Fern Kids, founded by Preston Stringer, is a Canadian designer and manufacturer of commercial children’s furniture, outdoor furniture, and play structures, bringing architectural-quality design to the schools, childcare centres, museums, and libraries. Operated out of Moorefield, Ontario, Fern Kids designs and builds every product at its own Canadian workshop, from classroom tables and cubby systems to custom loft structures and outdoor learning environments. The company serves daycares, preschools, Montessori schools, and commercial developers across Canada and North America, delivering furniture that is built to last and made to meet the demands of commercial use.
Fern Kids works directly with architects and interior designers on custom commercial projects, from concept through installation. The company offers a formal trade program, custom fabrication services, and full room layout and specification support. All Fern Kids products are made from high-quality materials, including sustainably sourced birch with architectural finishes, soft play elements, mirrors, acrylic, stain colours, and HPL where durability demands it. Every product is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Notable projects include Adventure Alley, a custom 16-foot tree environment with elevated loft, slide, and interactive elements created in collaboration with designer Jordana Leventhal, and Piccoli Outdoors, a fully designed outdoor childcare yard in Calgary featuring a cedar playhouse, mud kitchen, and activity benches. Fern Kids has also completed custom playspaces for Hazelview Properties, a hotel in Jasper, Alberta, and residential clients across Canada.
outdoorED Pavilion | Whitney Brothers
Children’s furniture brand Whitney Brothers has introduced the outdoorED Learning Pavilion, a freestanding activity center for young learners built in weatherproof material with a design that extends the classroom outdoors and connects young children with the natural environment. The pavilion is intentionally proportioned for young learners. The spacious interior accommodates multiple children and a variety of collaborative activities. An overhanging activity table on each side, which is accessible from both inside and outside the pavilion, pairs with outdoorED Benches to support small group learning, hands-on projects and imaginative play. The vented roof provides shade from the sun or shelter from weather. Wide openings on each end provide ADA accessibility and create an inclusive environment.
The pavilion is constructed in 3/4-inch textured woodgrain maple and white HDPE panels that form crisp lines with contrasting colour accents. White panels do not absorb or reflect heat from the sun and are easily cleaned using common non-abrasive household cleaning agents. The HDPE material is UV stabilized to resist fading, stains, mold and mildew and will not chip, rot, swell, delaminate or absorb moisture, bacteria or odours, making it suitable for outdoor use. The pavilion also complies with the National Head Start Association (NHSA) and federal Head Start Program requirement that outdoor equipment must be free from splinters. The outdoorED Collection features 11 individual furniture pieces that support the specialized ergonomic and developmental needs of preschool and kindergarten-aged children.
Casablanca Crib | Storkcraft
Vancouver-based Justin L. Segal is the creative director of Storkcraft, a heritage brand established in 1945. His approach to nursery furniture combines hand-sketched concepts, storytelling, form and function, with a focus on design and practicality. Among his creations is the Storkcraft Casablanca Deluxe 5-in-1 Convertible Crib with Drawer and Bonus Toddler Guardrail. The Casablanca Crib began as a hand-drawn concept; a father-daughter-inspired design envisioned by Segal for his firstborn. The crib features wave-inspired detailing, softly rounded posts, and a monochromatic palette. Segal’s intention for the design was to evoke the serenity of ocean waves while maintaining a minimalist silhouette that keeps the wave motif as the visual focal point. The Casablanca design has since expanded into a collection that includes a six-drawer double dresser, a three-drawer chest with changing topper, and a Montessori-inspired activity table and bench set, with a coordinating twin bed launching soon. The collection extends the wave-inspired design language across several pieces, creating a more cohesive approach to the nursery.
ÉPIK | Marc Boudreau design
This vertical play structure offers a playful interpretation of a miniature urban landscape, with five interconnected towers forming a rhythmic silhouette reminiscent of a skyline. Canadian-designed, the structure rises to 6.72 metres and can accommodate nearly 100 children at once. The play experience is organized across five levels, ranging from 0.6 m to 4.3 m in height, with angled passageways that allow movement between levels and create a maze-like experience. Safety is integrated into the structure, with platforms above 2.4 m fully enclosed to prevent falls. On the upper levels, mesh panels provide visibility for supervision while allowing children to experience a sense of height. Triangular perforations and coloured translucent panels filter natural light, creating changing patterns of shadows and colour.
The structure includes three slides, including one positioned at 4.3 m, as well as accessible features and fine-motor play elements across multiple levels. Its design is defined by straight lines, angles and a recurring triangular motif, which appears in the panel cutouts, perforations, engravings and roof forms. The structure is made of aluminum and steel with polyethylene panels, ensuring durability and resistance in an intensive outdoor use context.
