External Tools & Resources
TOPO Tool featured in Therapy in the Great Outdoors Podcast
Dr. Laura Park Figueroa
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This two-part podcast outlines the Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (Loebach & Cox, 2020) and how it can be used to help Occupational Therapists plan nature-based treatment sessions for children
Go Play Outside! An outside play tool for parents & caregivers
Outside Play Lab, University of British Columbia
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This Parent Tool is to help parents and caregivers encourage children’s outdoor play and risk-taking. You can explore the tool on your own time and at your own pace, as an online, interactive and personalized journey.
Discovery, Outside: An outside play tool for early childhood educators
Outside Play Lab, University of British Columbia
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A tool to help Early Childhood Educators and Caregivers understand the benefits of outdoor play, especially risky play
Bring your class outside!
Outside Play Lab, University of British Columbia
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A tool designed to provide elementary school teachers with insights and hands-on resources to begin locating play and learning outdoors
How cities use parks to help children learn
Robin Moore, Natural Learning Initiative for the American Planning Association
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Briefing paper outlining ways in which city parks can be leveraged to help children learn
Impact of naturalized early childhood outdoor learning environments
Natural Learning Initiative
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Research brief outlining the benefits of naturalizing outdoor learning environments for young children
Pathways for Play: Best Practice Guidelines
Natural Learning Initiative
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Best practice guidelines for infusing play into pathway networks to encourage active lifestyles for children, families and communities
Green Schoolyards for Healthy Communities
Children & Nature Network
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Resources and exemplars highlighting benefits and strategies for designing green schoolyards
Children & Nature Network Research Library
Children & Nature Network
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Free and searchable summaries of the latest research on children & nature
Children & Nature Network Resource Hub
Children & Nature Network
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A searchable collection of free toolkits, reports, infographics and advocacy tools to help connect children, families and communities to nature