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Nature

28. Plants for Outdoor Learning Environments

28. Plants for Outdoor Learning Environments

33. Earth Play Settings

33. Earth Play Settings

34. Mud Kitchens

34. Mud Kitchens

42. Loose Parts Settings

42. Loose Parts Settings

Early Childhood Outdoor Play and Learning Space (ECOPALS): Achieving Design Quality

Early Childhood Outdoor Play and Learning Space (ECOPALS): Achieving Design Quality

Creating Inclusive Naturalized Outdoor Play Environments

Creating Inclusive Naturalized Outdoor Play Environments

Re-Naturing Urban Childhood

Re-Naturing Urban Childhood

Rethink Outside: Getting Kids Outdoors as Early as Possible

Rethink Outside: Getting Kids Outdoors as Early as Possible

LET’S GET OUTSIDE! The Case for Young Children

LET’S GET OUTSIDE! The Case for Young Children

LET’S GET OUTSIDE! Providers

LET’S GET OUTSIDE! Providers

A National Research Agenda Supporting Green Schoolyard Development and Equitable Access to Nature

A National Research Agenda Supporting Green Schoolyard Development and Equitable Access to Nature

Scarecrow

Scarecrow

Garden Yoga

Garden Yoga

Launching a low-cost garden in three steps

Launching a low-cost garden in three steps

Oakland Declaration

Oakland Declaration

Preschool Gardening Activity Guide

Preschool Gardening Activity Guide

NLI Online Certificate Programs

NLI Online Certificate Programs

COVID Support we’re all in this together!

COVID Support we’re all in this together!

Earth Day!

Earth Day!

20th Anniversary NLI Design Institute

20th Anniversary NLI Design Institute

NLH January

NLH January

NLH February

NLH February

NLH March

NLH March

NLH May

NLH May

NLH July

NLH July

NLH August

NLH August

Protected: POD Community College Modules at a Glance (ECE)

Protected: POD Community College Modules at a Glance (ECE)

Nature-Based Learning Literature Review published

Nature-Based Learning Literature Review published

Lunchbox Talk: Contact with Nature = Healthy Child Development

Lunchbox Talk: Contact with Nature = Healthy Child Development

Research Brief: Impact of Naturalized Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments

Research Brief: Impact of Naturalized Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments

Moore and Cosco presented at the 15th International Congress of Educating Cities, Cascais, Portugal

Moore and Cosco presented at the 15th International Congress of Educating Cities, Cascais, Portugal

Designing Early Childhood Outdoor Environments Certificate

Designing Early Childhood Outdoor Environments Certificate

16th Annual NLI Design Institute

16th Annual NLI Design Institute

POD

POD

kidZone Post Occupancy Evaluation

kidZone Post Occupancy Evaluation

Growing IN Place Symposium 2018

Growing IN Place Symposium 2018

A Kind Garden

A Kind Garden

Nilda Cosco, PhD

Nilda Cosco, PhD

Robin C. Moore

Robin C. Moore

Johnson Pond Learning Center

Johnson Pond Learning Center

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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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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.