Outdoor Care & Learning Initiative
As part of our initiative to support educators in taking learning outdoors, we hold Q&A style panel discussion webinars with outdoor early learning advocates and professionals from the WaNPA learning community.
Beginning with our first webinar in November of 2020, scroll down the page to view recordings of ALL our
OCL Q&A webinars to the present, including resources and highlights shared during the panel discussions.
Beginning with our first webinar in November of 2020, scroll down the page to view recordings of ALL our
OCL Q&A webinars to the present, including resources and highlights shared during the panel discussions.
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On November 16, 2020, we focused on the very broad topic of taking learning outdoors.
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On March 22, 2021, we focused on what you need to know when starting an outdoor early learning program.
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Helpful links to resources, and info from the 'chat':
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Outdoor Preschool Policy Framework:
https://willamettepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Outdoor-Preschool-Policy-Action-Framework_FINAL-for-web.pdf Learn about the WA Outdoor Preschool Pilot: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/about/government-community/advisory/opp Read the Licensing Standards: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/Outdoor_Preschool_Pilot_Standards.pdf Follow SB5151: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5151&Year=2021&Initiative=false Read the amended Bill: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/5151-S%20HBR%20CYF%2021.pdf?q=20210322173647 For those in WA, the DOR has lots of workshops and helpful info about business “stuff:” https://dor.wa.gov/education/industry-guides/nonprofit-organizations Nature Connection Network: https://natureconnection.network/ This Seattle Preschool Program calculator will give a very simple (biased) ratio for calculating need: https://earlylearning.powerappsportals.us/parentportal/tuition-calculator/ Some good insurance companies: Rudolph Birkenkopf Agency ANI Alliance for Non-profits From Olympic Nature Experience - draft budget: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aTxuPQ0tDyiOGaIqGFK-zdl0_C-idwuRHsYDvXb0sKU/edit?usp=sharing |
As we think about teacher credentials, "it’s important to note the bias and white supremacy in how our training standards and requirements are created. This for sure applies to outdoor opportunities where equitable access to the outdoors is limited."
Highlights! "It's okay to start small." “Serving a community is a beautifully rewarding process.” “Lean in to who you are and then connection with yourself and the people.” “Show up, do the work, stand in the rain for 6 hours a day.” “You can’t be everything to everyone. You have to be the best possible version of you.” “Delegate the joy!” “No one can lay out your path for you. It’s liberating because there are so many different ways you can get there.” Certificate Programs: Antioch: https://www.antioch.edu/academics/education/certificates/nature-based-early-childhood-education-cert-aune/ The Cedarsong Way: https://cedarsongway.org ERAFANS: http://erafans.org/ Kamana Naturalist Program: https://www.wildernessawareness.org/adult-programs/kamana/ |
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On July 8, 2021, we focused on the ways we stay safe through risk management in outdoor learning.
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Helpful links to resources, and info from the 'chat':
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Quoted highlights are words spoken by one of the three panelists: Nick Terrones, Sibyl Maer-Fillo or Kellie Morrill Highlights! “It’s not about what you know, but what you’re willing to learn.” “Think through how to co-exist in public spaces with all types of humans, especially unhoused humans!” “Know your community!” “We want kids to learn that they can rely on their bodies." “Accommodate kids where they are.” "...with families, we want to respect family cultures, and often bump up against difference in ways of thinking about things like cold, wet, how kids get sick, what’s comfortable….and leaving space for different perspectives while supporting safe and affirming spaces for children. Lots of nuance and potential bias.” “This is all about relationship. It’s always going to be about relationship.” “We wouldn’t be able to do that work if we ran away from challenges." |
Some Questions Asked
Watch The Replay to Hear The Panelists Respond!
Learning about adult to child ratios for older children: NOLS https://nols.edu/en/ Wilderness Awareness https://www.wildernessawareness.org/ Licensing and Approaches to Risk: WA Licensing Updates: https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/washington-becomes-first-state-to-license-outdoor-nature-based-child-care/article_35ce812a-b4ef-11eb-8bfb-37daaaa36f2c.html WA Licensing Standards: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/Outdoor_Preschool_Pilot_Standards.pdf Outdoor Preschool Pilot Final Report - with great examples of the risk-approach: https://dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/reports/OutdoorPreschoolPilotFinal2020.pdf What to say instead of “Be careful.” https://www.backwoodsmama.com/2018/02/stop-telling-kids-be-careful-and-what-to-say-instead.html |
Thank you to the panelists for your abundant sharing! Thank you to participants who joined us from the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, the South, the East Coast, and Japan!
