Tim Richards - Thesis Gate 1 Presentation ABRIDGED

8/3/2019 Tim Richards - Thesis Gate 1 Presentation ABRIDGED

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Toys, PlaY, And Tr Ees

by im A. RichardsOct 14th, 2010for INDS 4C01


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In t r oduc t ion

My aim is to strengthen the emotional bondbetween the newest generations and the trees oour regional ecosystem throughplay.

Amidst media scares o toxic toys and a broader culturaldetachment rom nature, young children are growing up

with less and less contact with their natural surroundings.Environmental education increasingly takes place on

screens and behind glass, not outside where nature reallyis. Children need this direct contact with nature to orma meaningul connection and learn to appreciate whatnature does or us, and in turn how our actions can aect it.


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STAKEHOLDERS

End user s

Young children ages 3-6Parents and Caretakers

Educators

Why:Parents and Educatorsare concerned about theirchildrens future and the

future of the planet. Teyare increasingly aware ofissues like toxic toys andnature-defecit. Childrenneed play in order to buildintellectual, emotional andsocial connections.

Hardwood loggers and processorsWood product manufacturersShipping and distributors

Why:Canada is the worlds largest exporter of forestry products and

expanding their domestic product market will help to increaserevenue and awareness of a precious Canadian resource.

Independent/specialist toy stores

Big-box and chain toy storesOnline toy stores

Why:oy stores want to introduce new andinnovative products to stay competitive in anincreasingly green minded market.

Ret a il er s

Ma n uf a c t ur er s a n d suppl ie r s


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Loc a t ion Te City o oronto aims to increase its treecoverage rom 17% to 40%, realizing that urbantrees are essential to improving urban air quality.Southwestern Ontario is the heart o harvesting and processingo Canadian hardwoods, but is also the nations most denselypopulated and highly urbanized region, home to about 35% oCanadas population.

Canada is the worlds largest exporter o orest goods.

Biologically, this region (the mixedwood plains ecozone) is oneo the most diverse in Canada.


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Key IsSues

In order to make a meaningul connection tonature, children need direct, hands-on experiencein an unstructured play environment.

Children need to be made more aware o the importance onature - in particular, trees which are abundant and accessibleindicators o ecosystem health - close to home, not distanced by

videos and lectures about remote rainorests.

Children between the ages o 3 and 6 are in the midst o theirastest growth period and are at the age where many o their mostvivid and lasting memoriesare made.

Te core o learning is not in the inormation...being pre-digested rom the outside, but in theinteraction between a child and the environment

-Finland Ministry o Social Aairs and Health

Humans seldom value what they cannot name-Biologist, Elaine Brooks


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Image Courtesy of Andrs Fernndez Cordn

Dir ec t on s

&Oppor t un it ies


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Dir ec t on s: #1In-Treediscover y KitTree-houses may be the ideal way to trulyconnect with and learn rom and about trees,oen in your own back-yard!

Unortunately, they are almost illegal inoronto and many other municipalitiessince they may be deemed injurious tothe tree under well-meaning but stricturban orestry bylaws.- a kit or play-set

- canopy exploration- sae or the tree and child- encourages a respectulappreciation or trees


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Dir ec t on s:#

2 FOrest ExploRer

Open-ended, unrestricted playis essentialor children to orm their own deep, personal

bonds with nature.

oys like onka trucks, lincoln logs, andLego are perennial avourites o childrenall around the world. Tese toys oster

imaginative play and can survive anyconditions that a child can set or them.

- mobile rover toy- durable or orest play- sel guided exploration and study- specifc lessons to suit childdevelopment


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DIr ECt ion S: #3 Tree I.D.andLearningHumans seldom value what theycannot name-Biologist, Elaine Brooks

An important aspect obonding with andunderstanding trees is to learn their names, physicalproperties and their lie-sustaining systems, in a visceraland interactive way.

A child given a loose parts kit o tree identifcation tools will engage morethoroughly in their environment and learn in a sel-guided manner the elementsand systems o trees.


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CRITEr ia

-Encourage open-ended, unrestricted play-Sae or kids and trees-Durable-Efcient production method-Utilizes existing Canadian wood processinginrastructure-Emphasizes emotional bond with trees

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Tim Richards - Thesis Gate 1 Presentation ABRIDGED