The Smithsonian’s National Zoo new inclusive pollinator-themed playground: Me and the Bee is located in Washington, DC. Designed to spark curiosity and imagination, Me and the Bee GameTime PlayWorx playground encompasses 4,900 sq. ft. of space where children can play and learn all about bees. Children will discover towering flowers, hop along particles of pollen, climb atop honeycomb steps, crawl inside hollow trees the bees call home and slide down a tree stump dripping with thick golden honey. The poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing adds another element of play. Children can follow the yellow pollen particles from the decorative flowers to the bees’ hives. Adding to the dramatic play experience are two interactive sound projectors; children can turn a rotary crank to hear a group of buzzing bees or push a button to hear a variety of pollinators, including hummingbirds, bats and insects. Honeycomb steppers—platforms for climbing, jumping and resting—are painted to mimic cells filled with pollen and honey. This inclusive play experience will show children and their families how bees live, their important role in the food chain and how they affect the health of an ecosystem. Learning made FUN!
