Emily Elder Barrus - Joy Forever in the Heart
A tragedy that touched the lives of many in the Family, Consumer, and Human Development Department and Cache Valley can be turned to joy, with your help. A development campaign is currently under way to raise funds for a new outdoor play space at the Adele and Dale Young Child Development Laboratory. The recently planned play space, the Outdoor Imaginarium, will be named in memory of Emily Elder Barrus, whose bright life and that of her unborn child, was curt short by a tragic car accident in December 2004.
Emily graduated in 1999 with a degree in family and human development, with an emphasis in early childhood development, and will be missed by family and friends. Following her graduation, Emily became a wonderful and highly valued head teacher in the Infant/Toddler Laboratory at Utah State University. She had a tremendous influence on the children, the families, and the students who participated in the laboratory. To keep Emily forever in the hearts of those who worked with and loved her, the Emily Elder Barrus Imaginarium will replace the existing outdoor play area with a safer, more effective learning environment.
Although the Laboratory playground has always been a learning space where a wide variety of creative, sensory, science, math, motor, social, and emotional learning and development occurs, there is an amazing potential for even greater learning to take place within a well-designed outdoor environment. In addition, the play space will be made more accessible to children and college students of varying needs and abilities.
Jim Huppi, a USU landscape architect and parent of children who have attended the Laboratory, has generously agreed to donate time to work on the design. Also, students in Dr. Michael Timmons’ Recreation Design course in USU’s Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning have completed designs for the play area as part of a class project. Ideas include a science garden with raised beds, gravel walkways, fruit trees, and a drip watering system. A part of the land will be also devoted to a small amphitheater for music and theater activities. There will be new and safer equipment, additional sidewalks for tricycle traffic, an innovative outdoor creative arts area, along with built-in musical instruments. Eventually a winter greenhouse for gardening may be included.
The development of this innovative outdoor learning space for young children will serve as a perfect tribute to Emily Elder Barrus, a vibrant young woman tho contributed so much to the early childhood development program. The campaign seeks to raise a minimum of $25,000 for the project.
If you are interested in being part of this heartwarming effort, please contact Frank Stewart, CEHS Development Officer, 435-7971611 or frank.stewart @usu.edu.