Modern Neighborhood Children's Museum
Powered by the magical energy of creative play, inspired by the rhythm of nature, and on a mission to create amazing community spaces for the young families in our little city.
Hey, Big News!
Playforest has moved!*
Find us at our new location:
3777 SE Milwaukie Ave in the Brooklyn neighborhood of SE Portland.
Our new space is 3,000+ sq ft of open-ended play - purpose-built for a community of families.
We are now in the process of building out additional features including a private party space and a cafe serving healthy, family-friendly bistro food and beverages.
We are currently open for a special sneak peek SUMMER PREVIEW before our Grand Opening in Q4 2023!
Join us from 9AM-5PM Mon-Fri and 9AM-2PM Sat-Sun for imaginative play and friendly community as we put the final touches on our amazing new location!
*Please note that the new Playforest space is still in phase one development and, as such, we humbly request your patience and understanding as we improve upon our facilities and systems.
Powered by Imagination
Playforest is a unique combination of modern family gathering place and integrative, hands-on children's learning center - with the whimsical spirit of an adventure down a Pacific Northwest trail.
Our materials and activities are curated by two early childhood educators drawing on the art and science of authentic, imaginative play.
Built for Families
Raising children is a complicated journey, best undertaken with the friendship of fellow parents! Playforest is a place to meet other families and allow children time to fulfill their developing social needs with their peers.
Tiny Scientists
Tiny Scientists
Young children interact with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math through hands-on engagement. Our space is full of high-quality STEAM materials that invite them to freely explore technical concepts with play-based trial and iteration.
Camp Vibes
Camp Vibes
We love for kids to explore and we reflect that in the design of our space and activities. Adults and children alike will enjoy our aesthetic; natural and adventurous - like a warm August evening at summer camp.
Sensory Exploration
Sensory Exploration
Sensory activities are invitations to engage in hands-on creative processes - an essential form of learning for young children. Playforest provides daily sensory play materials, presented in an array of irresistible themes!
Daily Play
Reserve a ticket for one of our engaging Open Play sessions for children ages 0-4 years.
Inspired Play, Thoughtful Events, Curated Shopping, and more!
Make a playdate with old friends or join a weekly reserved playgroup to meet new ones. Browse our curated selection of awesome family goods or get tickets to attend one of our upcoming shows and classes.
Supporting a community of curious, thriving families.
Playforest works by providing a thoughtfully designed space that inspires your little one’s innate process of experimentation! While you’re here you’ll dig and discover in our beach sand, interact with airflow using our wind tunnel, explore our interactive light tools and so much more.
Experiential learning is what children are built to do. It is fulfilling to their whole being and leads them to discover everything that makes the world spin around them.
Reserved Weekly Playgroups
Playgroups are a great way to meet other parents while your child engages in quality play. Playforest educators specially curate our material selection to the developmental stage of each group.
Your group will meet for a private session at the same time each week for 8 weeks which fosters new friendships and a progressive engagement of play with each visit.
We offer playgroups in a variety of age ranges to perfectly match each stage of your child’s growth.
The Playforest Campfire Story
Ten Years Ago…
Brittany and Geoff were a young couple inspired to combine their passions for innovative early childhood education and connecting with the natural world.
With the goal of sharing this love with the community, the pair built Little Seeds Farm School – an urban farm preschool in Sellwood. After finishing her degree in early childhood education, Brittany sold her trusty Honda Accord to just barely fund this initial venture into teachingt
Brimming with huge ideas and enthusiasm they were off!
Luckily, Little Seeds Farm School was a success…and the two spent nearly a decade working with so many inspiring local children and families.
A Winding Road
Brittany and Geoff would go on to get married and have a daughter (Winnie!) of their own – all while teaching children and further developing their unique educational approach.
Having witnessed the value of an immersive, child-led environment on so many students at their preschool, the pair started dreaming of concepts to share what they had learned about designing rich play and building communities in a unique new way.
Learning, Growing, and Innovating
Playforest was born with a mission to offer a joyful space of play filled with quality tools that are catalysts for imagination. Brittany and Geoff love to share the feeling of peace they get when connecting with others about the joys and trials of modern parenthood. The two look forward to continuing to create fun new settings for young families to gather, meet, and play!
