Outdoor Play
Outdoor Play Strategy: Phase 2 (2021-2023)
From 2021 to 2023, the Lawson Foundation implemented the second phase of its Outdoor Play Strategy, investing $4.95 million in eight demonstration projects across Canada. These projects aimed to build capacity within Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) by supporting educators and institutions in embedding outdoor play into their practices.
Phase 2 emphasized adults’ critical role in enabling high-quality outdoor play experiences. It addressed gaps in training and resources, ensuring educators and caregivers were equipped to support outdoor play in licensed child care settings.
Final Report and Knowledge Translation Resources
An evaluation of Phase 2 by Taylor Newberry Consulting captured key learnings from the eight projects, emphasizing the role of values-driven approaches, collaboration, and professional development in promoting high-quality outdoor play.
The final report and additional knowledge translation resources shared below offer insights and recommendations for future efforts, along with practical resources for ELCC professionals and policymakers.
Outdoor Play Strategy 2.0 Full Report
Outdoor Play Strategy 2.0 Full Report (French Translation)
Executive Summary and Press Release
Executive Summary (French Translation)
Practical Resource for ECE Leaders
Briefing Note for Policymakers
Transforming Post-Secondary Early Childhood Education
As the OPS Phase 2 drew to a close, the Lawson Foundation convened a working group to develop a framework to transform post-secondary ECE education in Canada, equipping Early Childhood Educators to implement Outdoor and Land-based approaches and guiding senior administrators and policymakers to support these practices through necessary policy and practice changes.
This led to the development of More Than a New Course: A Framework for Embedding Outdoor and Land-based Pedagogies in Post-Secondary ECE Programs., which can be accessed below.
Executive Summary and Press Release
More Than a New Course: A Framework for Embedding Outdoor and Land-based Pedagogies in Post-Secondary ECE Programs
Bien plus qu’un nouveau cours : Un schéma pour intégrer les pédagogies inspirées de la Terre et de l’éducation en plein air aux programmes postsecondaires en EPE
Related News and Updates
Advancing Outdoor Play in Early Learning: The Power of a Relational, Values-Driven Approach to Building Adult Capacity
The Lawson Foundation is proud to announce the release of "The Power of a Relational, Values-Driven Approach to Building Adult Capacity: Final Evaluation Report of Outdoor Play Strategy 2.0." a comprehensive evaluation highlighting the significant strides made in...
Transforming Post-Secondary Early Childhood Education in Canada with Outdoor and Land-based Teaching and Learning
The Lawson Foundation has released a new report, "More Than a New Course: A Framework for Embedding Outdoor and Land-based Pedagogies in Post-Secondary ECE Programs." (French Translation available here). The report provides guidelines to help integrate Outdoor and...
Outdoor Play Milestone : Canadian Pediatric Society’s position statement on outdoor risky play
The Canadian Pediatric Society just released a position statement on the importance of outdoor risky play! https://ow.ly/xgfB50QuTmm “Risk is inherent to free play. When children play spontaneously, they may choose to push boundaries and test limits. Risky play...
Report | Funding for Outdoor Play in Canada
"Funding for Outdoor Play in Canada" supports funders and grant seekers in finding common ground and building partnerships to advance the multiple issue areas that overlap with outdoor play July 29, 2021 - A new report from The Lawson Foundation and Outdoor Play...
Article | Why the outdoors should be an integral part of every early learning and child-care program
Our program director, Christine Alden, put pen to paper to make the case on why the outdoors should be an integral part of every early learning and child care program. She explains outdoor learning and its benefits to kids’ development and provides some policy...
Outdoor early learning helps kids. Provinces should do more to support it
Check out our latest update on early learning and childcare in First Policy Response, "Outdoor early learning helps kids. Provinces should do more to support it," by our very own Christine and Kayla Ritchie, and Frank Welsh. From the article: "We reiterate our call to...