Many of today’s children, especially city-dwelling students like ours, are no longer able to spend unhurried hours exploring the natural world in the way that previous generations enjoyed. Yet, research is showing that nature play and exploration make essential contributions to children’s cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. Natural “playscapes” like the one planned at Frankford Friends School are rich outdoor spaces, designed based on research and field-tested principles, where children can connect to nature in curiosity-driven, unhurried play and exploration.