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Seed

Protected: DCDEE Webinar Series

Protected: DCDEE Webinar Series

Examining & Sprouting Seeds – NLI Short

Examining & Sprouting Seeds – NLI Short

Broccoli-Trees You Can Eat! – NLI Short

Broccoli-Trees You Can Eat! – NLI Short

Harvesting Collards – NLI Short

Harvesting Collards – NLI Short

Protected: DCDEE Webinar Series

Protected: Childcare Homes DCDEE Webinar Series

Where are the Bacon Seeds?

Where are the Bacon Seeds?

Social Media Mining to Inform Park Use and Public Health Decision-Making

Social Media Mining to Inform Park Use and Public Health Decision-Making

03. Affordable Settings and Components

03. Affordable Settings and Components

06. Stepping Stone Pathways and Small Patios

06. Stepping Stone Pathways and Small Patios

10. Growing Edibles in Containers

10. Growing Edibles in Containers

15. Sand Play Settings

15. Sand Play Settings

16. Multi-Purpose Lawns

16. Multi-Purpose Lawns

18. Making Newspaper Seedling Pots

18. Making Newspaper Seedling Pots

19. Starting Veggies Indoors

19. Starting Veggies Indoors

23. Straw Bale Planters

23. Straw Bale Planters

24. Early Childhood Fruit and Vegetable Gardens

24. Early Childhood Fruit and Vegetable Gardens

26. Wildlife Gardens

26. Wildlife Gardens

27. Attracting Birds to Outdoor Learning Environments

27. Attracting Birds to Outdoor Learning Environments

28. Plants for Outdoor Learning Environments

28. Plants for Outdoor Learning Environments

34. Mud Kitchens

34. Mud Kitchens

35. Natural Construction Settings

35. Natural Construction Settings

42. Loose Parts Settings

42. Loose Parts Settings

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

Trail Mix

Trail Mix

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin Seeds

Extending Seasons

Extending Seasons

Grow It, Smell It, Eat It

Grow It, Smell It, Eat It

Fruit or Vegetable?

Fruit or Vegetable?

Eating and Sharing

Eating and Sharing

Birds and Bird Habitat

Birds and Bird Habitat

COVID Support we’re all in this together!

COVID Support we’re all in this together!

Earth Day!

Earth Day!

NLH February

NLH February

NLH July

NLH July

NLH August

NLH August

NLH October

NLH October

Research Brief: Impact of Naturalized Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments

Research Brief: Impact of Naturalized Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments

POD

POD

« 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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CONTACT

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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WAYFINDING

NLI Wayfinding
© 2025 NC State University. All rights reserved.
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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.