February 16, 2024 Ultimate Play Day Ultimate Play Day is a celebration of playfulness for people of all ages. Co-hosted by Playful Pittsburgh, Trying Together, and Citiparks as part of Remake Learning Days, this annual fun-filled event centralizes the importance and power of play for all people of any age. Partner and community organizations offer play activities for all ages at a different venue each year. Event Details: When: Saturday, 05/18 | 1 -4 p.m. Where: Riverview Park, Riverview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Register your family today! Additional Details: Organizations that will be at the event: Venture Outdoors City Squeakers Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library Kids’ Chemical Solutions Carnegie Science Center Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Child In Mind Consulting Neighborhood North Museum of Play Brandi’s Care with Love/ We Cook We Eat Wesley Family Services Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Connected Nest Jeremiah’s Place BikePGH Playnotes Fred Rogers Institute Pittsburgh Cultural Trust If your organization would like to participate in this year’s Ultimate Play Day event, please get in touch with adam@tryingtogether.org Share this flier with your networks.
August 23, 2023 IPA-USA National Day of Loose Parts Play The International Play Association-USA chapter presents National Day of Play on September 16, 2023! To celebrate this international recognition of the importance of play, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is hosting a special, pop-up play day on Saturday, September 16 at Lytle Land and The Elizabeth Street Parklet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Playful Pittsburgh “IPA-USA National Day of Loose Parts Play” event is a free, family-friendly opportunity for all communities throughout Pittsburgh to enjoy a day of play. The event will focus on embracing loose parts play to highlight how everyday items, such as cardboard boxes, paper tubes, string, and various fabrics can be representative of items from around the world. Using our imagination, we will celebrate cultural differences and similarities of play through a range of activities. When: Saturday, 9/16 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Where: Lytle Land Park, 5113 Lytle Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15207 (Hazelwood) Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. We know you’ll leave the play day feeling inspired and creative, so the fun can continue wherever your family travels! Loose parts are all around us! Don’t miss this celebration of play from perspectives around the world! Partnering Organizations Include: Open Field Child in Mind Consulting Global Links Kaleidoscope PGH City Squeakers Trying Together Lion of Judah Enterprises
August 17, 2023 Hazelwood Tree Appreciation Day! Come to the Hazelwood community in September for a special appreciation event for trees! Join Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, Landforce, Tree Pittsburgh, and Arts Excursions Unlimited on Friday, September 22 as they collectively celebrate the importance of play in nature at Lytle Land and The Elizabeth Street Parklet in Hazelwood. When: Friday, September 22 | 4 – 6 p.m. Where: Lytle Land, Hazelwood, 5113 Lytle Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15207 During this appreciation event, participate in a tree walk where you will learn about the life cycle of a tree and a nature scavenger hunt. This event is FREE and open to the community, and is family-friendly. For more information, contact Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative at playfulpgh@tryingtogether.org.
May 3, 2023 Ultimate Play Day Returns to Pittsburgh on Sunday, May 7 Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, alongside event partners Trying Together, Citiparks, and ZeroFossil, will host its annual Ultimate Play Day from 1 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 7. Ultimate Play Day is an opportunity for people throughout the Pittsburgh region to gather together, play together, and raise awareness of the benefits of play for everyone. This year, Ultimate Play Day will be held at Lower McKinley Park in the Beltzhoover/Knoxville area of Pittsburgh. Local partners and community organizations offer play activities for all ages each year. This year, more than 28 vendors are participating with hands-on playful activities, entertainment, and refreshments. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of “playful” activities from vendors, including ultimate frisbee, basketball, soccer, imagination/dramatic play with costumes, bean bag toss, oversized classic games like Connect 4 and Jenga, and plenty of arts and crafts projects. Share the Ultimate Play Day flyer with your friends, family, and neighbors! Ultimate Play Day is a part of Remake Learning Days. Remake Learning Days returns to Southwestern PA May 4 – May 23, 2023. A special thank you to Remake Learning for providing a mini-grant to The Collaborative for Ultimate Play Day. SLB Radio Ultimate Play Day Interview Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative was a special guest on the Neighborhood Voices show, hosted by The Saturday Light Brigade, to talk about Ultimate Play Day! Assistant Director of Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Adam James and Nicole Stevens from Beltzhoover Consensus Group joined SLB Radio to talk about this special day of play, why play is important for everyone, and how this event will connect neighbors throughout the City of Pittsburgh. Visit the Ultimate Play Day webpage to listen to this interview. Getting to Ultimate Play Day Ultimate Play Day is the same day as the Pittsburgh Marathon. That means there will be adjusted traffic patterns to be aware of, but that won’t stop the fun! You can find additional directions to get to Lower McKinley Park on the Ultimate Play Day webpage. Check out this map provided by the Pittsburgh Marathon to check the rolling road closures and openings on Sunday, May 7. Lower McKinley Park Learn more about Lower McKinley Park and its history before Ultimate Play Day. Check out this informational flyer on McKinley Park from Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Remake Learning Days Remake Learning Days hosts 1200+ learning events reaching 150,000 families. The festival features events across the southwestern PA region for youth, families, grandparents, caregivers and educators to explore creative and fun ways of learning. For more information, visit remakelearningdays.org/southwesternpa. Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is a group of organizations dedicated to advancing the importance of play in the lives of children, families, and communities in the Pittsburgh region by raising awareness on play being a critical life element for people of all ages, educating decision-makers (from parents to legislators) to support access to play for all, and modeling play through various recreational and professional activities. For more information, visit playfulpittsburgh.org.
