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Smith’s Leaders and Legends Black History Month exhibit is back for its third year. On Saturday, February 4 at 12pm, join us for our Opening Day Hooray. We’ll be joined by Mayor Jim Kenney, elected officials, and some of the honorees as we celebrate the trailblazing accomplishments of some of our city’s most influential Black leaders. The exhibit will be open for outdoor viewing all month long.
Dear Smith Friends,
Essential. Accessible. Intergenerational. As I’ve tried to characterize our work over the past year, I keep coming back to these three words. Here’s why.
At Smith, we witness the benefits of play everyday. We see complex negotiations at the Giant Wooden Slide as kids decide who will sail down first. We see confidence and self-esteem built in real time when a child finally scales to the top of the Apollo Spinner. And, we see families of every race, ethnicity, and religious background, from every corner of the city and suburbs, come together under the banner of joyful recreation. What we can’t always see is the profound impact that this space has on our visitors’ social and emotional well-being. We’ll let 3 of our guests tell you what that impact has meant to their lives.
Peace of mind—that’s a pretty astonishing feat for a Playground. But those of us who love Smith know that it’s so much more than a Playground. Our open fields, wooded terrain, and sloped hills invite us to engage with the silly and the serene simultaneously. For many Philadelphians, there simply isn’t another space where that’s possible. Smith is essential.
No child should have to watch their classmates leave for a school trip while they stay behind with a handful of other kids whose parents couldn’t send any money with the permission slip. State Rep. Amen Brown remembers this feeling, and he’s not alone. While Philly is home to world-class educational and cultural institutions, they come at a cost that is out of reach for far too many households. Smith is proud to be Philadelphia’s only FREE destination for safe indoor/outdoor interactive play experiences 6 days a week. Smith is accessible.
Helen (seen in the photo at right, middle) visited Smith with her Sunday school class for the first time in 1930. In her early 90’s she returned to the Giant Wooden Slide with her sister-in-law Joanne (right) and daughter Gale (left). The slide was a lot smaller than Helen remembered as a child, when a trip to the bottom felt endless, but the feeling of elation that comes from being at Smith was exactly the same. Gathering at Smith is a family tradition that Philadelphians have shared for over a century. It’s a rite of passage and the site of countless memories passed down through generations. Smith is intergenerational.
These stories resonate with us because we are part of a community of caregivers committed to the power of play. We know that Smith is so much more than a Playground. Smith is a pioneer, a refuge, and a visionary all rolled into one.
We envision big changes at Smith in 2023 to expand our programs and refresh our indoor and outdoor play experiences. We ask that you join us in making this vision a reality. From 12/26-12/31, Smith Playground’s generous Board of Directors will match all gifts from NEW donors and all INCREASED gifts from previous donors up to $15,000. Please consider making a gift this year if you are able.
With much gratitude,
Frances Hoover
Executive Director
P.S. To keep up with what’s happening at Smith, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Here’s to You in 2022! from Smith Playground on Vimeo.
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With the recent completion of renovations to our historic Playhouse, Smith is excited to announce the opening of Smith Urban Nature Preschool!
While the enrollment process for Smith Urban Nature (SUN) Preschool has not begun, we would love to keep you updated as we prepare for our opening. If you are interested in keeping in touch, send an email to Zero at director@sunpreschool.org.
Have you ever dreamt of shaping a new school? The Smith Urban Nature (SUN) Preschool is looking for a visionary teaching team to launch its first year! Click here for the full job description. Please send your cover letter and resume to director@sunpreschool.org.
Smith’s new Urban Nature Preschool on the lower level of the Playhouse aims to:
Zero Jones (any pronouns) is incredibly excited to step into the role of Director at Smith Urban Nature Preschool! Zero is a childcare worker currently living in West Philly. They’ve been making art and music with kids of all ages for over a decade, with early education classroom experience since 2015. Zero has a B.A. in Music Education from Temple University and an M.Ed in Early Childhood Education from Arcadia University. They also research, present, and consult on a variety of topics including self-directed education, expressive arts, and place-based learning. Zero loves playing instruments, as well as embroidering, reading, and keeping pet slugs!
Feel free to reach out to Zero with thoughts or questions at director@sunpreschool.org.