Build It: Conestee Nature Preserve to Host Open House at Nature Playscape

Conestee Nature Preserve is inviting the community to explore its innovative Nature Playscape this weekend for a special themed open house. The event, titled Build It!, is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

The Nature Playscape, located at 840 Mauldin Road, represents a departure from traditional plastic-and-steel playgrounds. Spanning nearly an acre, the space was largely constructed using repurposed timber, including black locust and oak trees that were salvaged following storm damage. The design focuses on sensory and imaginative play rather than prescribed equipment.

Hands-On Building and Beaver Lore

The upcoming open house provides a guided opportunity for children to interact with the natural elements of the space. Staff and volunteers will lead several activity stations throughout the morning:

• Fort Building: Kids will receive instruction on different types of structures they can create using loose natural parts like sticks, branches, and small blocks.

• Beaver Stations: Since beavers are considered the best builders in the preserve, the event includes educational stations and story time focused on these local animals.

• Loose Parts Play: A variety of materials, including tires and wooden blocks, will be available for free-form construction.

Organizers emphasize that this is a drop-in program, allowing families to come and go as they please during the ninety-minute window. While there is no admission fee, the nonprofit preserve suggests a donation of three dollars per person to help maintain the facility.

A Natural Alternative to Traditional Playgrounds

The playscape was designed for children ages 5 to 12, though it includes a dedicated Knee-High Nook for toddlers. Key features of the permanent installation include a simulated stream for water play, a beaver lodge structure, a hillside rock scramble, and the Heron’s Nest, which functions as a sprawling, natural treehouse.

The facility is fully fenced and sits adjacent to the preserve’s Lake Entrance, near the community garden and the Conestee Park baseball stadium. Visitors are reminded that because the playscape is a natural environment, it includes features like dirt, insects, and textured wood that differ from standard municipal playgrounds.