The Wildernest, in the Evjue Early Learning Gallery, is designed to serve children ages birth to 5. It’s a wonder-filled global village alive with light, texture, color, and boundless opportunity. The Wildernest is built almost entirely out of natural materials and sustainably harvested local hardwoods that increase sensory appeal and model replicable best practices for indoor learning environments. Small activity huts provide culturally responsive, open-ended activities that offer children myriad opportunities to learn about science, math, and the arts.

Other notable features of The Wildernest include the Bone Bridge; a raised platform and tree house; a slide to enter the area; a water dome that allows for pouring, dumping, and painting; a horizontal climbing wall; a safe, comfortable infant play area; and the Cozy Cottage, a parent resource room filled with early learning materials where visitors can calm a child or feed a baby.

Read John Robinson’s article, “Play and Risk at the New MCM,” here.