The Center for LifeSkills - TimberNook of Greater Cleveland

The Center for LifeSkills - TimberNook of Greater Cleveland offers dramatic roles, games, tinkering, creative, child-led play, and sensory adventures. The program includes Enchanted sessions where children dive into their imaginations and bring dramatic roles to life, Woodland Tinkering that focuses on design and collaboration in the wild using unique combinations of materials and the environment as inspiration, and Sensory Adventures described as “sensory extraordinaire” with adventures that challenge the mind and engage all of the senses. TimberNook programs are described as outdoor sensory-rich, child-directed experiences that blend the power of story with the therapeutic benefits of nature, and are research-based and nature-driven, using extended outdoor play to spark creativity, build confidence, and strengthen resilience.

• Ages: 4–15 years old
• Schedule: Week-long sessions offered July 6–10, 2026; July 13–17, 2026; and July 20–24, 2026, running Monday–Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Price: $360.00 per program session listed

TimberNook of Greater Cleveland programs are hosted by The Center for LifeSkills, a small, privately-owned pediatric therapy clinic that also offers 1:1 occupational and speech therapies, social skills groups, school-based services, and licensed TimberNook programming. The Center for LifeSkills was founded in 2002, and TimberNook of Greater Cleveland started in 2014 and has been offering TimberNook programs since 2015. TimberNook is a licensed program provided by The Center for LifeSkills, and TimberNook offers programs in 51 locations in 4 countries. Registration for 2026 programs will open on February 4 at 8:00 am.

The leadership team includes Brenda Richards as Director and Certified Provider, Leah McInturf as Certified Provider, and Patrish Staffileno as Certified Provider. Brenda S. Richards, OTR/L, is a licensed and registered occupational therapist who earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Leah McInturf holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Patrish Staffileno has been a pediatric occupational therapist for 40 years. Angela Hanscom, the founder of TimberNook, is recognized as a Glamour “Hometown Hero” for her innovative work.

TimberNook’s stated mission is restoring the vital role of outdoor play in childhood, describing play as children’s authentic occupation and as both a fundamental right and a profound source of healing. The mission statement notes that research shows children grow, learn, and develop better when given the freedom to play outside, and that TimberNook integrates outdoor play with child development through programs that are child-led and nature-driven.

Testimonials about TimberNook include a statement from Dr. Anita Bundy, Sc.D., OT/L, FAOTA, FOTARA, who says that play is a powerful tool that enables important learning that school curricula usually do not yield and that children learn problems can be solved in many ways. A teacher describes Angela’s message as profound and says every educator and parent needs to learn this wisdom. A parent, Candace DiGiacomo, states that her daughter loves the program and calls it one of the best programs she has seen in almost 12 years of being a parent, and she highly recommends it. Provider Kevin Kane states that kids want action, movement, and drama in their play and that he loves the idea of children transforming through play, living stories, and full-on imagination come to life.

Approximately two weeks before a program, families receive an email with details about what to expect, what to pack, and drop-off and pick-up information.

Last updated July 3, 2026.