Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province announced Wednesday that it has completed supplementary improvements to its Children's Forest Experience Centers and will operate forest education programs through December to support the emotional development and healthy growth of young children.
The improvement project was undertaken to address inconveniences caused by aging facilities and to provide a safer, more comfortable experience environment. The city has completed overall environmental improvements including playground facility maintenance and reinforcement, and enhanced visitor pathways.
The renovations covered three Children's Forest Experience Centers located in Jikdong Neighborhood Park, Cheongsachorong Neighborhood Park, and Omok Culture Neighborhood Park. These spaces allow children to engage in experiential activities using all five senses in nature, equipped with various facilities including net play structures, log crossings, wooden swings, and climbing equipment. The facilities are designed to foster children's sense of adventure and physical development.
Professional forest instructors are stationed at each center to provide age-appropriate customized programs. The curriculum helps develop children's creativity, social skills, and physical abilities through play-based and experiential education utilizing the forest environment.
Programs are offered to local kindergartens and daycare centers in two formats: regular classes and drop-in sessions. Regular classes are available to institutions selected through advance registration, while drop-in sessions accept institutions seeking short-term participation on a first-come, first-served basis. The facilities are open for free public use without reservation on weekends and holidays.
The city plans to continue improving facilities and enhancing program quality to create a forest education environment where children can learn and grow in nature.
"With the Children's Forest Experience Centers newly renovated, we expect children to grow while connecting with nature in a safer and more comfortable environment," a Uijeongbu City official said. "We will continue to expand forest education services so that residents can find healing through forests in their daily lives."
