Place, Pedagogy, and Play – Foreword
Montessori NLI Place, Pedagogy, and Play – Foreword Author: Moore, Robin. Download The PDF - English When children play, do they learn? “Yes;’ would be the expected answer from child development experts and early childhood educators, and hopefully,...
Healthy Planet, Healthy Children: Designing Nature into Childhood
Publications NLI Healthy Planet, Healthy Children: Designing Nature into Childhood Authors: Moore, Robin & Cooper Marcus, Clare. Download the PDF Although the epidemics and infectious diseases targeted by public health agencies during the last 130 years have...
The Need for Nature-A Childhood Right
Publications NLI The Need for Nature-A Childhood Right Authors: Moore, Robin Download the PDF - English The Need for Nature enumerates recent factors restricting access to the outdoors, including motorized traffic, parental fears, lack of space and time, and others,...
Natural Learning – Once Upon A Yard
Publications NLI Natural Learning – Once Upon A Yard Authors: Moore, Robin; & Wong, Herb. Download the PDF We took a fragment of the Earth’s surface, where nonhuman life was extinct, and through design demonstrated the power of nature to restore...
Children Gardening – First Steps Towards a Sustainable Future
Publications NLI Children Gardening – First Steps Towards a Sustainable Future Author: Moore, Robin. Download The PDF - English Children’s gardening is introduced within the broader frame of reference of sustainable development, regenerative design, and...
NLI Newsletter – May 2021
Registration is NOW OPEN for the Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate Course!
Summer 2021 registration open!
NLI Exhibition
Happy Mother’s Day!
Newly Released InfoSheets!
Natural Learning at Home® May
Artsteps NLI Exhibition
We are happy to announce that the Design Institute will be held virtually on March 25-26, 2021.
Earth Day 2021
NLI Earth Day 2021 Join us in celebrating Earth Day! It is a great opportunity to pause and enjoy nature as we ponder new ways to take care of our planet. Create a space to socialize outdoors or find new and inventive ways to upcycle items. Both the inspiring New York...
NLI Newsletter – April 2021
20th Anniversary Design Institute
Virtual event saved 41.4 metric tons.
NLI Exhibition
Robin Moore Honored by NC State University
Happy Earth Day!
Natural Learning at Home® April
Robin Moore, NLI Director, is honored by NC State University and the U.S. Play Coalition
NLI Robin Moore, NLI Director, is honored by NC State University and the U.S. Play Coalition Robin is a recipient of the 2020-2021 Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence, the highest academic honor bestowed by the NC State Board of Trustees for outstanding...
20th Anniversary NLI Design Institute
We are happy to announce that the Design Institute will be held virtually on March 25-26, 2021.
NLI Newsletter – March 2021
Register for “Re-Naturing Urban Childhood: Making Friends with Planet Earth” by May 23rd!
Virtual event celebrates 20th Anniversary Design Institute.
NC State Day of Giving
National Plant Database
John Fritz Talks Design
Natural Learning at Home® March
National Play Value Plant Database
The database is an exciting, unique resource allowing users to select plants by their play value, like those that promote sensory attributes, attract butterflies or birds, provide “loose parts” for play, or a host of other playful traits. (in addition to commonly found criteria like zone, height, growth habits, etc.) It’s a fantastic tool for landscape architects, park administrators, nature-focused organizations, schools, and anyone who wants to promote rich and diverse play and recreation experiences for children and families.
NLI Newsletter – February 2021
Re-Naturing Urban Childhood: Making Friends with Planet Earth
20th Anniversary Design Institute celebration with global leaders
Register for the Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate Course
Newly Released InfoSheets!
Save The Date For The 20th Anniversary NLI Design Institute
Natural Learning at Home® February
Celebrate Black History Month!
Nature’s Bounty
NLI Newsletter – January 2021
Registration is NOW OPEN for the Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate Course!
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments certificate registration is now open!
Newly Released InfoSheets!
20th Anniversary Design Institute
Natural Learning at Home® January
Ice Painting
Enjoying Nature’s Bounty
Lots of Love
Shape NC NLI Lots of Love Lot of Love, located in Garner, NC, has fenced in a large open area to increase the size of their outdoor learning environment. They have added a garden classroom, with a fruit and vegetable garden and garden activity tables. They have...
Childcare Network #125
Shape NC NLI Childcare Network #125 Childcare Network #125, located in Fuquay-Varina, NC, replaced their well-worn infant and toddler poured-in-place primary pathways. A raised garden bed was added in their infant area, and raised fruit and vegetable gardens were...
Kiddie Kollege #1
Shape NC NLI Kiddie Kollege #1 Kiddie Kollege in Durham, NC has transformed the sunny area at the entrance of their center into a welcoming and thriving garden space, complete with a fruit and vegetable garden with arbor and a lush perennial garden punctuated with...
Little Engine Academy
Shape NC NLI Little Engine Academy Little Engine Academy, located in Durham, NC, has added a range of outdoor play and learning opportunities. They reworked some internal fences to create a separate infant area. They also added a looping mulch primary pathway in the...
