Playwork

The profession has its roots in the early adventure playground movement which began after Lady Allen of Hurtwood visited a site in Copenhagen during the German occupation of the city during World War II. The term and concept of "adventure playground" truly began after she brought the concept back to London. The sites were not typical playgrounds, but rather empty public spaces with a plethora of resources and materials, otherwise mistaken as "junk," for children to build, create, and mold their own environment. Playwork today has been popularized in mainstream culture by the short documentary, The Land, about an adventure playground in Wrexham, Wales. Non-profits such as Pop-Up Adventure Play host trainings, workshops and open play workshops across the UK, US, and Canada. Playwork can be studied at the graduate school level, specifically in Leeds Beckett University in the UK under Dr. Fraser Brown. == Play rangers ==

A play ranger is a local government employee who visits parks and outdoor spaces, providing equipment and some guidance to help children enjoy their public spaces more. They have been described as a combination of a park ranger and a playworker. They share some skills and goals in common with staff of a forest kindergarten, but are more focused on play than workers at forest schools. == References ==