Our Mission
The Jobson Family Foundation supports children’s rights to free play, independent activity, and a connection to the natural environment. We also support educational and land conservation initiatives.
Our Contributions
Our foundation is dedicated to funding organizations that create and maintain natural play spaces, such as parks and nature reserves, to provide children with enriching outdoor experiences. We support educational groups that offer programs and hands-on activities that connect kids to nature and teach them about the beauty of the environment.
Announcements
Our foundation funds organizations that create natural play spaces and host events to teach children about the environment. We support educational programs and hands-on activities that connect kids to nature. Scroll down to learn more about current things happening at the park and beyond!
Natural Play Park Sign Honors Parents and Celebrates Artist Ememem
Colene Hoose Elementary School saw its final installment at the natural play park in Normal, Illinois. The park and the sign were created to honor Charlie’s parents, Ilse and Charles Jobson. If you look closely, you can see his parents’ silhouettes in the piece. The artwork was created by anonymous artist, Ememem, from Lyon, France. The casing was created by Heartland Fabrications, Congerville, IL. This is Ememems first mosaic work made in the US. The artist is often called a street surgeon and known for a process called flacking. It usually takes place in the middle of the night by filling potholes with beautiful geometric mosaic creations. His second two pieces in the US can be seen on the sidewalks in front of the McLean County Museum of History. They resemble the same tiles used for the silhouettes. Before the artist left the states, signature work was added to sidewalks in Chicago and New York City.
Bloomington-Normal Educators Travel to Denmark
Educators from the Bloomington-Normal, IL area traveled to Copenhagen to experience natural playgrounds, school gardens and adventure/Junkyard playgrounds. They met with Helle Nebelong, designer of the Ilse and Charles Jobson Natural Play Park, and toured some of her parks in the Copenhagen area. They even spotted a few of Thomas Dambo Trolls!
The Ilse and Charles Jobson Natural Play Park Signs Installed
Patrons to the play park will enjoy new signage at the entrance to the park. The children at Colene Hoose Elementary School should notice something familiar about the signs that are now housed at each portal entrance to the park. The day of the park opening, each child received a special commemorative coin. Charlie Jobson wanted the children that were in attendance to always have a special connection to the park, which is why the medallions at each entrance match the coin each child received. The Medallions were crafted in the UK with help from Nicola Henshaw and installed on large boulders with help from Schritchlow Landscaping.