Wide span awning over playground equipment

Gwen Moodley — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:41:19 +0000

This wide span tensile shade structure has been used to cover outdoor playground equipment at this school yard. Not only do the bright colors of the shade canopy enhance the beauty of the playground, but is vital protection for the children while at play outdoors. It has become more common to find shade structures in school playgrounds today. If your school is newly built, chances are that your playground lacks shade, and this would be an ideal solution for instant shade for a tree-barren play area. Additionally, shade structures protect playground equipment allowing children to utilize cool equipment throughout the day.

Limited space?

Gwen Moodley — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:37:01 +0000

If your playground is close to the entrance of your building and you have limited space to place your shade structure, no problem. We are able to install your shade structure adjacent to your building at an entrance or to the side of the building. The question is always raised whether we can mount the shade structure to the wall of the building? The answer is no for the most part is this will place additional wind load to the building and may affect the integrity of the engineering. It is therefore advisable to place the shade structure as a free standing awning mounted into the ground.

A shade too short?

Gwen Moodley — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:08:58 +0000

Taking the right measurements is vital and attention must be given to the shade structure entry height. A recent case in point with the Dunham School was when the structure was ordered as a 30′x30′x9′ it was later realized that a 10′ entry height was required to clear the top of the playground equipment underneath the shade canopy. We have made available a ‘Site measurement guide’ that details instructions on how to take the correct measurements for your shade structure. Please contact us at info@shade4schools.com to request your site measurement guide.

Dunham School, Louisiana

Gwen Moodley — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:21:29 +0000

This shade structure was installed towards the end of 2009 to be ready for use in the Spring semester of 2010. The four post shade structure is a free standing awning placed over playground equipment to protect children as they play outdoors. Playground shade using shade structure is vital for school playgrounds today. With rising levels of uv and over exposure to children caused by the widening of the ozone layer and increases the risk of skin cancer, it has become imperative for schools to protect children wherever possible while at play outdoors.

Creative Fundraising

Gwen Moodley — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:54:15 +0000

Our world is changing more dramatically now than ever before, and with it come many influences in our behavior, which in turn affects all aspects of our society. With the depletion of the ozone layer, outdoor play for children has become more risky, as overexposure to the sun increases the risk of skin cancer. Shade4Schools Inc., www.shade4schools.com, has responded to this situation by offering a strategic fundraising program that enables schools to raise funds directly for the purpose of purchasing shade structures. Shade structures protect children from harsh uv rays of the sun, allowing children a safe cool environment while at play outdoors.

Targeted fundraising - To make fundraisers more interesting, schools could try and create the fundraiser around the intended purchase or use of funds. As in the case of the fundraiser offered by Shade4Schools, where the program is tailored on a donation based program which has a shorter timeline as funds are raised exclusively 100% directed to the purchase of the shade structure. Fundraising kits are available at www.shade4schools.com.

Cause Fundraising - Another good fundraiser could be centered around a specific cause, e.g. raising funds for the refurbishment of a run down dog shelter.

Environmental Fundraising - Tree planting with volunteer support based fundraising helps to raise awareness on conservation and environmental needs.

School trips Fundraising - Field trip fundraising can be made more interesting by centering the fundraiser on graphical maps and images of the destination, raising funds one mile at a time.

Healthy Fundraising - Cookie dough fundraisers always a popular item, can be altered to include a healthy cookie alternative by using oatmeal. Offering healthy cookies will increase parental support as they prefer the healthier alternative snack for their children.

Personal mementos - Fundraisers centered around mementos capturing memorable art made by children are another interesting form of fundraising.

Corporate fundraising - More companies today are seeking ways to get involved in community driven projects to give back to their communities. Shade4Schools fundraiser has a corporate sponsorship kit that enables schools to approach corporations to donate funds for shade structures, with the option of the company’s embossed logo on top for publicity purposes.