Published October 10, 2013
The ULM CDC’s outdoor music center
The University of Louisiana at Monroe Child Development Center was recently recognized
as an Honorable Mention winner in the Southern Early Childhood Association’s “Exemplary
Outdoor Classroom Contest.”
This year’s contest theme was “Creating a Nature-Inspired Outdoor Learning Environment
on a Shoestring Budget.”
According to Emily Williamson, director of the ULM Child Development Center, the judges
evaluated how the outdoor learning environments were creatively designed for learning
with the expenditure of very little funds. ULM creatively designed their outdoor learning
area with donated items from parents and the community. An outdoor music center was
created with pots, pans, and cast off percussion instruments. Bread trays were used
to create weaving boards, and donated concrete pavers were recycled to make a hop
scotch game.
Williamson stated, “I am proud that we were able to recycle and give items new life
in our outdoor learning environments.”
The grand-prize winner was Agapeland Youth Enrichment Program in Marion, S.C., and
the runner-up was The Child Development and Family Studies Center in Starkville, Miss.
St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Atlanta, Ga., and Lifespan Montessori of Athens,
Inc. in Athens, Ga. received Honorable Mention awards alongside the ULM CDC.
The winning programs will be featured in the winter 2013 issue of “Dimensions of Early
Childhood.” Awards will be presented at the 2014 SECA Annual Conference in Williamsburg,
Va.
More about the Southern Early Childhood Association:
According to their website, since 1948, the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA)
has brought together preschool, kindergarten, and primary teachers and administrators,
caregivers, program directors, and individuals working with and for families to promote
quality care and education for young children across the south.
Over 20,000 individuals working in every aspect of child care and early childhood
belong to SECA. They share ideas in local, state, and regional meetings, in professional
development institutes, and through the association's publications and resources.
Members receive many benefits, including a quarterly journal, Dimensions of Early
Childhood, and discounts on publications and conference registration.
Photo courtesy
