This winter (and eventually, spring), the City of Calgary is continuing its self-directed, drop-in program that uses natural elements such as snow, tree stumps, tree cookies, branches, twigs and rocks to inspire active and creative outdoor play, and connect people, young and old, to nature, with onsite play ambassadors to inspire play. Parents are encouraged...
The Advancing Early Childhood Education Outdoors Now Roundtable, led by Dr Mariana Brussoni, Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, explores the health and educational benefits of being outside, successful international models of early childhood education outdoors, and paths for advancing licensing outdoor early childhood education in British Columbia. This 3-part roundtable series explored the...
Physical and Health Education (PHE) Canada has released a National Position Statement on Recess that calls for educators, administrators, and district officials to consider a new approach to recess in schools across Canada, and provides supporting information to do so. In the Statement, the authors outline the importance of recess for children's social well-being, immediate and...
Between 2016 and 2018, EcoKids worked with 6 school communities in the Toronto District School Board to implement the OPAL pilot program. The Transform Lab, led by Dr. Raktim Mitra, Associate Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerson University, evaluated that pilot project. The researchers found that the OPAL program led...
On July 13, 2020, the Lawson Foundation released a statement on the importance of outdoor play as a public health strategy to support the reopening of early learning and child care (ELCC) centres, and for children's development and learning. The statement was prepared with input from public health and ELCC sector advisors, and includes guiding principles...
Andrew Fleck Child Services, in partnership with Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group and Child and Nature Alliance of Canada, is constructing a multi-purpose iconic building on National Capital Commission (NCC) property, with the goal of promoting children’s play and learning outdoors on a regular and repeated basis. This building will house three primary functions: ...
During the COVID-19 closure of the Andrew Fleck Ottawa Forest and Nature School, the education team launched a blog to continue nurturing the connection between children, their families, the land, and each other. With school and some programs back up and running, the blog has morphed into a place to share specific supports to Take the...
On June 13, 2020, the Education Hub, based out of New Zealand, hosted an early childhood education (ECE) webinar entitled 'The importance of outdoor play and how to design outdoor spaces in ECE' featuring OPC Leadership Group Member Dr. Mariana Brussoni. This webinar covered the latest research on outdoor play, risky play, and play in...
The Government of Canada has put together the Risk mitigation tool for outdoor recreation spaces and activities operating during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist those responsible for parks and outdoor recreational places and programming (e.g. federal/provincial/territorial and local/municipal authorities, Indigenous leadership, sports and recreation organizations and coaches and leaders) in considering risks associated with operating their...
The Evergreen Outdoor Learning & Play Resources are a series of learning and play lessons focused on the outdoors. These resources have been developed by Evergreen Canada and are available for free on their website. Most lessons can be easily adapted for use in outdoor spaces near the home. Access the Evergreen Outdoor Learning and Play...
