As states move to develop new licensing regulations to accommodate outdoor, nature-based (ONB) programs, many look to existing regulations to help provide guidance. Most states look to Washington's ONB childcare licensing experience as the first and longest-running ONB licensing program.
Washington Becomes the First State to License ONB Programs After Four-Year Pilot
Washington became the first state to license ONB programs when it launched a pilot program in 2017 to test the new approach and monitor its outcomes. After four years of testing, the final report on the pilot period concluded that "Initial data indicates that [ONB] practices do ensure child safety, as well as kindergarten readiness among children enrolled in licensed outdoor preschool programs." As a result, the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families recommended that the legislature make the program permanent, which the state did in 2021.
