33. Earth Play Settings
Infosheets NLI 33. Earth Play Settings Download the PDF - English Earth play stimulates dramatic play and provides children with opportunities to dig and sculpt. Enclosed by logs or rocks and filled with a prepared “earth play mix,” earth play settings may contain...
34. Mud Kitchens
Infosheets NLI 34. Mud Kitchens Download the PDF - English Mud kitchens (cafés or labs) allow children to experiment with simple natural materials in infinite combinations, providing endless opportunities for nature-centered play and learning. By combining scientific...
35. Natural Construction Settings
Infosheets NLI 35. Natural Construction Settings Download the PDF - English Natural construction in the outdoor learning environment (OLE) supports open-ended, creative, and free play using diverse natural materials such as sticks, tree limbs, large leaves, and...
36. Dry Stream Beds
Infosheets NLI 36. Dry Stream Beds Download the PDF - English Dry stream beds are swale-like depressions lined with smooth river rocks. Children may play with the rocks, turn them over to find critters beneath, and explore the plants living between them. Dry stream...
40. Water Play
Infosheets NLI 40. Water Play Download the PDF - English Water offers endless, multi-sensory, interactive play and learning opportunities like floating leaves and other “floatables,” manipulating flow with movable stones, pouring from containers, splashing, “painting”...
42. Loose Parts Settings
Infosheets NLI 42. Loose Parts Settings Download the PDF - English Loose parts settings support a broad range of open-ended play and learning activities in a defined space, prompted by items that are small enough to be easily manipulated by preschoolers. Potential...
45. Stormwater Management
Infosheets NLI 45. Stormwater Management Download the PDF - English When soils are compacted, comprised of heavy clay, and/or drainage is insufficient, excessive water may gather in the outdoor learning environment (OLE) after a rain storm or during rapid snow-melt,...
NLI Newsletter – December 2020
The Shape NC 3 project has been completed!
Shape NC 3 is an initiative promoting healthy development in NC’s young children with a focus on healthy eating, active living, and outdoor environments.
10 Essential Ways Trees Help Our Planet
Newly Released InfoSheets!
Save The Date For The 20th Anniversary NLI Design Institute
The Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments certificate course
Natural Learning at Home® December
Enjoying Nature’s Bounty
Happy Holidays! 2020
Happy Holidays from the Natural Learning Initiative! Join us as we celebrate nature play and learning with our holiday postcard.
Land of Learning Child Care
Shape NC NLI Land of Learning Child Care Land of Learning Child Care in Wilson, NC added a large primary pathway loop onto an existing entry pathway and loop in their preschool area, to give children more opportunities for physical activity with a double looped...
Foundations Academy
Shape NC NLI Foundations Academy Foundations Academy in Raleigh, NC has made their toddler and infant space more easily accessible by adding a low, multipurpose deck as a transition space between their building and outdoor learning environment. They also added a...
Early Preschool and Learning Center
Shape NC NLI Early Preschool and Learning Center Early Preschool and Learning Center, located in Raleigh, NC, has transformed their large outdoor area into an outdoor learning environment that promotes physical activity, outdoor play and learning, and healthy eating. ...
A Safe Place Early Learning Center
Shape NC NLI A Safe Place Early Learning Center A Safe Place Early Learning Center, located in Raleigh, NC, replaced an existing gravel pathway with a double looped concrete pathway with sensory elements throughout. They also added a wheeled toy storage area, a...
NLI Newsletter – November 2020
Save The Date!
The 20th Anniversary NLI Design Institute has been officially rescheduled for March 25-26, 2021.
New Healthy Starts for Infants and Toddlers Webpage!
Outside is the Healthy Place to Be (New Research)
Newly Released InfoSheets!
The Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments certificate course
Natural Learning at Home® November
Making Cities Child-Friendly in the Post Pandemic World
Enjoying Nature’s Bounty
ABC Academy
Shape NC NLI ABC Academy ABC Academy, located in Black Creek in Wilson County, has installed a large, double looped primary pathway to organize their large outdoor learning environment. They have always gardened with the children, and they have installed a larger...
Early Childhood Outdoor Play and Learning Space (ECOPALS): Achieving Design Quality
Publications NLI Early Childhood Outdoor Play and Learning Space (ECOPALS): Achieving Design Quality Authors: Cosco, Nilda & Moore, Robin Download the PDF - English Introduction Child care has become an essential part of everyday life. In 2011, more than half of...
Creating Inclusive Naturalized Outdoor Play Environments
Publications NLI Creating Inclusive Naturalized Outdoor Play Environments Authors: Cosco, Nilda & Moore, Robin Download the PDF - English Introduction Outdoor play in naturalized environments has a positive impact on children’s development and physical health,...
Areas De Juego Naturales / Natural Playgrounds
Publications NLI Areas De Juego Naturales Authors: Moore, Robin Download the PDF La niñez es un proceso holístico, diferente para cada niño. A parte de la escuela, muchos niños necesitan ambientes prácticos y alternativos de juego y aprendizaje que se ajusten a sus...
