Little Brigham Aggies Outdoor Play Area Recertified as Nature Explore Classroom

BRIGHAM CITY, Utah — Little Brigham Aggies, the Utah State University Brigham City Early Care and Education Center, has recertified its outdoor play garden as a Nature Explore Classroom.

This type of outdoor classroom is a dynamic, nature-based play and learning space. These classrooms apply research-based, field-tested design principles to create nature-rich outdoor spaces. This is Little Brigham Aggies’ 14th year of certification.

“Being outside is very regulating for children,” said Cheryl Preece-Smith, program coordinator for Little Brigham Aggies. “Our Nature Explore Play Garden provides another classroom for the children. We can do pretty much everything outside that we do inside.”

Preece-Smith says the space is called a “play garden,” because not only can the children play in the space, they also have several trees and plants that grow food.

“The children love picking and eating the different fruits and vegetables,” she said. “We also maintain and plant more each year. It is a little hidden gem at Little Brigham Aggies that children, families and teachers love.”

The space is used year-round. In the summer, children help pick produce and play in the sand and mud kitchen. In the fall, the leaves change colors and the children love to play in piles of leaves. And in winter, the area has a hill that is used for sledding and building snow creatures.

Little Brigham Aggies is a child care service for the children of Utah State University Brigham City students, staff, faculty and the local community. The center is designed to provide high-quality, inclusive care and education.

The Nature Explore Classroom Certification Program is a national initiative that recognizes schools and other organizations that have made a commitment to providing outdoor classrooms and comprehensive programming to help children use the natural world as an integral part of learning.

For more information on Little Brigham Aggies, visit brighamcity.usu.edu/little-brigham-aggies.

With two locations in Box Elder County, Utah State University Brigham City and Tremonton offer students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university. With more than 100 degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees, plus technical education offerings, USU offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at brighamcity.usu.edu.