State of the Sector Report

  • All
  • COVID-19
  • Cross-Sectoral Connections
  • Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
  • Health, Wellbeing & Development
  • Indigenous Peoples and Place-Based Outdoor Play
  • Outdoor Play Environments
  • Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play
  • Professional Development
  • Research & Data Collection
  • Safety & Outdoor Play

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, an opportunity for the public to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools, the intergenerational harm they caused to Indigenous families and communities, and to honour those affected by this injustice. This federal holiday is an effort on behalf of the Government of Canada...

Thank you to Megan Gilbertson from PHE Canada for providing this post. Save the date! The first annual National Healthy Schools Week is October 2-6, 2023! National Healthy Schools Week is a kickoff event for schools to prioritize, plan, and engage in Healthy School conversations early in the school year. This week-long initiative is unique to each...

Take Me Outside Day is back for its 13th year, helping raise awareness and advocating for outdoor learning by helping educators and learners feel inspired to head outside and learn beyond the four walls of a classroom!  From Oct 16th - 20th, thousands of educators and learners will come together to participate in a week of...

Thank you to Dr. Ole Sando, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Health at Queen Maud University in Trondheim, Norway, for providing this post. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) institutions offer young children an environment with play opportunities that contribute to their development. The complexity of early childhood learning led to the...

In the last ten years, we have seen a groundswell in outdoor and nature-based preschools and an abundance of outdoor play-based learning programs situated on or near school grounds across North America. The possibilities for play are endless, yet the challenges many educators face are equal in measure. It is important to think through our...

The Outdoor Learning Store is partnering with over 70 other non-profit partners to offer Free Fall Outdoor Learning Virtual Workshops! Sign-up to join some/all of these 60-min sessions: Naturally Inclusive: Engaging Children of All Abilities Outdoors Wild Learning: Practical Ideas to Bring Teaching Outdoors Outdoor Learning through Patterns in Nature Connecting Children...

We're happy to share the launch of Ottawa's first "Outdoor Play Grief Support Group," now open for Fall Registration! Our partner at Playful Mindset is "disrupting adverse childhood experiences and supporting children's mental health through outdoor play and play-based learning." This first Outdoor Play Grief Support Group, facilitated by multidisciplinary playmakers, provides a space where children...

Exploring decolonization in the outdoors: A virtual panel discussion Join the Outward Bound Canada (OBC) Training Academy team on Wednesday, September 13 at 9 a.m. PST /12 p.m. EDT for a virtual panel discussion presenting individual perspectives on decolonization based on the teachings of First Nations and Indigenous groups from across the country. A diverse group of...

The Outdoor Play Canada 2023 Awards will be presented at this year’s Breath of Fresh Air Outdoor Play Summit!  If you know of an individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional commitment and leadership in the promotion of outdoor play, nominate them for an OPC award! Award categories include: 2023 OPC Honour Award Dr. Mariana Brussoni...

This post was originally published by the Outdoor Learning Store. August 9th is the International Day of Indigenous Peoples. The 2023 International Day of Indigenous Peoples, under the title of “Indigenous youth as agents of change for self-determination”, revindicates the role that indigenous youth must occupy in decision-making while recognizing their dedicated efforts in climate action, the search...