Playworks Minnesota

Thank you so much St. Paul Saints Baseball and Treasure Island Resort & Casino for supporting safe and healthy play through their Goin Yard for Youth Program! Through all their home runs over the last month they were able to donate $12,500 to support play in the Twin Cities!

Rounding out our , we'd like to introduce our Executive Director Shauna McDonald.

Shauna is from Seattle and her favorite recess game is dodgeball, she loves to catch the ball mid air!

Her favorite thing about Playworks is walking onto a playground and seeing all the smiles!

WHOOSH clap to you Shauna!

Thank you so much to the staff, players, and coaches from the St. Paul Saints Baseball for joining recess at Crossroads Montessori Academy!

Our Junior Coaches had a blast interviewing and having recess with the players!

Since the inception of the Goin’ Yard for Youth program, the St. Paul Saints Baseball and Treasure Island Resort & Casino have donated $100,500 to local nonprofits. Until Thursday, June 6, Playworks Minnesota is the recipient organization for this program. Thank you for including Playworks Minnesota this season and go Saints!

Thank you to our local partners for their participation in this webinar!

Supporting Student Mental Health Through Play In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Playworks and the American Academy of Pediatrics teamed up for a special webinar exploring the ecosystem of care for kids’ mental health and the transformative role of play.

During April and May, Allianz team members joined Playworks and scholars at Prodeo Academy for a supercharged recess experience.
These play days showcased how play can be a conduit for social emotional learning and developmental growth. Volunteers engaged
scholars in a variety of games and supported them in practicing conflict resolution and relationship building skills. High Five, Allianz Life!

Have you made it out to a St. Paul Saints Baseball game yet? Now is a great time to get your tickets and see how many home runs are scored. For every home run this month the Saints will donate $500 to Playworks and support safe and healthy play in Minnesota!

Way to go St. Paul Saints Baseball! It’s been an exciting start to the season, and we are thrilled to be partners with an organization that shares our passion for fun and play. In addition to being part of the Goin Yard for Youth initiative, Players and Staff have been joining Playworks on the playground for a bit of wiffle ball fun.

It's ! Meet Tristan a Site Coordinator from Tucson, Arizona!

Tristan loves to play team sports at recess like basketball, soccer, or football. He loves being able to give kids a moment of happiness everyday at recess.

You are a recess rockstar Tristan!

For the next 6 weeks, Playworks is honored to be a recipient of the ‘Goin’ Yard for Youth’ community program. St. Paul Saints Baseball and Treasure Island Resort & Casino partner annually to give back to local youth development nonprofit organizations. We’re thrilled to be a part of this year’s initiative. Thank you and go Saints!

Want to promote positive play on your playground? Find tools, tips, tricks, and strategies that support safe and healthy play for all kids! This week, take the 3-minute Recess Checkup quiz for a chance to win a one year subscription to our new digital platform Playworks Learn for your entire school.

Recess Checkup Week - Recess Lab Congratulations to the previous Recess Checkup Week contest winners. Our next Recess Checkup Week is taking place April 22-26, 2024. Take the Recess Checkup for your chance to win a one year subscription to our new digital platform Playworks Learn! Playworks Learn is a guided journey through bite-si...

It’s Recess Checkup Week! Take our three-minute, online quiz designed to help identify strengths, uncover areas for improvement, and receive recommendations for those improvements.

This week, take the checkup to be entered for a chance to win a one year subscription to our new digital resource Playworks Learn for your whole school.

Take the Checkup | Recess Lab The Recess Checkup is an online quiz designed to help you identify strengths and uncover areas for improvement at your school.

The Inspire Play Jamboree, in partnership with Playworks and Minnesota Twins, is a free event taking place on Sunday, June 16 from 9:00am to 11:00am at the Neiman Sports Complex in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Inspire Play Jamboree is designed to teach the importance of "PLAY" during the 2024 Play Ball! Weekend.

It’s an opportunity for youth ages 4 - 8 years old to play games like hopscotch, hula hoops, four square, and tee ball/wiffle ball!

Register now! https://playballmn.leagueapps.com/events/4165533-pbw-2024-inspire-play-jamboree

Introducing Annika, our next spotlight.

Annika is a Site Coordinator at Playworks. Her favorite recess game is four square and a fun fact about her is that she has two different colored eyes.

Annika loves being able to develop students social and emotional skills through play. Keep up the great work!

Today was a very special day for Playworks Minnesota and our partners at School District 622: North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Schools, marking the first award presentation for our new Blue Shirt Program.

As a Blue Shirt District: District 622 is recognized for their passion for play and understanding of its foundational role of the health, wellness, and culture in their school. We are so proud to work alongside these dedicated community members and look forward to continuing our partnership in the years to come.

Strong Clap to District Administrators and Educators in District 622!

https://www.playworks.org/minnesota/2024/04/10/growing-play-in-the-twin-cities/

Thank you to Principal Jenny Parker and JCs from Weaver Elementary for joining Playworks’ hearing at the Capital!

Playworks and the Minneapolis Women's Double Dutch Club: Double Dutch is in Our DNA, is jumping for joy this spring and we want you to join us!

Support the rollout of our new jump rope and Double Dutch curriculum. Your gift ensures schools and students can practice their skills with new jump ropes.