March 21, 2023 Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Lytle Land / Elizabeth Street Parklet Clean-Up Day Join Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, Landforce, Rising Tide, and Hazelwood Initiative, Inc. for a day of community clean up at Lytle Land and the Elizabeth Street Parklet. There will be jobs for all ages, skill sets, and abilities. Lunch will be provided following the clean-up! Please email playfulpgh@tryingtogether.org if you have any questions about this community clean-up day. When: Saturday, April 1, 2023 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Where: Hazelwood, 5113 Lytle Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15207 Share the flyer with your networks.
February 2, 2023 Ultimate Play Day 2023 Join Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, Trying Together, CitiParks and ZeroFossil for the Ultimate Play Day! Ultimate Play Day is a celebration of playfulness for people of all ages. Hosted by the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, this annual event is an opportunity for people throughout the Pittsburgh region to play together and raise awareness of the benefits of play for all people—from birth to 199 years. Partner and community organizations offer play activities for all ages at a different venue each year. Location Lower McKinley Park Bausman Street Pittsburgh, PA 15210 Share our flyer with your networks. Additional Information This event is a part of Remake Learning Days. Remake Learning Days Across America is an innovative learning festival for families and youth! Taking root in regions across the nation, these hands-on and engaging events are designed for kids of all ages at libraries, schools, tech centers, museums, play spaces, community centers and more. This year’s festival is from April 20 – May 26, 2023. Southwestern PA Remake Learning Days is from May 4 – 23, 2023. More details for this event will be available in the coming months. Please subscribe to the Trying Together newsletter for more details.
April 21, 2022 Ultimate Play Day Coming May 15 In partnership with CitiParks and Trying Together, the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative will be hosting its Ultimate Play Day on Sunday, May 15, 2022, from 1- 4 p.m. About Ultimate Play Day The big event will take place at Liberty Green Park, located at 100 Larimer Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206. This Remake Learning Days event includes fun for all ages – including games, activities, art projects, and live entertainment – and the opportunity to explore the possibilities of play in partnership with other organizations around Pittsburgh. There’s no need to pre-register for this free event. Upon arrival, attendees should visit the registration table to pick up some Ultimate Play Day swag while supplies last. There also will be a water station set up in the park for attendees to fill up their water bottles. Sign Up to Volunteer or Facilitate an Activity Those who are interested can volunteer or even provide a playful activity. To sign up, visit the Volunteer Sign Up Sheet and the Playful Vendor Form. More Information For questions or concerns about the event, please feel free to reach out to Adam James at playfulpgh@tryingtogether.org. For more information, visit the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative website.
April 27, 2021 New Recess Advocacy Toolkit Amid concern for the welfare of children during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Recess Advocacy Team, co-led by Trying Together and the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, have created a toolkit highlighting research, strategies, and advocacy opportunities for play and physical activity at home and at school. Families and educators may use the toolkit to discover new ways to play this summer and to advocate for playful learning next school year. About the Toolkit The Recess Advocacy Toolkit is designed to be a resource for educators and families on the importance of recess and play for the healthy social-emotional growth of children and includes: information on different types of play; research to inform educators and administrators on the benefits of recess; testimonials and tips from Physical Education teachers; and template emails and social media posts for digital advocacy. Learn More Families and educators may access The Recess Advocacy Toolkit on the Trying Together website. The creation of this toolkit was made possible by The Grable Foundation and Remake Learning Tomorrow Grants. For questions or suggestions, please contact recess@tryingtogether.org.
