Ready Region Blue Ridge’s Family Council Hosts Family Engagement Event at WildRock

Ready Region Blue Ridge’s Family Council hosted its kickoff event earlier this month at Wildrock! As the group’s first in-person event, the day at Wildrock turned out to be a huge success. With a great turnout from both Family Council members and Ready Region Blue Ridge/United Way of Greater Charlottesville staff, and their little ones of course, families enjoyed a day of nature play and discovery in Crozet.

Scroll down to view more photos from the event below, or visit the Gallery to see them all!

From free play in Wildrock’s three-acre nature playscape to splashing in the creek and spotting animals along the trails, adults and children alike enjoyed the nature-based fun. Outdoors, kiddos got to climb on giant logs, make mud pies in nature’s kitchen, and even wade through the cool, spring-fed stream. Indoors, the Barn offered imaginative play with sensory bins, a log dollhouse, and a cozy tent for pretend camping. Families also explored the Discovery Loop Trail, enjoyed mountain views from the labyrinth, and relaxed in the Bird Sanctuary.

As much research has shown, nature-based play and time spent outdoors plays a significant role in a child’s early development, so our team was thrilled to see participating families having so much fun. And according to Wildrock’s website, time spent in nature is also linked to:

• Improved mental and physical health
• Increased joy and more positive mood
• Lower rates of anxiety, ADHD and depression
• Improved cognitive ability and emotional regulation
• Increased empathy and creativity

These are not only positive outcomes for children, but for adults as well! The goal of Family Council is to engage families in the Blue Ridge region to provide input on early childhood decision, which helps Ready Regions understand and better meet families’ needs. The first event in the Family Engagement series is one step towards this goal, but it is just the beginning. There will be more events to connect, laugh, and play—stay tuned!

Are you interested in learning more about Family Council? Don’t hesitate to reach out to Terrell Thompson, our Early Education Specialist who oversees Family Engagement. You can reach him at tthompson@unitedwaycville.org or (434) 459-0200.

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