Resources
Place-Based Scientific Inquiry: A Practical Handbook for Teaching Outside
Cover image for book Place Based Scientific Inquiry, showing three students touching a soil sample
A new open-access book for educators focused on justice-first and place-based scientific inquiry, following best practices from the Next Generation Science Standards.
How-to Guide for Caregiver & Child Classes
7 Recorded Sessions, View at Your Own Pace Inspired by LEAP Outside, this wonderful, one-of-a-kind resource is for those who wish to create a community-based infant/toddler/preK program. Includes four seasons of lesson plans, pre-recorded coaching sessions from LEAP founder Evie Wilkinson, and MANY, MANY downloadable shortcuts.
We're constantly looking for great resources for our members. Below is a complete list of the resources we've gathered so far. You can select the types of resources you're looking for. To select more than one type of resource, hold the control button while you make your selections.
Lens on Outdoor Learning includes information to structure and support outdoor experiences, an explanation of how each learning standard relates to outdoor learning, and inspiration to connect children to the natural world.
Want to fix up your play space? Need to design a brand-new one? Then this delightful new book by a leading play space designer is for you! Offers practical advice on providing a safe yet challenging outdoor environment, including step-by-step instruction on how to assess your play space.
Here is a FREE resource to print, share, or link to. It is a pre-school level picture book with one-word titles translated into multiple languages. For a preschool age child, these are activities and words provide a skill building and language developmental opportunity to prepare them for kindergarten.
There is little more important in our physical world than earth and water and they are truly intriguing things, especially when they interact. Mixing soil, water and a range of other natural materials has a foundational role in early childhood which has deep importance and endless possibilities for well-being, development and learning.
Mindstretchers offers books, DVDs, trainings, speaking engagements, and more focused on nature preschools. The company also operates nature-based preschools, after-school programs, and summer camps at their facilities. Profits of Mindstretchers support its associated charity, Living Classrooms.
Let go of the traditional ways of teaching and find freedom with Mud Play. Make your own one-of-a-kind Mud Kitchen that sparks your children’s imaginations and engages their creative thinking.
Since Herb Broda published Schoolyard-Enhanced Learning, his groundbreaking first book on outdoor learning, many schools across North America have embraced the benefits of "greening" their learning programs.
Run out of the College of Design at NC State University, this organization is focused on creating environments for play that encourage connections to nature and offer opportunities for stimulating play. The Natural Learning Initiative uses its design expertise to offer consulting and design services to create engaging, natural play spaces.
This book is about a new movement in children's outdoor play areas, natural playscapes - Where the entire space and is filled with art, hills, pathways, trees, herbs, open areas, sand, water, music, and more... Where children find places to run, climb, dig, pretend, and hide, with opportunities to bellow or be silent.
This guide was written especially for naturalists and environmental educators who are interested in learning more about how and why young children think and act. The guidelines offered here will help educators design developmentally appropriate programs and activities.
To help maximize a child's learning , this set of nature-themed exploration activities instills a sense of wonder, an appreciation for the environment and building blocks toward understanding the natural world. Each activity includes a brain insight on the back of the card, giving adults an understanding of the benefits gained through the experience.
This book addresses the importance of making natural environments and nature-based activities available to all young children. It includes stories, recommendations, and research summaries focusing on nature engagement for young children with differing abilities. Many of the stories have been shared by parents, teachers, therapists, and program directors who know firsthand the power of nature for promoting the holistic development of children.
Nature and Young Children promotes the holistic development of children by connecting them with nature. It offers advice and guidance on how to set up indoor and outdoor nature play spaces as well as encouraging environmentally responsible attitudes, values and behaviour in your early childhood setting.
This guide from the Children and Nature Network provides inspiration, information, tips and resources for those who are—or who might be—interested in creating a Nature Club for Families. The guide provides quick ideas for safe, fun, and hassle-free outings for families.
Nature Explore helps early childhood education centers create nature-based outdoor spaces or classrooms by offering workshops, design consultations, and certification programs. Nature Explore also sells natural play materials for use in outdoor classrooms and provides resources for families.