“Today’s children don’t get the chance to play like this for a variety of reasons, so Ijams created a place to give children, parents and caregivers a safe place where that connection to nature can happen,” she said. “It’s a place where there is a whole lot of ‘yes’ and not a lot of ‘no.’”
Parker said research conducted over the past two decades shows how an early childhood connection to nature through unstructured play helps develop critical cognitive, social and physical skills. However, the lack of natural areas near homes, barriers preventing access to open spaces and safety concerns may prevent these experiences.
“Ijams Nature Center’s mission is to be an educational resource for everyone and eliminate barriers whenever possible,” Parker said. “But Ijams cannot do that alone. This amazing space for children in our community would not have been possible without significant support from Grayson Subaru and Subaru of America.”
“When Ijams presented Grayson Subaru with the idea of creating a place where kids can play in nature, where they can use their imaginations and develop a love of the outdoors, we knew it was something we wanted to support,” Grayson Subaru Sales Manager Randy Carter said. “Subaru of America and Grayson Subaru are committed to helping people find outdoor adventures. Providing our youngest children with this opportunity is the perfect fit for Subaru, and we are honored to be a part of this project.”
Ijams also received support from The Aslan Foundation and Tennessee Department of Agriculture Forestry Division to fund initial invasive plant removal on the 13.46-acre property.
“Partnerships are critical to everything Ijams does,” Parker said. “Volunteers gave and are continuing to give thousands of hours of their time to remove invasive plants from the space, as well as helping with building projects. The Ijams Natural Resource Management team has spent several years coordinating these efforts and has logged countless hours preparing this space. It truly takes a team to build a dream.”
