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Early Childhood Outdoor Play and Learning Spaces (ECOPALS) – Train the Trainer

Early Childhood Outdoor Play and Learning Spaces (ECOPALS) – Train the Trainer

The Catawba Nation iswa Early Learning Center

The Catawba Nation iswa Early Learning Center

The Nature PlayScape at Cincinnati Nature Center

The Nature PlayScape at Cincinnati Nature Center

Gardening With Young Children Course

Gardening With Young Children Course

Abram’s Child Care Center

Abram’s Child Care Center

Rash Field Park

Rash Field Park

Teddy Bear Child Care Center

Teddy Bear Child Care Center

01. Benefits of Engaging Children with Nature

01. Benefits of Engaging Children with Nature

02. Top Ten Activity Settings For Outdoor Learning

02. Top Ten Activity Settings For Outdoor Learning

03. Affordable Settings and Components

03. Affordable Settings and Components

04. Gathering Settings

04. Gathering Settings

06. Stepping Stone Pathways and Small Patios

06. Stepping Stone Pathways and Small Patios

07. Conicals

07. Conicals

08. Vine Conical Installation

08. Vine Conical Installation

09. Pathway Designs

09. Pathway Designs

13. Gross Motor Logs

13. Gross Motor Logs

14. Plant Bed Protection

14. Plant Bed Protection

15. Sand Play Settings

15. Sand Play Settings

16. Multi-Purpose Lawns

16. Multi-Purpose Lawns

21. Creating Terrariums

21. Creating Terrariums

22. Decks, Stages, & Porches

22. Decks, Stages, & Porches

25. Harvesting Water with Rain Barrels

25. Harvesting Water with Rain Barrels

28. Plants for Outdoor Learning Environments

28. Plants for Outdoor Learning Environments

30. Tire Planters

30. Tire Planters

33. Earth Play Settings

33. Earth Play Settings

35. Natural Construction Settings

35. Natural Construction Settings

36. Dry Stream Beds

36. Dry Stream Beds

40. Water Play

40. Water Play

42. Loose Parts Settings

42. Loose Parts Settings

45. Stormwater Management

45. Stormwater Management

Precious Promises Academy

Precious Promises Academy

Primary Colors Early Learning Center

Primary Colors Early Learning Center

Rethink Outside: Getting Kids Outdoors as Early as Possible

Rethink Outside: Getting Kids Outdoors as Early as Possible

LET’S GET OUTSIDE! Providers

LET’S GET OUTSIDE! Providers

(Orange Co.) The University Child Care Center

(Orange Co.) The University Child Care Center

Trail Mix

Trail Mix

The Farm

The Farm

Sorting Our Seasons

Sorting Our Seasons

Pebble Play

Pebble Play

Garden Yoga

Garden Yoga

« Older Entries

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


919-515-8345 voice
919-515-7330 fax
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.