Participants introduced themselves by including the Native lands they are living on. You can learn the Native lands you are occupying by looking up your address at https://native-land.ca/
Participants introduced themselves by including the Native lands they are living on. You can learn the Native lands you are occupying by looking up your address at https://native-land.ca/
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On October 25, 2021, we focused on licensing for outdoor learning programs.
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Helpful links to resources, and info from the 'chat':
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Quoted highlights are words spoken by one of the three panelists:
Debbie Groff, Sarah Heller, and Vanessa Daquilante Highlights! “Alone we know a little, together we know a lot!” Finding “the right season” for when you have a little extra wiggle room for all that goes along with pursuing licensing. We are “people-based.” DCYF Licensing doesn’t “tell you what kind of curriculum you need to have, you just need to have one.” Families may be coming from a place of thinking we MUST have pencils and paper for learning to be legit "until you educate them differently." "It is a partnership" working with licensing. “Pretend you’re training somebody new” when writing your policies and going through the licensing process. “I thought this was a ‘pass/fail’ experience … but it was nothing like that at all” … “[it] felt like a conversation” "We strategized solutions together" |
Resources
DCYF’s Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Programs Hub https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/services/early-learning-providers/licensed-provider/onb DCYF Outdoor Nature-Based (ONB) Child Care Touchstone Standards https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/Outdoor_Nature_Based_Child_Care_Touchstone_Standards.pdf Child Care Stabilization Grant: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/news/child-care-stabilization-grant-coming-soon ECEAP / HeadStart: https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/services/earlylearning-childcare/eceap-headstart Want to attend an orientation for Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Program Licensing? Email Debbie Groff at [email protected] Some Questions Asked Watch The Replay to Hear The Panelists Respond!
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Thank you to the panelists for your abundant sharing! Thank you to participants who joined us from the Pacific Northwest (including British Columbia), Arizona and other beautiful places!
Participants introduced themselves by including the Native lands they are living on. You can learn the Native lands you are occupying by looking up your address at https://native-land.ca/
Participants introduced themselves by including the Native lands they are living on. You can learn the Native lands you are occupying by looking up your address at https://native-land.ca/
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On March 7, 2022, we focused on being outdoors in any weather with early learners.
Helpful links to resources, and info from the 'chat': Quoted highlights are words spoken by one of the three panelists: Brooke Ahlegian, Michelle Duncan, Alyssa Venable, Jenny Stokes and Brandyn Boyd Highlights “Bring in playfulness and connect with your childhood joy in all the changes in the weather.” “Letting kids know, ‘you can do hard things.’” “I love bringing open ended materials and letting the children lead the way with them!” "watching them and tuning into what they need, instead of what we thought they needed" “Empowering stewardship through small, but meaningful actions, as a way to address climate change with early learners....’helping them feel like they can make a difference…’” Some Questions Asked Watch the Replay to Hear the Panelists Respond! How do you support children in taking care of their bodies on cold, wet, winter days? How do you support play and learning on cold, wet, winter days? What strategies do you suggest for working with parents and primary caregivers on gear? How is your program transitioning towards resilience and sustainability with the changing climate? With our Pacific Northwest climate the weather that presents more challenges for us is often cold and wet but for when we do have hotter temperatures and for others beyond our region who have hotter temperatures more regularly, what tips and tricks do you have for those times? Group Chat Prompt - What are your top 2-3 tips/tricks for keeping kids warm?
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Chat Responses to “What strategies do you suggest for working with parents and primary caregivers on gear?”
“We share articles about gear throughout the year as the seasons change.” “We share sales for good gear.” “We ask that families hand down their used gear if they are able to use at the school.” “We have a small arsenal of extra gear that we can lend out as needed and would give away if the families needed that kind of support to keep the kids comfortable outdoors.” “For me, asking families what they need, what they want to know, what problems they are trying to solve is just as important as providing education! Each family will have unique needs and set ups. Figuring out ways to partner and refer families to one another has been super helpful.” “I often tell families to not wash often, but rather just rinse off the mud regularly.” “if you’d like a copy of my packing list, feel free to email me at [email protected]” Group Chat Prompt - What are your top 3-4 gear/brand recommendations?
Resources: “Check out this helpful webinar about removing the barriers to outdoor gear. They talk about things like gear libraries, etc.: https://naturalstart.org/bright-ideas/forum-outdoor-gear” https://outdoorschoolshop.com |
