Halcyon comes to the playground design world through experiences with child development programs as teacher, director, trainer, and researcher. As Executive Director of the Houston Adventure Play Association, she was introduced to the world
She started out as a Director of Head Start programs in rural north central Pennsylvania, became convinced that child development research should be the guiding light for early childhood programs, earned a doctorate in Developmental Psychology to understand the best techniques of research, and participated in several research projects.
She was recruited to be Executive Director of an agency who sponsored outdoor programs called Adventure Play. In Adventure Play programs—which originated in Europe in the 1940s, children are free to explore their own interests with the help of adult Playworkers who facilitate rather than teach. In Adventure Play programs, children play: They run around with other children in an extended fantasy scenario about heroes and villains; they poke through donated materials to imagine a vehicle that they can then build; they conspire with two or three other compadres to construct a clubhouse. Halcyon has seen how these experiences change children in profound ways – especially those children, often labeled “learning-disabled” whose brains work differently than the current standard public school norm and whose abilities and leadership emerge only in the outdoors. She has wanted to create these rich outdoor experiences for more and more children.
Since 1997, Halcyon has been a playground designer and manufacturer’s representative for several play equipment and site amenities lines, enjoying the satisfaction of facilitating children’s experiences in the outdoors. When clients want to design a playground that encompasses more than equipment, we include accessories, plants, and landscaping. In the rarer instances of programs that want to include more Adventure Play-like opportunities for children, she is happy to accommodate those aspirations as well.
Renee Attaway, M.S., CCC-SLP
"I wanted to share with you what an amazing experience...” More…
Jeff Schneider, Post Oak School
"The children's sustained interest in all of the structures demonstrates the success of our decisions" More…
Kelly Teague, Adventure Play "The baby swings are in use daily, and both kids and adults are using the fitness area" More…
Sue Ellen, Humble Church
"The playground is GREAT!!! The children love it and so do the parents and teachers." More…
