In May of 2018, nearly 70 delegates from around the United States gathered in Champaign-Urbana are KOOP Adventure Play & Pop-Up Adventure Play's first Prioritizing Play Conference.

One thing we believed to be true was confirmed: there are an ever-growing number of folks all around the US (+beyond) who are hungry for resources on how to prioritize play in their settings.  

Teachers, Landscape Architects, Mayors, E...

We have another summer of free community programming coming at you! 

This photo is just a snippet of what is to come-- our Facebook page will always have the most up to date info, but here is our plan:

 This summer's events are made possible in part by Urbana Park District & Urbana Arts & Culture Program. Thank you for your support!

You're no doubt inundated with Year End Giving Campaign requests.... And it may seem premature to think about summer camp, but we want to make our immersive, child- directed, free play summer camp more accessible to all children.  

This is where our plea comes in:  Please consider donating to fund scholarship spots during every week of summer camp. Free play is so impactful for kids- building confidence, boosting resilienc...

KOOP is hosting a Pop-Up and Junk Drive on Nov. 3---Start saving your random things!

Join KOOP Adventure Play from 11-2pm on November 3rd, for an afternoon of play and donations of materials. Upcycle your household junk to KOOP which will promote future play opportunities! We are looking for fun fabrics, bottle caps, carpet samples, craft materials, old electronics for tinkering, milk crates, cardboard tubes, kitchen cookware,...

Stroll from Anita Purves Nature Center to Douglass Park with Mayor Marlin of Urbana and Mayor Feinen of Champaign!  Then come PLAY with us at our pop- up adventure playground on Saturday 5/19 from 10 am to noon!  Check out the event here.

This community Pop Up Adventure Playground is open to children from all around the CU area! 

As KOOP hosts our Prioritizing Play Conference, we want to show them what adventure play looks like! 
We'll bring our materials like cardboard, fabric, tubes, clips and maybe even paint! You bring your kiddos for a no-cost free-play event!

When: 12:30-2:30 

Where: Washington Park
After the event, we continue the community gathering by ope...

Join us Friday, May 4 at 7pm as we screen ‘The Land’. This evening event is open to the public, and included in the agenda for the Prioritizing Play Conference. After the short documentary, named after an adventure playground in Wales, there will be a panel discussion including conference speakers. Childcare provided for parents interested in viewing and discussing this impressive short film. Location is at the Spurlock Museum...

CU For Play takes place during a larger Prioritizing Play Conference.  

You’re invited to celebrate and learn more about children’s play at the Illini Union May 5th from 2:45pm-6:30pm. This is the final event of our Prioritizing Play Conference, and parents will hear from professionals busy advocating for children’s play in communities around the world. With a combination of panel discussions, workshops and presentations,...

Urbana-Champaign, IL - Local non-profit KOOP Adventure Play has been delivering public events and summer camp programs since 2015, and are launching a new Conference with the theme of ‘Prioritizing Play’.  The three- day event will focus on translating best practices in creating and staffing play environments for professionals across education, librarianship and public service.  This comes less than a week after the Centers fo...

Support KOOP's efforts in play while shopping local at Bluebird Boutique!

Bluebird Boutique will host a special, after-hours event during which a portion of the proceeds will be donated to KOOP! 
A new, small boutique in Urbana, Bluebird Boutique offers women's clothing, jewelry, boots and more! This is the perfect opportunity to find your perfect outfit for holiday parties and shop for gifts for others as well! 
Depending on...