Harvest Learning Center
Shape NC NLI Harvest Learning Center Harvest Learning Center, located in Durham, NC, was able to add a primary pathway loop onto an existing concrete pad in their preschool and toddler area, as well as a tree cookie secondary pathway. They also installed a mud...
Yates Baptist Child Development Center
Shape NC NLI Yates Baptist Child Development Center Yates Baptist Child Development Center, located in Durham, NC, has naturalized all three of their spaces in their outdoor learning environment through the addition of small trees for shade, shrubs and perennial...
Kids Korner Academy
Shape NC NLI Kids Korner Academy Kids Korner Academy I in Durham, NC started their outdoor learning environment improvements by removing some internal fences to maximize the use of their space. They added an arbor over the entry as well as two bridges. The children...
A New Beginning III
Shape NC NLI A New Beginning III A New Beginning III, located in Durham, NC, added a primary pathway, which connects to the ramp to the building, in an open space on their site. The children are staying busy with wheeled toys on their new pathway. They also added...
Brentwood Head Start
Shape NC Brentwood Head Start Brentwood Head Start added a large double looped primary pathway that runs around existing play equipment and connects to an existing storage area. A raised fruit and vegetable garden, which occupies a sunny corner of their OLE, gives...
Building Blocks for Tots, Inc.
Shape NC NLI Building Blocks for Tots, Inc. Building Blocks for Tots, located in Wilson, NC, is a testament to the power of teamwork. The center installed a large double-looped primary pathway in the preschool area and a primary pathway in the toddler area. The...
Cynthia’s Garden of Knowledge, Inc.
Shape NC NLI Cynthia’s Garden of Knowledge, Inc. Cynthia’s Garden of Knowledge in Wilson, NC has transformed their outdoor learning environment by adding connecting primary pathways for their preschool and toddler areas, after removing some internal fencelines...
01. Benefits of Engaging Children with Nature
Infosheets NLI 01. Benefits of Engaging Children with Nature Download the PDF - English Naturalized outdoor learning environments (OLEs) stimulate the diversity of children’s play experiences and contribute to healthy childhood development. Best practice design of...
02. Top Ten Activity Settings For Outdoor Learning
Infosheets NLI 02. Top Ten Activity Settings For Outdoor Learning Download the PDF - English Activity settings add value to outdoor learning environments (OLEs) by supporting specific play and learning activities. An outdoor stage, for example, enables a range of...
03. Affordable Settings and Components
Infosheets NLI 03. Affordable Settings and Components Download the PDF - English Transforming a play environment doesn’t require endless resources. With a few easy-to-find materials and willing volunteers, many settings and elements can be made at minimal cost,...
04. Gathering Settings
Infosheets NLI 04. Gathering Settings Download the PDF - English Gathering settings support formal and informal play and learning activity. Sizes may vary to accommodate a group as small as two (e.g., child and teacher) or a whole class. They can be designed to suit...
05. Gathering Settings Created with Logs
Infosheets NLI 05. Gathering Settings Created with Logs Download the PDF - English Gathering settings support formal and informal group activity and social interaction. Settings can be constructed from logs (presented here), smooth boulders or timber benches, arranged...
06. Stepping Stone Pathways and Small Patios
Infosheets NLI 06. Stepping Stone Pathways and Small Patios Download the PDF - English See the "Installing Stepping Stones" Green Desk Post Stepping stones are versatile and durable ground surface components used to create outdoor play and learning settings....
07. Conicals
Infosheets 07. Conicals Download the PDF - English Conicals provide a permanent, pyramidal form of nook for gathering and dramatic play. Constructed from geometrically arranged poles converging at their upper ends, conicals can be created from metal, dimensioned...
08. Vine Conical Installation
Infosheets NLI 08. Vine Conical Installation Download the PDF - English Vine conicals create amazing opportunities for learning and outdoor play. Vine conicals can be constructed of 1/2-inch rebar, 1/2-inch steel bar, or sturdy giant bamboo as described here....
09. Pathway Designs
Infosheets NLI 09. Pathway Designs Download the PDF - English Research shows that well-designed pathways promote physical activity, play, and learning by providing children and teachers with integrated access to outdoor learning environments (OLEs). Once established,...
10. Growing Edibles in Containers
Infosheets NLI 10. Growing Edibles in Containers Download the PDF - English Container gardening is a practical, low-cost, space-efficient, and child-friendly approach to growing fresh produce at home, schools, and in childcare centers. Children delight in growing and...
11. Shade Solutions
Infosheets NLI 11. Shade Solutions Download the PDF - English Adequate protection from the sun is essential for the health and comfort of young children outdoors. In addition to protecting children from harmful ultra-violet light, sun protection extends outdoor play...
12. Arbors, Pergolas, & Trellises
Infosheets NLI 12. Arbors, Pergolas, & Trellises Download the PDF - English Arbors, pergolas, and trellises emerged centuries ago in Graeco-Roman gardens. Then as now they accentuate the third dimension, immersing users in nature by enveloping them with climbing...
