The NLI Newsletter
Past Newsletters
NLI Newsletter – March / April 2025
NLI receives the NC State 2025 Opal Mann Green Engagement and Scholarship Award! Celebrate Earth Day NLI Sponsors a Creative Studio Experience Conestee Park Opening
NLI Newsletter – January / February 2025
Harvesting the Sun Twice - Agrivoltaics
In this video short, explore Breeze Farm!
Sterling Montessori NLI Design Program
NLI Webinar hosted by Michigan DNR-Parks and Recreation Division (PRD)
NLI Newsletter – November / December 2024
NLI 2024 WRAPPED!
It’s time to take a look back on the incredible year we’ve had!
Ross Park Zoo: Creekside Play and Learning Center Award
Gathering & Tour: DCDEE North Central Region
NLI Newsletter – September / October 2024
Trying & Tasting New Flavors
In this video, Abe leads a conversation about flavors.
From Teepee to Conical
The NLI Website Becomes Multilingual!
Conestee Nature Preserve Recovery
NLI Newsletter – July / August 2024
The NLI Resource Hub: A New Tool for Educational Resources
A user-friendly, filterable NLI search engine.
NC Solar Farm: Agrivoltaic Visioning Workshop
Kids Together Playground Interactive Virtual Tour Kids Together Playground, a universally
Gardening With Young Children Certificate Course (GWYC)
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate (ECOLE)
NLI Newsletter – May / June 2024
NLI Hosts DCDEE Regional Meetings
Hosted four regional meetings in NC.
Yale Climate Connections Podcast
North Carolina Welcomes the Emergence of 13-Year Cicadas!
Gardening With Young Children Certificate Course (GWYC)
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate (ECOLE)
NLI Newsletter – March / April 2024
NLI conducted a 3-day training workshop
Training with SC ECHO design team.
NLI Website’s New Look
NLI celebrated the 20th Anniversary
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate Course (ECOLE)
NLI Newsletter – January / February 2024
Play Chastain
Design programming for new playground.
Exploring Cool Season Plant Growth
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate Course
Preschool Outdoor Environment Measurement Scale (POEMS) Course
Childcare Outdoor Learning Environments Quality Tool (COLEQT) Course
NLI Newsletter – November / December 2023
Grow Outdoors South Carolina Launch
Unique partnership for outdoor learning.
NLI collaborates with NC State Horticultural Science Design-Build
Eating and Learning with Apples
NLI Holiday Card
NLI Newsletter – October 2023
The Catawba Nation, iswa Early Learning Center
Naturalizing outdoor play and learning.
Examining Bugs and Plant Growth
NC-DCDEE and NLI Collaboration!
OLE at Glencoe Mill Village
NLI Newsletter – September 2023
Children's Rights to A Healthy Future
Montana youth win case re-affirming rights.
NLI Community of Interest
Designing Early Childhood Outdoor Environments Certificate Course
NLI Newsletter – January 2023
Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve
The regenerative power of nature continues to inspire NLI’s passion for restoring biodiversity.
Ross Park Nature Play and Exploration Trail
NLI’s Early Childhood Professional Development Program is on a roll!
Need and Interest in Nature Prescriptions
NLI Newsletter – August 2023
2023 Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Career and Organization Awards
Awarded to Robin Moore and the Natural Learning Initiative (NLI).
NLI Shorts! Weeding, Planting, & Watering
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate Course
Designing Early Childhood Outdoor Environments Certificate Course
NLI Newsletter – July 2023
NLI Shorts! Broccoli–Trees You Can Eat!
Part of a series of 2-3-min YouTube videos on children's outdoor play.
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate Course
Washington Post Article: The future is a playground
Washington Terrace
NLI Newsletter – June 2023
NLI Shorts! Examining & Sprouting Seeds
Part of a 2-3-min YouTube series on children's outdoor play.
Nemours Children's Health Convening 2023
Kids Together Playground
Schott Nature PlayScape
NLI Newsletter – May 2023
The Importance of Hands-on Gardening
Results show preschool gardening increases activity, reduces sedentary time.
Acknowledging Ancestral Lands Statement Released
Introducing the Green Desk Tabbing System
Texas Tech Colleague Wins Poster Competition
NLI Newsletter – April 2023
Earth Day 2023
An 11-year-old's message on nature's importance in 1979.
Conestee Nature Playscape
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Free Woodchips
NLI Newsletter – March 2023
NLI Welcomes Dr. Soolyeon Cho as Interim Director
Dr. Soolyeon Cho is the Interim Director of the Natural Learning Initiative.
Greenspring Montessori
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate
Gardening With Young Children Course
NLI Newsletter – February 2023
NLI Shorts! New Video Series Launched
"Harvesting Collards" is the first in a series of 3-min YouTube videos on gardening.
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate
Verner Central (VC) at Emma Elementary
Start Small-With A Vision
NLI Newsletter – December 2022
Wishing You a Peaceful and Productive Year Ahead!
View NLI's end-of-year greeting card here
Hands-on Childcare Garden Intervention
Where are the Bacon Seeds?
Winter Play and Learning Outdoors
NLI Newsletter – November 2022
Extending the Growing Season
Building a cold frame is a great way to extend the growing season.
