The Nature Explore Classroom at
Highland Plaza United Methodist Preschool
Since achieving our initial Nature Explore Classroom certification in 2012, Highland Plaza United Methodist Preschool’s natural playscape has continued to evolve, transform, and expand.
Our original theme sprang from well-known landmarks in Chattanooga and the geography of southeast Tennessee situated in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. With some very creative interpretation we were able to pair popular area attractions with the recommended and supplemental areas required for NEC certification.
Some of our favorites include the Lookout Mountain tire climbing wall (climbing/crawling area), the Walnut Street Walking Bridge, the Appalachian Trail, and Point Park (pathway through plantings), the RiverBend Amphitheater and RiverPark picnic area (gathering area), the Chattanooga Symphony (music and movement area), the Tennessee Aquarium (sand area), the Tennessee River, Lake Chickamauga and the Water Canons (water areas), the Ruby Falls Reading Cave, the Alpine Slides and Coolidge Park Carousel (dynamic equipment), and the Muddy Banks (messy materials area). These exciting and engaging spots are scattered throughout our upper and lower Playscape with each space inspiring exploration, observation, and ways to strengthen skills in learning and relationships.
Luckily existing on a 5-acre wooded plot in the midst of a neighborhood and on an intersection with a traffic light, we have developed and crafted our ‘wilder’ places into three hiking trails: one with a campfire pit and giant megaphone in which to sit and have nature sounds amplified around you for a full body experience; one that includes a gathering area and pathway that t-bones into a creek; and one that connects our campfire pit with one of our outdoor classrooms.
The last several years have seen the creation and perfecting of our three outdoor classrooms, which host two of our five classes each along with our art studio with direct access from the building. These are the Container Gardens, Courtyard, and Wetlands, each with distinctive features that offer magical experiences of sound-making (pebble harp, slap organ, musical gates, and butterfly chime), water play, a magnetic wall, mud kitchens, art, bird observation bird blind, and gardening.
In the spring of 2024 we completed our ‘front yard’ – Plaza Park. This shared area is utilized by everyone in our preschool community with its trifecta of an active play area consisting of the natural cedar logs Timberjack Climber, Nest Deck, stump and log balancing walk, and Rock Cairn Climbing sculpture; the central picnic area with enough seating for 32 children and adults; and the interlocking circle pathways with the ContaBass chimes instrument. On most fair weather days, families meet up in Plaza Park after school to enjoy a picnic lunch and play date together.
