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...

KOOP is looking for a special, magical person interested in working with children using a particular philosophy called playwork. Don't worry-- we'll train you and help you learn!  Scroll through KOOP Adventure Play's Facebook of Instagram to get a peak at what we're doing here! Here's a job description, a day in the life series of photos and at the very end, instructions on how to apply. We're a small crew here which means eve...

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!

KOOP Adventure Play had an amazing 2018!  We started with a new logo and new community connections, we got our first grants, offered a bazillion free community play events, hosted our first national conference: Prioritizing Play, hired new staff and held continued training in playwork, we doubled our summer camp offerings and counted nearly 1000 hours of child- directed play with loose parts... It was a BIG year for play in CU...

How is 2018 over already?!

First, let me say THANK YOU! Thank you for an amazing year of growth, support, community engagement and PLAY! Thank you for choosing KOOP for your children. Thank you for prioritizing play for your child-- it IS important and you're doing the right thing!

Here are the highlights:

• We provided over 953 hours of child- directed play with loose parts! Amazing!

• We doubled our summer camp offerings--...

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,...

KOOP is looking for a special, magical person interested in working with children using a particular philosophy called playwork. Don't worry-- we'll train you and help you learn!   Here's a basic job description.  

You must believe that children are capable and competent and be able to truly let them lead in this context!

Job Title: Part-time Playworker

Reports to: KOOP Executive Director

Position Overview:

Creates o...

KOOP needs your help!  Owners of Common Ground Food Co-Op can select up to 12 organizations to receive Round Up For Good donations next year--- Include KOOP in your votes to bring even more play into our communities!

We so admire the work Common Ground does in the community and are happy to know many employees and board members as friends and supporters.  We are thrilled to have been nominated and now need the votes to seal the...