Every child deserves high-quality educational experiences that prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. And every child deserves a nature-rich childhood with plenty of time to play and learn outside. Licensing outdoor, nature-based (ONB) early learning programs brings a variety of benefits to children, and also to our larger early learning systems.
Expanding Access to Nature for Every Child
Research shows that access to nature is not even across the United States. In particular, families of color and families living in poverty have been shown to have unequal access to healthy green spaces. Licensing outdoor nature-based programs allows families to access these nature-rich learning opportunities with subsidized tuition sources.
Expanding Capacity in the Early Care and Education System
The need for more high-quality early care and education options is an issue for families across the country – there is simply not enough supply to meet the demand in many areas. Licensing outdoor preschools expands the pool of programming options for families, and in some states can enable programs to expand the number of children they serve through “hybrid” licensing options that incorporate both traditional and outdoor-based classroom settings.
Bringing Outdoor Learning into Early Care and Education Systems
ONB licensing can expand how policymakers, providers, and families think about the role of nature and the outdoors in education and the amount of time children can and should spend outside. And the incorporation of ONB practices in early learning licensing, particularly around risk management, can help expand possibilities for safe, effective, and inclusive outdoor learning in all programs, whether or not they are nature-based.
Building a Foundation for Climate-Responsive Policy
Young children are particularly sensitive to, and at risk from, heat-related illness, respiratory problems, infectious diseases and other effects of a changing climate. Early learning programs must adapt their operations to keep children and staff safe and comfortable, while ensuring that children continue to play and learn outside. ONB licensing brings expertise in risk management while ensuring outdoor access, and can help our early learning systems adapt to a changing climate.