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Policy Practice Research

Browse all content related to outdoor play and Research.

Louise de Lannoy1, Brianna Nasrallah2, Nicholas Hayhow 3, Ulises Charles-Rodriguez4, Kimberly Squires5, Zainab Badruddin6, Justin J Lang2,7, Shawnda A Morrison8, Po-Yu Wang9, Mark S Tremblay1,2, Eun-Young Lee1,2,10,11 provided this post (affiliations can be found at the end of this post).   We, as a global society, have shifted our lives such that the vast majority......

14 May, 2026 /

This post was written by Louise de Lannoy, Michael Down, Javier Sayavera, Peter Bentsen, Richard Larouche, Eun-Young Lee, Leigh Vanderloo, Lærke Mygind, Trish Tucker, Avril Johnstone, Alessandra Prioreschi, Stephanie Prince Ware, Maeghan James, Arlene McGarty alongside the other 11 co-authors of this manuscript (see all names and affiliations below). Highlights Active outdoor play is linked......

11 May, 2026 /

Trans Canada Trail is conducting a national research study to better understand the current state of trails across the country, including how people use trails, what helps or gets in the way of access, and how trails are experienced in different communities. The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and is anonymous. Take the survey......

25 March, 2026 /

BugQuest is a free national biodiversity engagement program run through the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the University of Guelph. The project connects insect sampling and DNA barcoding with schools and community sites across Canada, helping participants explore the insect biodiversity in their own area while contributing to a larger research effort.   Host sites receive......

25 March, 2026 /

Thank you to  Dr. Richard Larouche, Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Lethbridge, for providing this post. Which factors predict outdoor play in Canadian 7- to 12-year-olds?   Previous studies and literature reviews have consistently found that children who spend more time outdoors are more physically active and generally have better physical,......

23 January, 2026 /

Thank you to Dr. Louise de Lannoy, Executive Director, Outdoor Play Canada, and Kim Hiscott, Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Fleck Children’s Services, for providing this post. Why play outside when its cold? What are the benefits? The health benefits of outdoor play are clear and wide-reaching… but what about in winter time? Is it safe......

10 December, 2025 /

Queen’s University invites you to a special online session, led by Dr. Eun-Young Lee, exploring key insights from the 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play, with a particular focus on inclusion and mental health. Marking a decade of global evidence, the Position Statement examines the vital connections between active outdoor play and pressing global issues such......

29 October, 2025 /

Dr. Shawnda Morrison gave a presentation on OPC’s global 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play to the World Health Organization Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Europe – Environment working group, which focuses on Environmental Approaches to HEPA in the European region. Dr. Morrison’s presentation was titled “The 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play: A......

29 October, 2025 /

  Policy Award The Outdoor Play Canada Policy Award recognizes and celebrates a significant contribution to the policy base for the field of outdoor play. It is awarded to a policy-maker and/or organization for demonstrated commitment and leadership in policy development and/or implementation that promotes and/or facilitates outdoor play. Qualified nominees are individuals or groups/organizations......

01 October, 2025 /
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Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Health, Wellbeing & Development, Outdoor ECE, Outdoor Play Environments, Physical Activity, Policy, Practice, Research, Risky Play, Safety & Outdoor Play, Statement, The Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play

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Kids with regular access to unstructured, child-directed outdoor play form a lasting, positive relationship with nature.