2010
Lois Brink serves on a best practices report panel for Play Matters, at the National League of Cities conference.
Click Here to read all about it!
Sarah Lampe presents at the 137th annual American Public Health Association Meeting and Exposition.
Click Here to learn more about the upcoming Exposition!
Learning Landscapes attend the Healthy Kids, Healthy Nation conference.
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Learning Landscapes announces $660,000 in new funding.
$250,000 from LiveWell Colorado; $360,000 from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; $30,000 from the Denver Office of Economic Development; and $20,000 was awarded from the Prevention Institute
LiveWell Westwood participates in pilot project promoting violence prevention, healthy eating and active living initiatives. LiveWell Westwood will partner with...
Councilman Paul Lopez of District 3, the Gang Rescue and Assistance Project, Sisters of Color United for Education, and Denver Health. This grant is funded by the Prevention Institute.
Learning Landscapes very own Cate Townley was appointed to the City of Englewood Urban Renewal Authority and the Keep Englewood Beautiful Commission.
Read More about Keep Englewood Beautiful and the City of Englewood Urban Renewal Authority here February 2010
The State of Play: Gallup Survey of Principals on School Recess.
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Mustangs on the Move, Munroe Elementary's incentive-based walk-to-school program was featured on Channel 7 News!
Watch Video!
Learning Landscapes provides testimony at the Capitol on behalf of House Bill 10-1120.
Click Here to read the bill.
Lois Brink and Leanne Paez Duncan in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Lois Brink and Leanne Paez Duncan present at the 6th International Conference on Environmental, Cultural and Social Sustainability in Cuenca, Ecuador.
2009
Learning Landscapes was highlighted in the UC Denver Advocate in the article “Play: cure obesity on the merry-go-round”.
Learning Landscapes strives to improve public schoolyards and impact health.
KaBOOM!recognizes Learning Landscapes as one of the nation's top programs for getting kids active and playful!
In a new report, Play Matters, national non-profit KaBOOM! has searched the country for local initiatives that have increased the quantity of available play spaces and opportunities, improved the quality of kids playtime, and increased children's safe access to them. KaBOOM! is the national non-profit bringing play back into the lives of children. The Play Matters report was commissioned as part of the prganization's Playful City USA campaign, which seeks to honor communities across the country who have made a committment to improving the lives of their children through play. "Learning Landscapes," a program of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver, was one of 12 programs the organization singled out as an example of great ways communities can help get their kids active and healthy. Read more...
Learning Landscapes receives $3 million grant from NIH to study the effects of schoolyards on childhood obesity
Over the last 10 years, thanks to the generous support of Denver voters, foundation grants, and grassroots efforts, Denver's children now have healthier places to play. Learning Landscapes, a program of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver and the Center for Human Nutrition at the UC Denver School of Medicine has learned it is the recipient of a $3 million National Institutes of Health grant to study how Denver’s redeveloped schoolyards, in combination with nutrition education, affect childhood activity levels and obesity rates. The five-year grant will look at 24 Denver Public Schools’ (DPS) elementary playgrounds; 12 that have Learning Landscapes in place and 12 control schools that have older playground equipment and pea gravel yards. Read more...
Channel 4 News spotlights Mustangs on the Move, an incentive-based walk-to-school program at Munroe Elementary
A new report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council shows local governments how to fight childhood obesity. Researchers say that local government plays a crucial role in promoting healthy communities. Read more...
Playground constructed in less than one day in Westwood neighborhood!
LiveWell Westwood, a program of Learning Landscapes, helped sponsor a new playground to increase recreation opportunities for children underserved in parks and open space. Over 200 volunteers came together for one day of hard work, co-sponsored by KaBOOM!, The Park People, Mutual of Omaha, and City Council District 3. The event was covered by Channel 9 news.
Coalition considered for funding by RWJF Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities (HKHC)
A coalition of partners headed by Denver Health, Learning Landscapes, and the City of Denver's Department of Public Works has been approved to continue into the final round of a grant proposal process. The application to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities (HKHC) initiative is to establish policy that improves Denver’s streetscape and neighborhoods for children’s active travel and play, such as walking and biking to school. Originally, over 100 communities applied; 27 have been approved to enter this phase of applying, and 20 projects will eventually be funded for $360,000 over four years.
Colorado Public Radio interviews Learning Landscapes
The idea behind "Learning Landscapes" is to do more education outside and create a place the whole neighborhood can use. Ryan Warner speaks with the program's director, Lois Brink. Listen here.
Channel 9 News Spotlights Learning Landscapes
Fifth grader Edwin Ramirez doesn't always like to learn in the classroom. That's why he and his classmates are out digging up the school grounds at Munroe Elementary to make way for a new vegetable garden. "I never done this before and I feel like I want to help the environment," Ramirez said. The new garden is part of a project called Learning Landscapes. The University of Colorado Denver started this program to help children in urban settings learn more about the environment while also promoting exercise. Read more...
Partners for Livable Communities awards Learning Landscapes the Entrepreneurial American Cities Award!
Play areas honored for education, transformation of 48 schools, hundreds of students benefit from program (April 13, 2009). Learning Landscapes, a program of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver—and a partnership project with Denver Public Schools—has been recognized for bringing together the organizations and elements needed to transform Denver’s elementary school playgrounds and surrounding neighborhoods through its design of new, safe, multi-dimensional play areas. For more information, please visit the University of Colorado Newsroom
2008
BOND ISSUE PASSES!
On November 4th, Denver voters approved a $453.5 million Denver Public Schools bond. The bond will provide an opportunity for every DPS elementary school to have a Learning Landscape. The playground improvements will affect over 20,000 students with 37 schools receiving a full Learning Landscape and 16 schools receiving components of a Learning Landscape. Click below to watch the KUSA-TV CH9 (NBC) news story highlighting the positive impacts these Learning Landscape improvements will have on the Denver community.
DPS Bond ...
LiveWell Westwood has drafted its strategic plan. Learn More
Announcing a new partnership with Boulder Valley School District and the University of Colorado. Learning Landscapes will deliver Master Plans, Design Development Drawings, and Design Build classes for all 25 public elementary school campuses over three years. We will guide CU-Boulder undergraduate students as they work closely with school communities to create "green," educational, and developmentally appropriate school campuses.
DNC Delegates Build Playground
On Wednesday August 27th, 90 delegates visiting Denver for the Democratic National Convention, volunteered their time to build a playground at Force Elementary School in southwest Denver. Learn More
AmeriCorps Summer of Service works with Learning Landscapes and additional community organizations! Learn More
Learning Landscapes and Slow Food's Wellness in the Garden after-school program is underway at Eagleton Elementary! We teach children nutrition and gardening through-hands on activities in the school's vegetable garden. Learn More