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Gardens

Down East Discovery Play and Learning Park in Rocky Mount, NC

Down East Discovery Play and Learning Park in Rocky Mount, NC

Thompson Child Development Center

Thompson Child Development Center

Care-O-World Enrichment Center

Care-O-World Enrichment Center

The Learning Garden Child Development Center

The Learning Garden Child Development Center

USDA COLEAFS

USDA COLEAFS

Well-being by Nature: Therapeutic Gardens for Children

Well-being by Nature: Therapeutic Gardens for Children

Healing Gardens for Children

Healing Gardens for Children

Growing Up Green: Naturalization as a Health Promotion Strategy

Growing Up Green: Naturalization as a Health Promotion Strategy

Sunflower Houses

Sunflower Houses

Natural Playhouse

Natural Playhouse

Raised Planters: Timber Construction

Raised Planters: Timber Construction

Naturalizing Chain link Fences

Naturalizing Chain link Fences

Reducing Mosquitoes

Reducing Mosquitoes

Reducing bothersome stinging insects

Reducing bothersome stinging insects

Bees, Wasps, and Other Pollinators

Bees, Wasps, and Other Pollinators

Harvesting and Eating Sunflower Seeds

Harvesting and Eating Sunflower Seeds

Wildflower Patch

Wildflower Patch

Primary Pathway Layout

Primary Pathway Layout

Installing Stepping Stones

Installing Stepping Stones

Raising Funds and Resources for Outdoor Learning Environments

Raising Funds and Resources for Outdoor Learning Environments

Draining Wet, Muddy Areas

Draining Wet, Muddy Areas

Sensory Gardens

Sensory Gardens

Engaging Community Resources

Engaging Community Resources

Growing IN Place Symposium 2017

Growing IN Place Symposium 2017

Pathway Installation: Alternatives to concrete

Pathway Installation: Alternatives to concrete

Summer Play: Affordable Misting Station

Summer Play: Affordable Misting Station

Farm to Preschool

Farm to Preschool

Theme Gardens

Theme Gardens

Creating a Butterfly Garden

Creating a Butterfly Garden

Children’s Vegetable Gardens: Introduction

Children’s Vegetable Gardens: Introduction

Tools & Equipment for Outdoor Learning Environment Installation

Tools & Equipment for Outdoor Learning Environment Installation

Early Spring in the Garden

Early Spring in the Garden

Pressure Treated Wood

Pressure Treated Wood

Plant of the Month: March – Spring Starflower

Plant of the Month: March – Spring Starflower

Growing Gourds for Birdhouses

Growing Gourds for Birdhouses

Spring Outdoor Play: Making the Most of the Season

Spring Outdoor Play: Making the Most of the Season

Growing Tomatoes in Preschool Gardens

Growing Tomatoes in Preschool Gardens

Seating & Spaces Outdoors to Observe and Just Be

Seating & Spaces Outdoors to Observe and Just Be

Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO)

Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO)

Inclusion of Natural Elements in the Play Yard

Inclusion of Natural Elements in the Play Yard

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VIEW DISCLAIMER

The Natural Learning Initiative (NLI), its partners and supporting entities assume no responsibility for the installation of outdoor components and/or designs and their use. In no event will NLI be liable for any loss or damage, including without limitation, indirect or consequential, incurred during the construction or use of outdoor play and learning environments. NLI further suggests adherence to the guidelines set forth in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Public Playground Safety Handbook and to follow local, state, and national code requirements concerning but not limited to land use, zoning, safety, accessibility, permitting, and approval of plans prior to construction.

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CONTACT

College of Design
NC State University
Campus Box 7701
Raleigh, NC 27695-7701


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naturalearning@ncsu.edu

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children smelling herbs in garden with teacher

Growing Up with Nature

Creating environments for healthy human development and a healthy biosphere for generations to come.

- NLI Mission

For 25 years, the Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) has applied community-based, equity-driven design thinking to create healthy, natural play and learning environments. The NLI Resource Hub offers a collection of free public resources dedicated to supporting the development of biophilic play and learning environments where children can grow up caring for the planet and each other. These resources encompass landscape design, research, professional development, and information dissemination.

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What are NLI Resource Hub Categories?

Design Sites

Real-world places where NLI has provided professional landscape architecture design assistance.

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Infosheets

Two to four page documents about implementing and maintaining nature-based play settings.

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Interactive Apps

Web-based teaching tools and virtual experiences about exploring and designing nature-based play settings.

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Leaflets

Single-page documents about activities for children and caregivers in nature-based play settings.

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Natural Learning at Home

A month-by-month newsletter series about nature-based activities for children and families at home.

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Programs

Comprehensive projects that combine design assistance, research & evaluation, professional development, and dissemination & communications.

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Publications

Printed and published books and resources about nature-based design, education, childhood, and more.

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Research

Published scientific research about nature-based design, childhood, behavior mapping, and more.

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The Green Desk

A blog series responding to NLI’s most frequently-asked-questions.

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Videos

Videos created by NLI and our partners about nature-based design, education, childhood, and more.

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What are NLI Resource Hub Tags?

Affordable Settings

Elements of outdoor learning environments that can be built and deployed at a low cost, but with a great impact.

Community Engagement

Families, partners, neighborhoods and cities that help outdoor learning environments thrive and grow.

Fundraising

Information for raising resources to build and maintain outdoor learning environments.

Gardening

Resources about growing plants and all the different ways it benefits young children.

Healthy Eating

Fruits and vegetables, trying and tasting, growing and eating. Learn how young children can be excited to eat nutritious food.

Outdoor Installation

Building and constructing outdoor learning environments can be challenging. Find resources to guide your project.

Outdoor Management

Maintaining and sustaining outdoor learning environments is vital to their long-term success. Learn about managing environments.

Outdoor Safety

Risk management in play areas is critical for certification and regulation. Learn how to create safe spaces and address concerns.

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The Natural Learning Initiative (NLI), its partners and supporting entities as­sume no responsibility for the installation of outdoor components and/or designs and their use. In no event will NLI be liable for any loss or damage, including without lim­itation, indirect or consequential, incurred during the construction or use of outdoor play and learning environments. NLI further suggests adherence to the guidelines set forth in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Public Playground Safety Handbook and to follow local, state, and national code requirements concerning but not limited to land use, zoning, safety, accessibility, permitting, and approval of plans prior to construction.