s the best part: For every valid Playspace you enter on the KaBOOM! website, $1 will be donated to NWF. And if NWF generates the most Playspaces, we win an additional $20,000!

Still have questions?  Here are a couple answers:
Q: What is the definition of a playspace?
A: A playspace can be a field, skatepark, horseshoe pit, roller hockey rink, disc-golf course, playground, lake, dog park, community center, basketball court or ice rink — any public place where anyone can engage in unstructured play either for free or for a nominal fee.

Q: What might be rejected by KaBOOM! as not a valid playspace for the 100,000 in 100 days challenge?
A: An amusement park, a golf course, a gated childcare center, or a backyard play set would not qualify. If there is more than a nominal fee for usage of the playspace, or the playspace is located on private property, it will likely be rejected.

Click here for more FAQs

Thanks everyone! Now go outside and find those playspaces!