Thank you to Dr. Debra Harwood, Professor in the Department of Educational Studies at Brock University, for providing this post.

Researchers from Brock University are inviting Nature educators/individuals to participate in a research project on outdoor nature-based programs, entitled Outdoor and Nature-Based Early Learning in Canada: Revisiting the Scene Post-Pandemic.  For this study, an outdoor nature-based program is defined as a child-directed, play and inquiry-based learning approach that happens in the outdoors, whereby children (0-12 years) go outdoors on a regular and repeated basis over an extended period.

The purpose of this research is to gain a more in-depth understanding of the Canadian scope of outdoor and nature-based learning experiences and contexts and as a follow-up to the national study conducted in 2018-2019. They are particularly interested in the potential impact of the pandemic on outdoor nature play programs.

The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Complete the survey here.

The research is being led by Drs. Jaime Barratt and Debra Harwood of Brock University, Faculty of Education and Dr. Elizabeth Boileau of the University of Minnesota Duluth. This research project has ethical clearance from Brock University (#23-272 – BARRATT).

If you have any questions about your role and/or the research, please feel free to contact any of the researchers: Jaime Barratt, PhD (C): jbarratt@brocku.ca, Dr. Debra Harwood: dharwood@brocku.ca and Dr. Elizabeth Boileau: eboileau@d.umn.edu.