Overview of Workshop

The project resulted in 66 individual park experiences, a 17% increase from 2021. TOPO Explorers raised awareness of lesser used City parks and shared the mission of TOPOnexus – connecting people to place. 

By responding to a need for PreK programming, the collaboration yielded a positive outdoor learning experience, a deeper connection to the parks, and exposure to the TOPOnexus way of learning for 13 families, including 27 kids and 20 adults.

Impact & Wide Reach

Learners participating in TOPO Explorers were given the opportunity to use their sense of wonder, slow down, and explore. The parks provided a powerful setting where kids could be self-paced learners making discoveries on their own and sharing them with others. Adult participants were guided to facilitate child-led play and find unique features in each park. These families are now empowered with tools to take place-based learning to any park.

Park Experience Participants

66

Individual Park Experiences

13

Families

27

Kids

20

Adults

Collaboration

The benefit of this collaboration was twofold: more awareness of HS parks and visibility of TOPOnexus programming. Our partnership was successful on multiple levels: we worked together to articulate and achieve shared goal of filling an identified gap in preK programming and increasing traffic at select HS parks.

Wonder & Whoa!

We witnessed many special learning moments between children and adults. Together, they delighted in exploring the parks and creating a shared play and place-based experience that can be easily replicated. Many expressed the desire to return again on their own to City park sites and take part in TOPO Explorers again. We are excited to refine TOPO Explorers further for Summer 2023. 

What is Wonder & Whoa?

Without wonder, we cannot gain new perspectives or innovate. With wonder, we become lifelong learners. We are full of wonder. Whoa is something that stops you in your tracks and inspires, surprises, or shocks you. Together, wonder and whoa have the transformative power to create meaningful personalized learning.