When the Richie McFarland Center in Stratham and Waypoint merged in 2022, there was a small outdoor space in the back that needed some tender, love, and care. Family Resource Coordinator, Heather Flewelling, saw the opportunity to transform the space into something the community desperately needed.  

“As a team, we started talking about what we could do to make it a bit different than just a typical playground. We wanted to make it a natural space that focused on nature and getting families outdoors.” 

Waypoint’s Stratham Office Team spent years figuring out how to make nature-based play accessible to everyone. “There’s a lot of awesome forest schools and opportunities that cost money,” says Heather. “And we have a lot of families that can’t spend money on that sort of thing.”  

The community lacked a controlled environment where children could explore nature safely, without it being a financial burden for families. Waypoint then made it their mission to create an outdoor classroom. Peggy-Small Porter, the Executive Director at Richie McFarland Center for 31 years, was a huge proponent of the project. To honor her legacy, the nature-focused playground was named in her honor, named “Peggy’s Playgarden.”  

Now, the space behind Waypoint at Richie McFarland Center (RMC) has been completely revitalized. A vibrant forest and interactive sensory garden invite children to explore nature with all their senses. Heather recalls the wildlife she saw during the playgardens construction – a turtle crossing the lawn, a bobcat in the winter – hoping that visiting families get the chance to have encounters of their own.  

Looking to the future, Heather hopes that the garden will be in use not just during the summer months, but year-round, encouraging families to continue exploring nature in the winter. The playgarden also plans to set a schedule for weekly playgroups to keep the garden focused on small, community-oriented gatherings.  

Peggy’s Playgarden has been open and growing at Waypoint at RMC. Last week, we had a joyful time hosting its official Open House. We were proud to celebrate with the families we serve and the community that made it possible to celebrate this outdoor classroom and all it represents. 

“Nature is such a connective force,” Heather shares. “Those moments you can’t plan; we want to be able to offer them to our families and our community.”