Play and Public Place: Making Cities Child Friendly in the Post Pandemic World
Happy Earth Day! Check out these activities that you can do at home to celebrate.
Kid’s Country of Clayton
Shape NC NLI Kid’s Country of Clayton Kids Country of Clayton has transformed their outdoor areas into an engaging outdoor learning environment (OLE). They reduced large use zones in their preschool/afterschool area to add a large, curvy double-looped primary...
Imagination Learning Center, Inc.
Shape NC NLI Imagination Learning Center, Inc. The large hillside slide at Imagination Learning Center, located in Benson, NC, now takes children down to a looped primary pathway, where a large shade structure was once located. It was relocated to maximize the...
Johnston Community College Child Development Center
Shape NC NLI Johnston Community College Child Development Center Johnston Community College, located in Smithfield, NC, diversified their outdoor learning environment by adding two primary pathway loops, one in their preschool area and one in their toddler area. An...
Kidsworld Learning Center
Shape NC NLI Kidsworld Learning Center Kidsworld Learning Center made improvements to their already diverse outdoor learning environment. They added a double-looped primary pathway, mud kitchen, and low multipurpose stage, in addition to a large outdoor classroom...
Kidstown Child Care and Learning Center
Shape NC NLI Kidstown Child Care and Learning Center Kidstown Learning Center in Wilson, NC energized an underused open area by adding a large double-looped primary pathway for wheeled toys. They added an arbor over the path for shade and planted fruit trees for...
Creative Learning
Shape NC NLI Creative Learning Creative Learning Center’s outdoor learning environment, located in Raleigh, NC, made good use out of large planters and timber edging to add some natural elements to an asphalt parking lot. Small shade trees were intended for the...
Little Hands N Feet
Shape NC NLI Little Hands N Feet Little Hands N Feet in Raleigh, NC has created a rich outdoor learning environment (OLE), with different opportunities for outdoor play and learning. A primary pathway weaves throughout the OLE, to a low multipurpose stage with stump...
Preston Children’s Academy
Shape NC NLI Preston Children’s Academy Preston Children’s Academy, located in Cary, NC, reworked some fencelines, to maximize their site’s potential for outdoor play and learning. This allowed them to add a primary pathway to their preschool, toddler, and twos...
Precious Promises Academy
Shape NC NLI Precious Promises Academy Precious Promises Academy in Raleigh, NC has transformed their outdoor space into a diverse outdoor learning environment (OLE). A double-looped primary pathway anchors the OLE, and leads to a variety of settings including a mud...
ABC Land Inc II
Shape NC NLI ABC Land Inc II ABC Land in Wendell, NC has transformed their existing play area into an vibrant outdoor learning environment (OLE). A large double-looped pathway and secondary pathway through a sensory garden tie different settings and components in the...
Kings Kids CDC
Shape NC NLI Kings Kids CDC King’s Kids Child Development Center in Durham, NC has added a shared outdoor classroom space to their outdoor learning environment. This new area boasts a fruit and vegetable garden, ornamental plantings, a pergola, a multipurpose lawn...
Sunshine Smiles Academy
Shape NC NLI Sunshine Smiles Academy Sunshine Smiles transformed their infant area by first removing a large area covered in rubber tiles. They added a primary pathway to organize the outdoor learning environment in the toddler area, a low multipurpose-stage, and a...
Primary Colors Early Learning Center
Shape NC NLI Primary Colors Early Learning Center Primary Colors Early Learning Center used Shape NC funds to improve their existing outdoor learning environment. They added a stepping stone pathway, mud kitchen and shade said to their preschool area, and improved...
Hattie Daniels Day Care Center
Shape NC NLI Hattie Daniels Day Care Center Hattie Daniels Day Care Center, located in Wilson, NC added a curvy primary pathway loop onto an existing rectangular pathway, giving the children more opportunities for gross motor development. The addition of fruit trees...
Busy Bees
Shape NC NLI Busy Bees Busy Bees in Wilson, NC removed two pieces of existing play equipment to make room for more settings and components to diversify their outdoor learning environment. They also removed the use zones for this equipment, as well as a large amount...
The Growing Tree
Shape NC NLI The Growing Tree The Growing Tree, located in Wilson, NC, has added a large primary pathway loop that connects to an existing pathway and the building in their twos/threes. This provides more opportunity for wheeled toy usage and connects different play...
Kinder Kastle INC
Shape NC NLI Kinder Kastle INC Kinder Kastle, located in Elm City, NC, has transformed their large outdoor space into a diverse natural learning environment (OLE). They added a primary pathway to their toddler space, and a large-double looped primary pathway...
Pine Street Head Start
Shape NC NLI Pine Street Head Start Pine Street Head Start in Wilson, NC, has transformed an open grassy area into a diverse outdoor learning environment (OLE). They have added a curvy, looping primary pathway, and relocated an existing shed so that it opens into the...
Priceless Child Care
Shape NC NLI Priceless Child Care Priceless Child Care, located in Raleigh, NC, expanded their outdoor learning environment into a large, unused portion of their property. With this extra space, they were able to add a large double-looped primary pathway for...
