Abenteuerspielplatz

I had read a lot about these Abenteuerspielplatz places in Berlin.  It translates to "adventure playground" but it is more than just a playground for sure.  I have talked before about the awesome way playgrounds here are so very different from our cookie cutter type playgrounds in the states.  It seems that every few blocks, even in the densest part of this huge city, you will find a playground for kids.  And each and every playground is unique and different from the others.  I haven't seen two identical playgrounds and none are like the ones you would find in Seattle.
Last year many people told me about the book Achtung, Baby about the art of German parenting and suggested that I read it.  I was too overwhelmed and tired last year to read much (only two books the ENTIRE year... what a shame) but anyway, this book was the first one I read upon our return to Berlin.  Really, I could have written that book as it mirrored so much of our experience and observations about life here.  The author talks about these Abenteuerspielplatz in her book and when I read I remembered hearing about them before we moved here and I put in on my mental list of things for the kids to do before school starts on the 20th of August.

Josie's friend just happened to invite her to go on Monday to her favorite one and apparently the best one in town which is in Prenzlauer Berg. Even though this is clear across town - nearly an hour by public transport we agree and Benjamin decides to join Marty and I drop off the kids in what looks like a make shift little wooden town built by kids. There are rickety wooden structures, a huge trampoline, tools - axes, saws, hammers and some building material strewn around.  There is no grass but just dirt ground which adds to the chaotic jumbled up look to the place.  Up front near where we walked in there is a large slip and slide type plastic thing but with sides that is filling up with water from a nearby hose. 
in.

There are no sign ins or sign outs sheets and more notably no release forms of any kind.  A couple of "staff" - guys in their upper 20's low 30's greet us with a friendly hello.  They seem like the chill hipster/outdoorsy type guys you would see working at REI.  There are several signs that say "no parents allowed" and "No photos"  Happy to say I broke both of those rules.
The kids race in and Marty and I head off a stop or two away on the Ubahn to go to lunch.  We enjoy a very tasty Vietnamese meal and a couple of drinks and it feels like we are on holiday... other than the

fact that Marty notices the time and has to race off to get home to do the radio show.  I brought a book and planned to stay in the area until 5ish when Josie's friend was supposed to be getting picked up.  I walked past the Abenteuerspielplatz on the way to a nearby park in hopes of reading my book.  As I'm

passing the 6 kids (Josie, Benjamin, Josie's friends and younger sister and two other girls - friend's of Josie's friend) Benjamin is in a bad mood and looks sad.  I ask how it is going and he bursts into tears!  He says it is the worst!  Turns out he didn't get a turn on the trampoline and when it was finally his turn the other 5 girls decide it is time to walk to the nearby corner market to buy ice cream.  I told my kids  to stick together and so I imagine he was frustrated by not getting his turn and of course didn't want to miss out on the promised ice cream treat.  Josie buys him his ice cream, he eats in reluctantly and then I tell him I'm going to a park and he is welcome to come with me or head back to the park.  He walks back into the park with the 5 girls (this might also have been part of the problem.... FIVE girls and him.  I imagine they had different interests)
I go to a park and read and finish my book (about German parenting and start a new one - Handmaid's Tale.  I know I'm late to the game on this book but WHOA!!) Anyway, my friend Hollis who lives very near and has three boys drops her boys off at the spielplatz and now when I head back at 5PM to pick the kids up neither of them is ready to leave.  I think having 3 boys to play with has changed Benjamin's tune but Josie said even before Hollis' sons turned up he was having a great time.

Like I said there are tools, dangerous ones, really - if in the wrong hands, are everywhere.  They were building something, or whittling or who knows what as we were corralled and told to stay in the "parent's area" far from the action.  The kids had to turn in something valuable as collateral to check out a tool.  They gave their bus/train passes and went to work.  Sadly, Hollis' youngest son (Benjamin's age) came running out with an index finger dripping blood.  He was apparently using a pocket knife and sliced his finger.  I get their whole mission is to teach kids to use these things responsibly but what would they have done had we not been there?  Bandaged it up I guess and then the child along with anyone nearby to see him cut his finger have now learned a valuable lesson.  My kids stayed until closing time - 6pm, so the second half of the day was clearly more successful than the first.
They were both dirty, and sweaty and hot and happy.  I guess that is the whole point of these parks.  I was impressed and still a bit in awe.  Oh and by the way, they are free.  You can leave a donation if you would like but there is no pressure at all to do so.