Nature Becomes the Classroom... Yeongdeungpo-gu Recruiting Institutions to Use Early Childhood Forest Experience Center

For Daycare Centers and Kindergartens... Applications Accepted Until the 28th
A Forest Playground to Connect with Nature: Observing Plants and Insects, Soil Play, and More
Seasonal Customized Programs Led by Early Childhood Forest Instructors

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) is recruiting daycare centers and kindergartens to use the newly renovated ‘Early Childhood Forest Experience Center,’ where children can freely play and connect with nature, until the 28th.

Located in Yeongdeungpo Park, the Early Childhood Forest Experience Center is an eco-friendly play space created using natural elements such as rocks, trees, and soil, serving as a forest playground where children can experience the forest within the city.

Here, children can feel the changes of the seasons and observe plants and insects, allowing them to interact with living nature that cannot be encountered in books. Especially, through seasonal customized programs such as soil play, listening to natural sounds, and art activities conducted with professionally qualified early childhood forest instructors, children can develop not only physically but also socially and creatively.

In particular, wooden playground equipment and rest areas have been newly renovated, and various trees and flowering plants such as Spiraea, Hydrangea, Rhododendron, and Liriope have been abundantly planted throughout the area so that children can feel the beauty of all four seasons and the charm of the garden wherever they go.

Applicants are daycare centers and kindergartens, and they can apply by mail or visit the Urban Planning Department after referring to the announcement posted on the district website from the 18th to the 28th. The recruitment process includes ▲‘Harmony Class’ where children with and without disabilities participate together ▲‘Basic Forest Experience Class’ with early childhood forest instructors ▲‘Autonomous Forest Experience Class’ with accompanying teachers from daycare centers and kindergartens. Selected institutions can visit and use the center once a week at a designated time for one year.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “I hope children grow up bright and healthy while interacting with nature at the Early Childhood Forest Experience Center,” and added, “We will prepare various programs so that all residents can enjoy and feel nature in their daily lives.”

Yeongdeungpo-gu Supports Online Real-Time Education Broadcast for Elementary Students

Recruiting 30 Students for the 1st Term... Applications Accepted Until the 28th

Real-Time Q&A and Interactive Communication Enhance Learning Effectiveness

Twice a Week, 30-Minute Real-Time Customized Lectures... Choose One Subject from Five Major Subjects

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will operate an ‘Elementary Online Real-Time Education Broadcast’ to improve students’ academic abilities and reduce educational disparities.

This education broadcast is a customized program combining online real-time lectures and individual learning guidance. Students can communicate with teachers in real time during class to immediately resolve questions, enhancing understanding and fostering self-directed learning habits.

The program targets 150 students in grades 3 to 6 of elementary schools in the area, recruiting 100 general students and 50 socially disadvantaged students. Education is conducted in 2-month courses with 30 students per term, totaling five terms.

Students can apply for one subject among Korean, English, Math, Social Studies, and Science, and communicate with teachers in real time twice a week for 30 minutes. To ensure sufficient learning in other subjects, video lectures for all subjects are also provided.

The monthly tuition fee is 40,000 KRW, but the district supports 30,000 KRW, so the student’s share is 10,000 KRW. However, socially disadvantaged groups such as basic livelihood security recipients, multicultural families, and single-parent families are fully supported.

Applications for the first term are accepted until the 28th, and the program will officially start in March. Applications can be made on the ‘Yeongdeungpo-gu Elementary Online Learning’ website, and detailed inquiries can be made to the district’s Future Education Department.

Additionally, the district operates various projects to expand educational opportunities for students, including ▲native speaker video English learning programs ▲sports class vouchers ▲life science classes ▲opening of youth reading rooms at the community center.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “Through the real-time education broadcast, I hope students can communicate directly with teachers to quickly resolve learning difficulties and develop self-directed learning attitudes,” and added, “We will continue to expand various educational programs so that everyone can enjoy learning opportunities without exclusion.”

Guro-gu Operates ‘Silver Play Centers’ Visiting 16 Neighborhood Senior Centers

Play Activities Using Small Tools Such as Scarves, Cotton Balls, and Ice Cream Cones... Promoting Physical Activity

AI Stethoscope Kiosk Linked to Respiratory Checkups and Health Management Programs

Guro-gu has taken steps to care for the health of elderly residents at senior centers who have insufficient physical activity.

Guro-gu announced that it will operate the ‘Silver Play Center’ in a visiting format until the end of February to promote physical activity among the elderly.

‘Silver Play Center’ means ‘a place where play springs forth.’ It provides new and unique play activities for seniors aged 60 to 79, helping to activate physical activity and improve cognitive health.

Last year, the program was conducted 80 times from April to December at the Guro-gu Public Health Center and Gocheok 2-dong Community Center, with 991 participants during the period.

This year, since the 16th of last month, instructors have been visiting 16 neighborhood senior centers to provide the program for elderly residents with low physical activity.

The instructor is Park Sung-jin, adjunct professor of physical education at Yongin University.

While previous programs mainly consisted of group games that were difficult for elderly or mobility-impaired seniors to participate in, the Silver Play Center program uses simple small tools such as scarves, cotton balls, and ice cream cones, making it easy for anyone to join.

Also, by operating the Silver Play Center program at 16 neighborhood senior centers equipped with AI stethoscope kiosks introduced earlier this year, it is possible to link participants to respiratory checkups and health management projects.

The district plans to continue the Silver Play Center program at the Guro-gu Public Health Center as usual after April. A Guro-gu official said, “Through the Silver Play Center, we hope seniors not only expand their physical activity experiences but also develop hobbies and enjoy both health and happiness,” adding, “We will continue to do our best for the healthy and happy aging of seniors.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.