Thank you to Dr. Ole Sando, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Health at Queen Maud University in Trondheim, Norway, for providing this post. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) institutions offer young children an environment with play opportunities that contribute to their development. The complexity of early childhood learning led to the...
In the last ten years, we have seen a groundswell in outdoor and nature-based preschools and an abundance of outdoor play-based learning programs situated on or near school grounds across North America. The possibilities for play are endless, yet the challenges many educators face are equal in measure. It is important to think through our...
The Outdoor Learning Store is partnering with over 70 other non-profit partners to offer Free Fall Outdoor Learning Virtual Workshops! Sign-up to join some/all of these 60-min sessions: Naturally Inclusive: Engaging Children of All Abilities Outdoors Wild Learning: Practical Ideas to Bring Teaching Outdoors Outdoor Learning through Patterns in Nature Connecting Children...
Exploring decolonization in the outdoors: A virtual panel discussion Join the Outward Bound Canada (OBC) Training Academy team on Wednesday, September 13 at 9 a.m. PST /12 p.m. EDT for a virtual panel discussion presenting individual perspectives on decolonization based on the teachings of First Nations and Indigenous groups from across the country. A diverse group of...
The Outdoor Play Canada 2023 Awards will be presented at this year’s Breath of Fresh Air Outdoor Play Summit! If you know of an individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional commitment and leadership in the promotion of outdoor play, nominate them for an OPC award! Award categories include: 2023 OPC Honour Award Dr. Mariana Brussoni...
This post was originally published by the Outdoor Learning Store. August 9th is the International Day of Indigenous Peoples. The 2023 International Day of Indigenous Peoples, under the title of “Indigenous youth as agents of change for self-determination”, revindicates the role that indigenous youth must occupy in decision-making while recognizing their dedicated efforts in climate action, the search...
Thank you to the Nova Scotia Outdoor Play Network for providing this post. The Nova Scotia Outdoor Play Network was formed during the development of the Outdoor Play in Canada: 2021 State of the Sector Report, led by Outdoor Play Canada (OPC), which brought together outdoor play stakeholders from across Canada to identify the wealth of...
Organizations that provide physical activity programs for individuals with disabilities are often required to do evaluations to secure funding, show impact to board members and stakeholders, and understand their ability to grow. However, programs are difficult to evaluate due to their complexity and competing organizational priorities. There are also very few resources to support evaluation...
Thank you to Dr. Jean-Philippe Ayotte-Beaudet and Dr. Felix Berrigan for providing this post. This article was originally published in The Conversation. There is a growing interest across Canada in outdoor education that is formally integrated into school. This trend has increased since COVID-19, particularly because open-air environments significantly reduced the risks of disease transmission. Outdoor education is an...
The Play Outside UBC Lab at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute is looking to understand children’s outdoor play at Early Learning and Child Care (ELCCs) centres across Canada. They are seeking to understand outdoor play provision in Canada to support future action related to outdoor play policies,...
