New Columbus center uses dress-up, mud pies & hands-on play for fun approach to learning
When it comes to their kids’ education, parents are always hunting for the next thing to get their kids more involved in their own school experience. The Chattahoochee Valley Learning Resource Center (CVLRC) is a new kind of learning experience for Columbus families and it hopes to be the solution.
Founder and director, Olivia Rose has created a new center to engage children with innovation, creativity and a little nostalgia. Founded in 2023, the CVLRC grew out of a homeschool cooperative and outdoor education initiative. Its mission is to provide spaces for authentic, immersive learning experiences, couched in real-world and hands-on situations.
It’s not a “school” in the conventional sense - it doesn’t have an 8 to 3 schedule or standardized curriculum and it offers flexible visiting options. Families can purchase a drop-in pass for $10 per child or opt for a 10-visit pass at $50. For regular visitors, memberships are available starting at $50 per month per family.
Where play meets education and community in the Chattahoochee Valley
The center offers open play, hosts classes and workshops, and provides a place for children to explore imaginative play. Rose says she wants it to feel like “your grandmother’s attic;” safe to explore, filled with weird stuff, and welcoming.
The “grandmother’s attic” motif is a true vibe, reinforced by rotary phones, laser printers and vintage tape recorders in varying centers. Kids can even have a tea party with an actual tea service, doilies included.
During the open play hours, kiddos can explore these throwback items in a variety of small centers, including a grocery store, play cafe, sensory stations, and areas dedicated to math, engineering, art, reading, local ecology, and culture. There’s even a mud kitchen for outdoor fun.
Something for everyone to play at CVLR
Open to the public, children of any age, stage or level are welcome to come, whether they homeschool or not. “You can come once or come often!” Rose assured us.
Parents are encouraged to join in the play or just stay and hang out on the wide couches, enjoying a cup of Fountain City coffee. The children are free to co-play with each other or independently, based on their comfort level and interests.
Christina Lee and her son, Jackson, are regulars at the CVLRC and she likes it as an alternative to traditional playgroups or organizations. Lee says it’s a “relaxed and chill” place for Jackson, who is neuroatypical, to be himself without the usual stressors that can come with other learning centers.
Our city, our classroom
Beyond open play, the center hosts classes and workshops that connect the Columbus community to real-life skills. Chatt Tales is a story time for little kids with Suzanne Sheppard and the older kids get a taste of Art Immersion with local artist, Cora King.
Chattahoochee Adventure Co. is the outdoor arm of the center that fosters community building and connections to nature. As part of the CVLRC, they are developing a community park on 3rd Avenue, where children are actively involved in the design and building process.
Wednesdays are for garden play and open fire cooking, where children “bring something to cook over the fire” and are encouraged to “wear play clothes, get muddy, and work on a garden.”
“We want to grow deeply into the community,” Rose shares. “Rooting down—tying into history...to the roots of the ecosystem around us. Becoming a hub of learning for Columbus’ families.”
Chattahoochee Valley Learning Resource Center is a supplement to children who are curious and eager and a resource for parents who want their kids to find learning fun.
You can RSVP to an event or find out more at their website, or find them on social media.
What kinds of fun, educational activities have you tried?
Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on Instagram.
