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NextThese resources are for everyone who has, loves, or works directly with kids! Parents, caregivers, early years educators, teachers, recreation and camp professionals – this is for you! Whether you are looking to take your first steps leading children outdoors and you’re not sure where to start, or you’re comfortable leading children outdoors but you’d like to learn more about unstructured play and learning – this is for you!
These resources are for everyone who has, loves, or works directly with kids! Parents, caregivers, early years educators, teachers, recreation and camp professionals – this is for you! Whether you are looking to take your first steps leading children outdoors and you’re not sure where to start, or you’re comfortable leading children outdoors but you’d like to learn more about unstructured play and learning – this is for you!
This toolkit was designed to support practitioners who work in the outdoor play sector, enabling them to take a balanced approach to risk and safety when working with children outdoors. The toolkit is the result of a broad collaboration, with input from leading figures in outdoor play, academics, policy makers, and face-to-face practitioners from across Canada and has undergone legal review.
We receive LOTS of questions about how to bring children outdoors! We created this resource to help answer some of your most frequently asked questions. Stay tuned for deeper dives into many of the topics covered.
Here are some tips from an educator on how to dress for teaching and learning outdoors! Includes tips for sun and insect protection, and how to stay warm and dry in wet and cold weather!
Here is a podcast episode and some takeaways about supporting children with disabilities and exceptionalities outdoors.
What do you need to bring with you to bring learning outdoors? This resource outlines the items we have in our first aid backpack and our loose parts kit.
Here are some useful tips and strategies for navigating outdoor play in different weather conditions.
Did you know that one of the first signs of heat stroke is a change in skin colour? However, this isn’t always easily visible in darker skin tones. We’ve partnered with Black in Nature to help you identify symptoms of heat stroke for children and adults with darker skin tone, and ensure that everyone stays safe and cool under the sun!
One of the most common cold-related illnesses is hypothermia. Although many resources exist for identifying hypothermia, very few address how to specifically identify hypothermia in children and adults with darker skin tones. We’ve partnered with Black in Nature to bring you this resource, helping you ensure everyone in your program can play and learn safely outdoors in cold conditions.
This Guidebook is designed to support educators through the stumbling blocks they might encounter when bringing outdoor learning into their practice for the first time. Common questions such as “What do I do about the weather?” and “How do I meet my curriculum outside?” are answered by experienced educators within the pages of this resource.
The sections of this Guidebook are linked in the Table of Contents for easy navigation. Start from the beginning or choose a section which jumps out to you! We hope this resource helps you connect children with nature wherever you are.
Let’s get more muddy boots outside!
Use this presentation to make your case for outdoor play and learning in schools.
Here are some ideas about what we might say instead of (or in addition to) “Be Careful!”, organized according to Ellen Sandseter’s six categories of risky play! Read the blog post here.
This resource shares how to dynamically assess risk (and how to include children in that process) in five easy steps. Read the blog post here.
Here is a video tutorial on how to set up a tarp for shade, shelter and play!
Thrive Outside is made possible thanks to generous individual donors, like you, and the following funding partners
