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Download the Draft
In October 2025, the Natural Start Alliance released Recommendations for Licensing Outdoor, Nature-Based Early Learning and Child Care Programs in draft form to gather additional input from policymakers, practitioners, and other experts. The recommendations are designed to help communities, including licensing agencies, expand children’s access to safe and high-quality outdoor and nature-based learning through policy.
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Submit Your Comments
Comments on the draft Recommendations are now being sought from professionals with expertise in early learning policy, program delivery, and related fields, along with parents and caregivers, or anyone who prioritizes children's access to outdoor, nature-based early learning.
Comments will be accepted until March 20, 2026.
About the Recommendations
The Recommendations draw from the expertise and collective review of representatives of the outdoor, nature-based (ONB) early learning professional community across the Natural Start Alliance and allied organizations. The draft also incorporates guidelines from relevant national regulatory agencies, and findings from recent research into children’s health and education.
The Recommendations provide a holistic and detailed collection of ONB program licensing policy and practice options to inform state regulations for child safety and healthy development in outdoor settings, but they do not describe all considerations for running a high-quality program. The following topics are covered in the draft Recommendations:
Basics of ONB Curriculum
Hazards and Risks
Benefit-Risk Assessment
Types of ONB Programming
ONB Licensing Pathways
Location Assessment and Program Planning
- Site Selection
- Benefit-Risk Assessment in Site Selection
- Shelters and Other Structures
- Shelters in Emergency Responses
- Public Lands Use
- Sharing Public Spaces
- Storage and Carrying Supplies
Health/Hygiene
- Dangerous Animals and Toxic Plants
- Drinking Water
- Food
- Handwashing
- Toileting
- Sleep and Rest
- Medication and First Aid
Outdoor Safety
- Weather Considerations and Program Adjustments
- Clothing
- Temperatures - General
- Heat
- Cold
- High Winds
- Air Quality
- Severe Storms
- Lightning
- Flooding
- Tornados
- Earthquakes
- Evacuation
- Shelter in Place/Lockdown
- Communications to Prevent or Respond to Hazards
- Missing Children Protocols
Outdoor and Nature-Based Curriculum and Activities
- Benefit-Risk Assessment in Activity Planning
- Program Materials
- Inclusion and Disability
- Honoring Indigenous Sovereignty
- Setting Boundaries to the Play Space
- Climbing Natural Features
- Campfires
- Proximity to Bodies of Water and Water Activities
- Foraging
- Hand Tools
- Play at Higher Speeds
Staff Training and Qualifications
- Workforce Development for ONB and Outdoor Safety
- Pre-Service Training Additions
- In-Service Training Additions
- Supervision Outdoors and During Risky Play
- Staffing Ratios and Risk-Based Adjustments
Family Engagement
- Communicating with Families About Health and Safety
- Communicating Your Location
- Ensuring Children are Dressed for the Weather
- Child Records