About The Clubhouse
Learning Without Walls
A Play Adventures Community School begins at the Play Adventures Clubhouse.
Our school is a family and community oriented home child care facility offering an outdoor experiential, early childhood education based on the most recent research supporting social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.. The four tenets that guide Play Adventures Clubhouse Programs are:
I am Capable
This means that we believe in a child's full potential. They are capable of problem solving, assessing and taking risks, and resolving their own conflicts!
I am Part of the Environment
This entails connecting to nature and our changing seasons, being thoughtful about caring for our environment as we discuss concepts like: sustainability, conservation, reusing, and recycling.
I am Part of a Culture
Most of us have a sense of belonging to a culture. By learning about multiple cultures, traditions and religions from around the world, we become more open minded and are more readily able to accept others.
I am Curious
This means we let them investigate the things they are curious about without judgement (using an object in a different way then what is normally allowed, exploring their environment in the way that interests them).
Our Story
The Clubhouse started as a dream of our director, Naomi Sukenik, a passionate, tenacious play advocate with a background in special education. Her dream was to create a series of programs and opportunities for self directed play and exploration for children in the Central Valley.
When COVID-19 struck, Naomi saw a new opportunity: one for a community school grounded in the latest research on childhood development and education. From this seed, our school grew into a supportive, non-judgmental, outdoor learning environment.
We build and support a strong community of families which are critically involved in the school operation. We provide a high-quality learning experience based in the most recent research about effective education methods, supporting the whole child and their social-emotional development as well as their academic learning. Through this school, we are excited to grow together.
Meet The Team
Our non-judgmental, supportive staff recognize that young people’s capacity for positive development will be enhanced if given access to the broadest range of environments and play opportunities. It is our intention to train playworkers who analyze play experiences, interpret play cues, reflect on personal behaviors, and change environments to help create self-directed and free play opportunities for all children.
Naomi Sukenik
I am a passionate, tenacious play-advocate with a background in special education and outdoor informal learning using high ropes. I am a mom to three wonderful children who continuously remind me the importance of choice, independence and appreciation. I strive to reinforce the importance of a enriching childhood and specifically self-directed play.
Melissa Beckwith
I’m Melissa! I have an educational background in Early Child Development with over 20 years experience teaching and caring for children. I have a very imaginative 5 year old daughter who is an active part of the program. After teaching traditional preschool for many years I have developed a belief that the best thing for our preschool aged children is to be playing and freely exploring their environment. Having the freedom to make mistakes and problem solve on their own is a key part of developing confidence and curiosity in our little ones.
Kim Jarrett
I am a mother of two children with a background in Waldorf education. I believe that children need ample time to explore the outdoors, play and socialize. I believe that allowing our children to make mistakes and take risks are crucial for their learning and development. An atmosphere that is conducive to learning does not include tables and worksheets but a child's personal interests and motivation.
