Celebrating the Grand Opening of Camp Wilder 

Penfield Children’s Center was proud to officially celebrate the grand opening of Camp Wilder, our newly reimagined indoor playground designed to inspire imagination, exploration, and joyful play for the children and families we serve. 

The celebration brought together investors, community partners, staff, supporters, and families who all played a role in bringing this incredible vision to life. Throughout the event, guests had the opportunity to experience the transformed space while reflecting on the impact Camp Wilder will have for generations of children at Penfield. 

Guests heard remarks from Penfield CEO Polina Makievsky, who shared the importance of creating engaging, inclusive spaces where children of all abilities can learn, play, and grow. One of the evening’s most meaningful moments came from Logan’s family, who shared their personal experience participating in Penfield’s Birth to Three Program and the support their family received along the way. 

Following the remarks, guests gathered for the official ribbon cutting ceremony for Camp Wilder’s new indoor slide. In a fitting celebration of the moment, Logan was honored as the very first child to take a ride down the slide, officially opening the space with smiles, laughter, and excitement.  

Designed with a North Woods adventure theme, Camp Wilder features a rock-climbing wall, tree fort slide, camper, interactive play areas, and sensory-friendly elements that encourage creativity, movement, and connection. The renovated play space was thoughtfully created by Captivate to provide children with opportunities to build confidence, strengthen developmental skills, and simply experience the joy of play. 

This transformation would not have been possible without the generosity and support of our investors and community partners who believed in this vision and helped make it a reality. Their investment in Camp Wilder is an investment in the children and families of our community and will have a lasting impact for years to come. 

We are deeply grateful to the many individuals and organizations who helped bring Camp Wilder to life, including: Architects David Baum & Mark Helminiak, BSI – Smart Spaces, Captivate, CBI, MIAD, Ron Jacobs and Selzer-Ornst. 

We also extend a special thank you to Karie Anderson, Penfield’s Director of Facilities, for her leadership, coordination, and dedication throughout the entire renovation project. 

Camp Wilder is more than a playground. It is a welcoming space built for imagination, connection, discovery, and joyful moments for every child and family who walks through our doors. The space will be used daily by children in Penfield’s Early Education & Care programs, giving kids a place to run, play, and explore during cold winter months, rainy days, and throughout the school day. Camp Wilder provides a fun, engaging environment where children can stay active, build social connections, and continue learning through play year-round.