Outdoor improvements

Ruapehu Bulletin, 13 April 1993, Page 6

Outdoor improvements

By

Jan

Savell

Big changes are afoot at the Waiouru Child Care Centre. At present their backyard iricludes a 10 by 7m hole but this will soon become a sandpit as the entire outdoor area at the rear of the building is remodelled. "We didn't want to do the thing in bits. This way we do the whole lot and it should all be finished within a month," said Julia Martin, supervisor for the child care centre. Extending the boundary of the outdoor area has destroyed the one-way street which existed for convenient and safe access to the child care centre. Mrs Martin is sure the benefits will be worth the sacrifice. "The larger outdoor area at the back makes more sense. It is our most sheltered area and the whole focus of the Centre is towards it," she said. At an expected cost of $12,000 the outdoor area

will be doubled. Funding was mainly through the Ministry of Education with a further grant of $3000 from the Dudding Trust. The large sandpit, outdoor climbing frames on

lawn and a tiled area for ride-on toys are planned. At present the area at the front of the building has some of these facilities but Mrs Martin has other plans for this too.

"I can see the front area being used as an adventure play area. We can let the grass grow long, the children can build huts and make their own games out there."