The first day of August sort of had me panicking… there were so many things on our summer bucket list and I feel like we haven’t crossed many off. Honestly, there could be worse things to be stressed by, but when I can see September in sight it’s more like I am seeing December in sight instead! One of the things on our list to check out this summer was the Forest Playground created by the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust.
So, on the first day of August, with December err… September looming, I decided it was a great day to check it out! If you aren’t familiar with what the forest playground is you will soon discover it isn’t your typical playground. For lack of a better description I would say that it’s a place that engages the five senses and let’s your imagination sort of run wild. Or if I wanted to make it resonate with grown-ups, it’s reminiscent of the simpler times when playgrounds didn’t have signs that told you to log in to an app to find out fun things to do on the playground (seriously, I hate seeing those at playgrounds) and when a few pots and pans, mud and some stolen spoons from the kitchen could keep you busy outside for hours.
The elements and materials found at the Forest Playground are all about fun, connection, creativity, movement and basically what was a common part of childhood for kids before the new millennium, when being outside in a more natural world was more the norm. When you arrive at the Curtis Farm Preserve (the plan is for the playground to rotate through other preserves, but for the summer it is located there) you take a short hike into the trail. Rather than being met by plastic play structures the first thing we noticed was the Forest Kitchen- filled with pots and pans, chalk surfaces, a climbing ladder, non-traditional monkey bars. (Okay if I am being completely honest, the first thing I noticed was a bench to sit and read on within sight of all the different play stations, you know mom priorities!)
Opposite of the kitchen area is an area with magnifying glasses, binoculars, a scale and signs giving you hints on what to look for in the area. The next section has lots of fun items to make music… and a hammock to relax in (just a warning, when little faces aren’t peeking in at you relaxing, suddenly you will encounter mosquitoes just when you start to relax- such is life, right?) Facing out on the field is a tire swing that was a hit too! The preserve is so beautiful and peaceful, I could have stayed all day!
Aside from exploring all the playground has to offer, there is a story walk that spans about a quarter of a mile down the trail, with 19 posted pages- it was a new story to us and we all loved it. As a warning, there are some berries on the trail and no matter how many times you say, “Don’t touch any berries without a grown up saying it’s okay” if you have a rebel child, like I do, you will hear them spitting and saying, “Yuck.” Which caused a little panic, had me texting my friends who are more outdoorsy than I am and asking my husband to Google quickly because I didn’t have enough reception for the internet. Thankfully we learned they were elderberries and not poisonous, and there were lots of Maine blueberries in which to satisfy his berry craving. But the trail had tons of elderberries toward the end of the story (and some other berries that thankfully he didn’t notice, because they probably are poisonous.)
Anyway, we highly recommend checking it out! We spent over 90 minutes there, even in the heat- there’s a lot of shade, but definitely bring water on a warm day. We met someone on the path who had been swimming with her dogs in the cove, but we didn’t make it that far as I was anxious to Google the berries, but we might go prepared to swim next time!
The only rules for the playground are:
- It’s Free
- It’s open to the public dawn to dusk, seven days a week
- Currently it can found at Curtis Farm Preserve
- Be kind to each other, and nature!
To get there, park at the Harpswell Neck Road parking lot for the preserve (at approx. 1554 Harpswell Neck Road) and follow the trail to the playground! Check back for updates on where to track it down in the future. Now go out and play (and if you get tired you better hope you have someone strong to carry you back to the car!)
