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...
Adapted with permission from Ottawa Public Health. Ottawa Public Health has put together a guideline on how to get active and get outside safely during COVID-19. They provide guidance on precautions to take when using sidewalks, streets, multiuse paths and dog parks. The guideline also includes a useful chart to help identify who can be safely active...
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 Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) put together a shared folder of COVID-19 resources to promote knowledge sharing and provide support for the parks and recreation sector in their efforts to address the challenges presented by the COVID-19 outbreak and related restrictions. In this shared folder there are templates, tools, and guidelines including those...
These "how to" guides are intended to help municipalities and organizations improve play in their communities. They are based on the experiences of The City of Calgary who, since 2016, facilitated the creation, signing, and ongoing appraisal of the Calgary Play Charter as well as the development and implementation of a Mobile Adventure Playground....
This learning brief, developed by Parachute, explains the characteristics and benefits of unstructured outdoor play and risky play. To access the learning brief, visit parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/playgrounds-and-play-spaces/unstructured-outdoor-play-and-risky-play....
This learning brief, developed by Parachute, describes key benefits of playgrounds and play spaces, including the benefits of risky play in these settings. It also guides parents on how they can ensure their child’s safety while also allowing their child to explore and develop. To access the learning brief, visit parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/playgrounds-and-play-spaces/....
Led by a team of researchers, early childhood educators, governmental agencies, and professionals in BC, the Seven Cs is an informational guide for early childhood educators, designers, administrators, and parents. The goal of Seven Cs is to help people design outdoor play spaces that support the development of young children and integrate the unique qualities...
As a “How-To Guidebook,” the Outdoor PLAYbook offers a selection of leading research and best practices for school grounds in the following areas: landscape architecture, sustainable design, economic and phasing strategies, child development, injury prevention, and outdoor educational opportunities. The Outdoor PLAYbook was funded by the Vancouver School Board and won an award in 2017 from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. The Outdoor PLAYbook is available at www.outdoorplaybook.ca....
