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Research

Trans Canada Trail is conducting a national research study to better understand the current state of trails across the country, including how people use trails, what helps or gets in the way of access, and how trails are experienced in different communities. The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and is anonymous. Take the survey here! Discover...

BugQuest is a free national biodiversity engagement program run through the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the University of Guelph. The project connects insect sampling and DNA barcoding with schools and community sites across Canada, helping participants explore the insect biodiversity in their own area while contributing to a larger research effort.   Host sites receive a trap...

Thank you to  Dr. Richard Larouche, Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Lethbridge, for providing this post. Which factors predict outdoor play in Canadian 7- to 12-year-olds?   Previous studies and literature reviews have consistently found that children who spend more time outdoors are more physically active and generally have better physical, social, mental, and...

Outdoor Play Canada is looking to hire a full-time Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play (CCOP) Fellow for one year to build capacity and thought-leadership for outdoor play stakeholders. As the CCOP Fellow, your role will be to lead advocacy and thought-leadership initiatives for the promotion of outdoor play in the early years, in collaboration with...

Thank you to Dr. Louise de Lannoy, Executive Director, Outdoor Play Canada, and Kim Hiscott, Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Fleck Children's Services, for providing this post. Why play outside when its cold? What are the benefits? The health benefits of outdoor play are clear and wide-reaching… but what about in winter time? Is it safe to play...

Queen’s University invites you to a special online session, led by Dr. Eun-Young Lee, exploring key insights from the 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play, with a particular focus on inclusion and mental health. Marking a decade of global evidence, the Position Statement examines the vital connections between active outdoor play and pressing global issues such as...

Dr. Shawnda Morrison gave a presentation on OPC's global 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play to the World Health Organization Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Europe – Environment working group, which focuses on Environmental Approaches to HEPA in the European region. Dr. Morrison's presentation was titled “The 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play: A...

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="center" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][message type="normal" border="no" background_color="#5dc269"]The 2025 Outdoor Play Canada Awards were presented at the biennnial Breath of Fresh Air Outdoor Play Summit at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, Canada.[/message][/vc_column][/vc_row] [vc_empty_space height="64px"] [icons icon="fa-trophy" size="fa-4x" type="normal" icon_animation="" link="" target="_blank" icon_color="#3f8963" position="center"] [vc_empty_space height="32px"]   Policy Award [vc_empty_space height="32px"] The Outdoor Play Canada Policy Award recognizes and celebrates...

Thank you to current and former PhD Students Anastasia Bengry, Katrine Bergkvist Borch, Kirsten Føns, Trude Iversen, Gabriele Lauterbach, Kassandra L’Heureux, Marie C. Vermund, and researchers Karen Seierøe Barfod, PhD (VIA University College) and Mads Bølling, PhD (Center for Clinical Research and Prevention) for providing this post on behalf of the international network of PhD...

SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025 — Ottawa, Canada – Outdoor play is as advantageous for adults as it is for children and should be integrated more often into healthcare practice, according to new global research released today by Outdoor Play Canada. A three-year study and consultations with more than 200 global experts representing all inhabited continents found...