The Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) is partnering with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Office of Early Learning and the Exceptional Children Division in the Outdoor Learning Environments Initiative for Preschool Demonstration Site Program. The purpose of this initiative is to provide accessible and high quality outdoor learning environments in demonstration preschool classrooms and to prepare teachers to model appropriate use and best teaching practices in the outdoor environment.

Additional health related benefits from the initiative:

• Increase children’s physical activity and healthy eating.
• Protect children from excessive sun exposure. Outdoor behavior settings that are isolated and lacking vegetation can potentially expose children to potentially harmful sun radiation that over time may cause skin cancer.