Adam Bienenstock, Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds

In this first season of Swing Forward, co-hosts James Siegal and Jen DeMelo of KABOOM! speak with leading playground manufacturers in the US and around the world about the playground industry and advancing playspace equity. In this episode, we talk with Adam Bienenstock of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds about his vision for biophilic cities with abundant opportunities for kids to play and how connecting kids with nature is an answer to the pressing issues of our time, from youth wellness to environmental sustainability.
BIO:
Adam Bienenstock is an internationally acclaimed designer, builder, and researcher of nature-based play spaces, and the founder of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds. Adam has traveled globally to advocate for children’s rights to nature play and collaborate on creating spectacular natural parks and playgrounds. His resume in the natural playground industry is unparalleled; highlights include projects for the US Army, Parks Canada, and Australia, and city projects for Toronto, San Francisco, Vancouver, Calgary, New York, Austin, Denver, Chicago, and Miami. Adam lives and works at the forefront of the movement to connect children to nature. His bold, charismatic personality sets the tone for the entire company, and he’s at his happiest when he’s pushing executives, municipal managers, and educators out of their comfort zones. He sits on numerous advisory committees, including the International Association of Nature Pedagogy, Parliamentary Commission on Urban Conservation, and The Canadian Wildlife Federation. Known for his wit and humor as a public speaker, Adam invites us to shed our inhibitions and play in the mud. He's the proud husband of Jill Bienenstock and father of Sam and Leo. He sneaks off to northern Ontario when he needs to immerse himself in nature; he believes it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. As co-author of The Systematic Literature Review on Outdoor Risky Play, Adam warns us not to be fooled by the serious nature of his experience, after all, it's about inspiring play for our kids... so you can expect some playfulness and irreverence when working with him!
BIENENSTOCK NATURAL PLAYGROUNDS:
Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds was founded on the principle that children and communities thrive when they play together in rich, natural, beautiful spaces that reflect their cultural and natural heritage. Now with more than 3000 projects in 5 countries and offices in Canada and the US, BNP is recognized as the leader in authentic, sensory-rich, living playspaces for children. BNP has received numerous awards and accolades for their innovative parks and playgrounds, and their deep understanding of child development, universal accessibility, risky play, and environmental sustainability.
LINKS:
bienenstockplaygrounds.com

About Swing Forward
Swing Forward is a podcast series from KABOOM! on the future of playgrounds and playspace equity, co-hosted by James Siegal and Jen DeMelo.

About KABOOM!
KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity – the reality that quality places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with kids and communities to create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that nearly 12 million kids have equitable access to the critical benefits and opportunities that playspaces offer. In 2022, KABOOM! launched the 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity to accelerate its mission in 25 high-priority locations over five years. Learn more at kaboom.org or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.