Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

When students, parents and teachers from Outer Banks Montessori Collective and Wilbur Gardens kept finding lost beach toys on their monthly beach cleanups at their Surfrider Foundation adopted beach access in Nags Head, an idea was sparked.

The idea was to build a beach toy library – a wooden box where people can borrow, give and take beach toys and a place to put the lost and found toys so that they can be reused.

The Collective Education Foundation, a new local nonprofit that supports these small educational programs and others, had a board meeting and the idea quickly came to life. The beach toy library was endorsed by the Town of Nags Head and the community service project process began.

“All studies show that children flourish in nature and in play,” said Collective Education Foundation committee chair Bailey Frumen. “The Collective Education Foundation intends to foster an environment of health, education, and optimal childhood development by supporting the kids and families of our community. The beach toy library is a community place where parents who don’t want to drag a ton of toys to the beach could pick up a few things to play with for a couple hours and then return them for someone else to enjoy. It’s our intention for our new nonprofit, Collective Education Foundation, to be a resource for children to grow a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom and into the community.”

This winter, with help from the Collective Education Foundation’s parent committee, support from the Town of Nags Head, and a generous donation of supplies from local business Harmony Cabinets, students were able to begin building a beach toy library for the Bonnett Street Beach Access in Nags Head.

“Big smiles all around at Harmony Cabinets after receiving such heartfelt thanks from all of the students,” said owners of Harmony Cabinets Jacob and Kara Dehus. “We’re beyond lucky to live and work in the Outer Banks — it’s not just where we build beautiful spaces, it’s where we’re raising our families and cheering on the next generation of movers, shakers, and big dreamers. Giving back to this amazing community is the real reward, and we’re honored to be part of it all!”

Throughout the building process students were taught the importance of giving back to their community, and they learned basic carpentry techniques including measuring, cutting, painting, drilling and installation.

“Application of these practical life skills is an integral part of the Montessori philosophy of education,” said Collective Education Foundation director and owner of the Outer Banks Montessori Collective Kim Cowen. “The local programs whom our new nonprofit aims to support must also be deeply rooted in creative project-based learning, community engagement, and environmental sustainability. We can’t wait to see where this endeavor takes us, and we’re excited to be able to support small programs like ours. The more folks who are reimagining education, the better.”

On a sunny day in early May, the new beach toy library idea came to fruition when students and parents installed the bright teal and blue box beside the stairs at the Bonnett Street Beach Access bathhouse.

The beach toy library, which is now open and ready for all to enjoy, will be maintained by Outer Banks Montessori Collective and Wilbur Gardens students and families all year.

For questions about the beach toy library or for more information about the Collective Education Foundation, email Cowen at kimc.obxmc@gmail.com.

“The Collective Education Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting and catering to the needs of small community-based educational programs on the Outer Banks and beyond,” noted a news release from the organization.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COASTLAND TIMES TODAY!