Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities has released its 2023 State of Sport Report, an annual survey on the continued impact of the pandemic on youth sport in Canada. The new report reveals one major barrier keeping kids on the sidelines: rising costs. In fact, nearly half of parents surveyed said they cannot afford to register their kids...
Thank you to Emily Gemmell, PhD student from University of British Columbia for providing this post! What does a playable neighbourhood look like? Researchers at the University of British Columbia's School of Population and Public Health are inviting five to twelve-year-old kids and their parents to participate in an online survey assessing visual perceptions of neighbourhood playability...
The Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play Collaborative (CHEO Research Institute, Algonquin College, Andrew Fleck Children’s Services, Outdoor Play Canada) is seeking outdoor early childhood education (ECE) leaders to join the newly formed National Panel on Licensing of Outdoor Early Childhood Education (“The National Panel”). This National Panel will advance efforts towards changing ECE licensing regulations across...
Thank you to Anna Kaufmann, Intern at Technical University of Munich, Germany, Jan Ellinger, PhD Candidate at Technical University of Munich, Germany, and Dr. Christoph Mall, Researcher at Technical University of Munich, Germany, for providing this post. “Man is by nature a social animal” - Aristotle. It was already known in 300 B.C. that we humans...
Thank you to Dr. Louise de Lannoy, in-coming Executive Director of Outdoor Play Canada, for providing this post. When Outdoor Play Canada started the process of developing the 2021 Outdoor Play in Canada: State of the Sector Report, they envisioned the report consisting of three components: 1) a review of where the outdoor play sector has...
Thank you to Thomas Morgenthaler, PhD student in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at University College Cork and Queen Margaret University, for providing this post. If you were to visit your local playground and ask several children what they like about it, you would likely hear a common response repeated over and over again: "It's so...
Outdoor Play Canada is proud to support the Outdoor Learning Store's (free!) Spring Outdoor Learning Virtual Workshops! There is something for every educator at these 60min virtual workshops featuring a diversity of presenters and topics. In addition to ideas & inspiration, you’ll walk away with a certificate of attendance, discounts on outdoor learning resources & entry...
A growing number of organizations, including ours, are addressing the importance of outdoor learning. Outdoor Play Canada is proud to support Take Me Outside's Outdoor Learning Resource Hub, a living document and comprehensive guide that highlights outdoor learning organizations throughout the country. Regardless of your experience or expertise in outdoor learning, you can explore this directory...
On Thursday March 30th at 20:00 GMT, the International Journal of Behavior Nutrition and Physical Activity Early Childhood Education Special Interest Group (ISBNPA ECE SIG) is hosting a webinar entitled: 'Outdoor and Nature Play: A Global Look at Research Policy & Practice'. This 75-minute webinar will include a discussion from international experts currently working in the...
Thank you to Emily Gemmell, PhD Candidate at the University of British Columbia, for providing this guest post. “Ananda,” Mrs. Murry said thoughtfully. “That rings some kind of bell.” “It’s Sanskrit,” Charles Wallace said. Meg asked, “Does it mean anything?” “That joy in existence without which the universe will fall apart and collapse.” “That’s a mighty big name for one...