NLI session at the 2022 Extension State Conference
Rash Field Park Recognized
Micromobility Research with SPIN
NLI Newsletter – October 2022
Register today for the upcoming POEMS and COLEQT online courses!
Registration is currently open for POEMS and COLEQT courses.
NLI at the NEAFCS Annual Session
Restorative Cities + Urban Mental Health Roundtable
Using Pumpkins to Support Learning
NLI Newsletter – September 2022
Registration closing soon! Join us on Sept. 7th for the 12th Annual Growing IN Place Symposium!
The 12th Annual Growing In Place Symposium: Urban Outdoor Play and Learning
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments
Designing Early Childhood Outdoor Environments Certificate
Hoffler Creek
NLI Newsletter – August 2022
12th Annual Growing IN Place Symposium: Urban Outdoor Play and Learning: Post-Pandemic Lessons for Policy and Practice
Register today for the 12th Annual Growing In Place Symposium: Urban Outdoor Play and Learning
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments
Designing Early Childhood Outdoor Environments Certificate
Conestee Nature Preserve Nature Playscape
NLI Newsletter – July 2022
Social Media Mining to Inform Park Use and Public Health Decision-Making
Study on social media's role in park use and public health.
12th Annual Growing IN Place Symposium
Integrating Gardening Resources Into EFNEP Curriculum
POEMS and COLEQT Online Courses
NLI Newsletter – June 2022
Inside > OUT Conference
Nature-based design thinking for children and families.
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate Summer Course
Allen Education Center, NC Botanical Garden
COLEAFS Report
Save the Date: POEMS and COLEQT Short Courses
NLI Newsletter – May 2022
Deepti Adlakha Published in Lancet Global Health Series
Research on urban design, transport, and health policies.
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate Summer Course
Healthy Kids: No Batteries Required
Nilda Cosco Honored with Multiple Awards
NLI Newsletter – April 2022
US Play Coalition Conference: THE NATURE OF PLAY
Join NLI at the 2022 Play Conference focusing on the nature of play.
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Greensboro Children's Museum Edible Schoolyard
Growing in Place
NLI Newsletter – March 2022
Online Professional Development Courses
Learn about POEMS and COLEQT training courses.
NC Transportation Museum
“Green Enough Ain’t Good Enough”
Certificate Course Report
NLI Newsletter – February 2022
Spring Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments certificate registration is now open!
Registration for the Spring section, February 14 - May 6, 2022.
Webinar on Biophilic Design: Nature-Based Solutions for All
Online Short Courses
Policy Evaluation Network (PEN) Webinar
NLI Newsletter – January 2022
Research Design, Protocol, and Participant Characteristics of COLEAFS: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Childcare Garden Intervention
Study on childcare gardening intervention for children's health.
Spring ECOLE Certificate Course
Moore Montessori Community School (MMCS) teacher workshop
The effect of different COVID-19 public health restrictions on mobility: A systematic review
Happy New Year!
NLI Newsletter – December 2021
Wake County Site Visits
NLI leads outdoor learning environment component since 2018.
Spring ECOLE Certificate Course
National Master Gardener Coordinators Presentation
Rashfield Park Opening
NLI through the years
NLI Newsletter – November 2021
Showcasing Healthy Starts for Infants and Toddlers – Outdoors!
NLI leads outdoor learning environment component since 2018.
Giving Thanks
Randolph County Partnership for Children’s Fall Summit
Leaving No Child and No Adolescent Behind
Natural Learning at Home® November
NLI Newsletter – October 2021
Passing the NLI Baton > Robin Moore to Deepti Adlakha
NLI leads outdoor learning environment component since 2018.
Online Short Courses
Ongoing Research (AHEAD)
Preschool Toolkit
Necessity of Urban Green Space
NLI Newsletter – September 2021
The Healthy Starts for Infants and Toddlers project has been completed!
Improving outdoor spaces for infants and toddlers.
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments
ACCESS SKiP Call
Online Short Courses
Natural Learning at Home® September
NLI Newsletter – August 2021
Live broadcast to NatStart2021
Broadcasting from NLI Demonstration Site, A Safe Place, Raleigh, July 27, as part of the fabulous international field trip series.
Highlight: OLE! Texas
Elements that Make a Perfect Playground
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments
Natural Learning at Home® August
NLI Newsletter – July 2021
Learning with Nature: an Educational Imperative
Montessori school communities lead outdoor education.
The Oakland Declaration
New Online Short Courses
Natural Learning at Home® July
NLI Newsletter – June 2021
Welcome The New NLI Director, Deepti Adlakha!
Founding Director Robin Moore enters phased retirement.
New Outdoor Play and Learning Environment!
Happy Father's Day!
Newly Released InfoSheets!
Natural Learning at Home® June
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
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
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
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
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
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
NLI Newsletter – October 2020
Autumn Leaves for Play and Learning
Do you have any activities for young children about leaves changing color in the fall?
Rethink Outside: Getting Kids Outdoors as Early as Possible
Re-Naturing Urban Childhood: A Sustainable Development Strategy
Natural Learning at Home® October
NLI Monthly Trivia