Give today https://donate.playworks.org/campaign/minnesota-double-dutch-jump-for-joy-showcases/c574083

Join Playworks in Jumping for Joy this April! In collaboration with the Minneapolis Women's Double Dutch Club: Double Dutch is in Our DNA, we're introducing a new jump rope and Double Dutch curriculum in 4 Minneapolis schools this spring. This initiative focuses on engaging students, enhancing physical activity, and fostering community unity.

Your gift ensures schools and students can practice their skills with new jump ropes. Make your contribution today!

https://donate.playworks.org/campaign/minnesota-double-dutch-jump-for-joy-showcases/c574083

Happy ! We're so excited to introduce Isaiah Marshall, one of our Site Coordinators.

Isaiah feels energized by his time at recess and enjoys hitting the gym after a long day. When asked about his favorite ting about Playworks he said, "Making a huge impact through play that results in a positive system change for everyone involved".

You are awesome Isaiah!

The Minnesota Twins have opened registration for their FREE annual RBI program!

The RBI program is available to youth ages 9 - 18 in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. It’s a fantastic opportunity for youth to build their softball or baseball skills. It's a wonderful way for students to continue building skills learned through Playworks’ wiffle ball curriculum, which will roll out in May.
RBI programming includes:

Attending Twins games
Free baseball and softball skills clinics
League play
All-Star teams
Access to new equipment and uniforms

Registration will be open until March 31, 2024, so sign up soon to take advantage of this fun and FREE opportunity!

Register for Twins Nike RBI | Minnesota Twins Twins Nike RBI is open to any youth in Minneapolis or Saint Paul that wants to play baseball or softball.

Looking for a way to get involved with Playworks and have a blast with your coworkers? Join Playworks' Annual Corporate Kickball Tournament on Friday, June 21!

Playworks Kickball Tournament brings together 18 corporate teams from across the Twin Cities for a day of laughter, joy, and friendly competition.

Only one spot remains, so reserve your spot today. Email [email protected] to become a sponsor team!

Volunteer with Playworks!

Corporate Kickball is an all adult event that brings professionals together to play for kids. You can be a part of supporting safe and healthy play every day for kids by volunteering as a referee!

If you know the basics of softball, baseball or kickball, then you can be a kickball referee! We’ll ensure you're trained and confident in the rules and regulation.

Email [email protected] if interested!

Up next in our series is Program Manager Julian Peota!

Julian grew up in Minneapolis but lived in Thailand for a year. His favorite recess game is soccer because he's been playing since he was 5 years old!

Thank you Julian for all your hard work always. WHOOSH clap to you!

Thank to our next , NBC Sports Next!

Sports and play go hand in hand, and one Playworks partner who knows that well is NBC Sports Next. NBC Sports Next was introduced to Playworks through a volunteer experience facilitated by Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Participating in a play day at Prodeo Academy immediately opened their eyes to the transformative nature of a great recess.

In the past five years, Team members from NBC Sports Next volunteers have become a fixture of Play Days and the Annual Corporate Kickball Tournament: Kickin It for Kids.

WOOSH Clap to NBC Sports for being an amazing partner!

Join our team, we're looking for a Site Coordinator! Interested in working with kids and becoming the best part of the school day? Apply today: https://www.playworks.org/about/careers/staff/job/5597606/

Welcome to the first of 2024! First up, Travis Evans Jr.

Travis grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was excited about the opportunity Playworks provides to connect with children and adults in fun and meaningful ways.

His favorite recess game is Kickball and a fun fact about Travis is he can whistle through his front teeth!

It's and today we're introducing our Program Specialist, Raymi Choate. Raymi said, "My favorite thing about Playworks is see the positive changing that we make in a school environment. I love getting to see the kids gain confidence in themselves and their abilities throughout the year!"

Raymi loves tag games and is currently building a library of full sized and miniature books.

Thanks for all your hard work Raymi!

This , will you help kids gain valuable conflict resolution skills that can benefit them on the playground, in the classroom, and beyond?

Earlier this year, 4th grader Mia used the leadership skills she’s gained as a Playworks Junior Coach to help resolve a conflict between two upset kindergarteners at her school. Mia ensured the students felt heard and were both okay before returning to class.

Student leaders learn the importance of empathy, effective communication, and collaboration – skills that are fundamental for resolving conflicts and promoting an inclusive school community.

Today, you can multiply your impact for kids like Mia. Every donation will be matched up to $150,000 by the Playworks National Board of Directors. Donate now: https://donate.playworks.org/give/523976/ #!/donation/checkout

When Coach D, aka Dana Harris, stepped onto the playground 11 years ago, he was determined to help kids find their own light to shine, practice leadership skills, and discover their best selves through the power of play. In six years of leading a Playworks Junior Coach leadership program, he worked with almost 100 4th and 5th graders. Now as adults, they’re using their leadership superpowers differently, pursuing their own ambitions.

According to a study by Partnerships in Education and Resilience, Playworks Junior Coach leadership program participants demonstrated statistically significant positive change in 14 areas including perseverance, trust, empathy, academic motivation, and more.

With your support, current Playworks Coaches like Dana are empowering hundreds of kids each year to shine. Donate today.
https://donate.playworks.org/give/48572/ #!/donation/checkout