January 28, 2021 Virtual Conference: Finding Joy through Playful Learning Finding Joy through Playful Learning aims to bring together educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners who have a variety of experiences related to education, play, and learning. The conference will take place via Zoom over the course of several days covering six topics related to playful learning. The goal is to generate dialogue among different stakeholders and share best practices to support children and families in learning through play. About Join Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, and Trying Together in February for a virtual conference bringing together educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss and share best practices to support children and families in learning through play. Act 48 and PQAS credits are available. PPID and PD Registry numbers will be collected during the sessions. The following discount code is available for early educators who wish to participate in individual sessions or the entire series: EDU-ALL for $25 price for all six workshops EDU-CHOOSE for $5/per workshop Available Sessions Rethinking Education During and Post COVID-19 Wednesday, February 3, 2021 | 3 – 5 p.m. Join featured speakers Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Dr. Scott Miller, and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy for discussions of how playful learning can change education during and after COVID-19. Featured Speakers: Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek (Temple University, Brookings Institution), Scott Miller (Avonworth Primary Center), and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. How Play Can Improve Mental Health and Wellbeing Thursday, February 4, 2021 | 9 – 11 a.m. Hear from Sarah Grubb, Cindy Eggleton, and Sheba Gittens about play’s role in mental health and wellbeing. Featured Speakers: Cindy Eggleton (Brilliant Detroit), Sarah Grubb (ELRC Region 5), and Sheba Gittens (University of Pittsburgh). Addressing Equity Issues Through Playful Learning Thursday, February 4, 2021 | 3 – 5 p.m. Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims and Dr. Mandy McGuire will present their work on using play and playful learning to address inequity. Featured Speakers: Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims (PaTTAN) and Dr. Mandy McGuire (University of Texas at Dallas). Activating Communities Around Playful Learning Tuesday, February 9, 2021 | 3 – 5 p.m. Ariana Brazier, Justin Forzano, Shari Hersh, Gamar Markarian, and Sarah Siplak, will discuss what it means to activate communities and how their communities inform the work they do. Featured Speakers: Ariana Brazier (ATL Parent Like a Boss), Justin Forzano (Open Field), Shari Hersh (Mural Arts), Gamar Markarian (New School), and Sarah Siplak (Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative). Using Technology to Strengthen the Way We Learn and Play Wednesday, February 10, 2021 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn about technologies and applications from Katie Gullone, Megan Rooney, Javier Maisonet, and Project Rangeet. Featured Speakers: Elias Blinkoff (Temple Infant & Child Lab), Katie Gullone (Trying Together), Javier Maisonet (Math Talk), Simran Mulchandani (Project Rangeet), and Megan Rooney (La Escuelita Arcoiris). Replicable and Low-Cost Ideas for Playful Learning Wednesday, February 10, 2021 | 3 – 5 p.m. Explore low-cost and replicable ways to encourage playful learning from Shannon Merenstein, Amy Kronenberg, Rebecca Fabiano, and Aishwarya Narayana. Featured Speakers: Rebecca Fabiano (Fab Youth Philly), Amy Kronenberg (Learn to Earn Dayton), Shannon Merenstein (HATCH Art Studio), and Aishwarya Narayana (HUME). Registration To register, visit the online registration page. General Admission tickets cost $55 and include admission to all sessions. Single session registration is also available for $10 per session. Attendees will receive the Zoom link for each day’s session prior to the start of the event. More Information For questions, contact admin@playfullearninglandscapes.fun or 267.468.8610.
November 24, 2020 Stay and Play! Early learning programs: Are you interested in participating in music, movement, wellness, science, and creative expression activities with your children? Join Trying Together and the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative for the eight-week virtual “Stay and Play!” series. Stay and Play! Many providers face the challenge of juggling virtual learning for school-age children while keeping younger children engaged. To help support this work, Trying Together and the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative reimagined the Come Play! experience. As part of the eight-week “Stay and Play!” series, we invite early learning programs to participate in a weekly virtual playdate. Join in music, movement, wellness, science, and creative expression activities that make play a joyful part of the day. Available Sessions December 10, 2020 | 10:30 a.m. Register December 17, 2020 | 10:30 a.m. Register January 7, 2021 | 10:30 a.m. Register January 14, 2021 | 10:30 a.m. Register January 21, 2021 | 10:30 a.m. Register January 28, 2021 | 10:30 a.m. Register February 4, 2021 | 10:30 a.m. Register More Information Registration preferred 24 hours in advance. Contact Sarah Byrne-Houser at sarah@tryingtogether.org to register at any time. Please share this flyer with your networks.
