CULLMAN, Ala. – Tinkergarten classes are now being offered in Cullman. The eight-class spring session will begin March 31 and run through May 19 Tuesdays at Heritage Park (No class April 21).
What exactly is Tinkergarten?
According to the organization, “Tinkergarten is on a mission to elevate childhood. We’re growing a technology-enabled network of leaders that bring families together in a natural place in their community for classes where kids learn through play. Each class becomes a tight-knit group of children and adults who learn together through well-designed, outdoor play-based activities. We help kids develop a host of important capabilities, including empathy, collaboration, creativity, persistence and problem solving. Our expert-designed classes and activities help kids ages 6 months—8 years develop core life skills while enjoying healthy, fun, engaging experiences in the physical freedom of local green spaces.”
Said Co-Founder Brian Fitzgerald, “Tinkergarten, our passion project, was born of the hope that we could provide deeply memorable learning moments for kids. But more than that, we saw an opportunity to bring back something that seemed to be lost for this new generation — something that was a most influential part of our own childhoods — free, unstructured time outside.”
Cullman’s class will be taught by Tinkergarten Leader Meg Glenn of Bremen.
Glenn talked a bit about what inspired her to bring Tinkergarten to Cullman.
“I was an educator for 21 years and we moved to the Cullman area,” said Glenn. “I have a grandson, he’s 2 years old, and I wanted him to have the kind of childhood that my kids had, that I had, where we played outside. I saw that day care was indoors and busy families played indoors, and I really wanted for him and other kids of his same age to have more outdoor activities and a chance to feel confident and be outside.”
She continued, “So I found this program actually through a Facebook post of a teacher in the Jasper area who is also a friend of my daughter. Through that post I asked, ‘What is this Tinkergarten thing? What are you doing?’ And she showed me the website, shared it with me, and I started looking into it and I thought, ‘This is a perfect fit for a retired educator for somebody who wants outdoor activities and wants our kids to have outdoor experiences, so that’s how it all started.”
Tinkergarten’s approach focuses on “12 core skills” for kids:
- Ready to Learn: communication, focus, social skills and sensory
- Ready to Thrive: empathy, resilience and wellness
- Ready for Anything: problem solving, persistence, collaboration, stewardship and creativity
Cost and more information
The cost for students (ages 8 months to 8 years) is $140. It can be payed in two installments of $72.50. If enrolling siblings, a 30% discount for each additional sibling will be given. Interested, but need a trial run? There will be a trial class March 21 from 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. at Heritage Park.
Heritage Park is located at 1705 Lee Ave. SW, Cullman, AL 35055.
Glenn is also teaching a class in Arley, at Hamner Park. The Arley classes will be March 30 through May 18 from 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m., with a free trial class Monday, March 23 from 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. The prices and age groups for the Arley class are the same as Cullman’s.
To sign up, visit www.Tinkergarten.com/classes/121341.
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