The CCOP (Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play)
is a centre of excellence where practice, policy and research
come together to inspire commitment to advancing outdoor play.
Our Vision
Outdoor play and learning are available, accessible, and habitually accessed by young children living in Canada.
Mission of the CCOP
The Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play (CCOP) is a model of outdoor play practice-policy-research collaboration to convene, recognize and inspire demonstration projects, inform policy and practice, provide professional engagement opportunities, conduct applied research, and lead nationwide knowledge translation and mobilization efforts. Through this intersectoral work, we aim to promote, support, and inspire commitment to advancing outdoor play and learning opportunities for children, their care providers, and their families, in the environments in which they play, learn and live.
Forest Explorers Outdoor Early Learning Centre, which resides on 500 acres of forested National Capital Commission land in Ottawa, serves as the first demonstration site of the CCOP. Forest Explorers models the benefits, embraces and mitigates the challenges, and demonstrates the impact of bringing outdoor play practice, policy, and research together under one roof. The goal of the CCOP is for this model to be adopted and adapted to outdoor play hubs across Canada. The Ottawa CCOP demonstration site houses a collaboration between Andrew Fleck Children’s Services (AFCS), Algonquin College, the Healthy Active Living and Obesity (HALO) Research Group at the CHEO Research Institute, the University of Ottawa, and Outdoor Play Canada (OPC).
At Forest Explorers, AFCS runs an outdoor-focused childcare program led by 25 full-time team members, for 10 infants, 15 toddlers, and 48 preschool children. Algonquin College leads professional learning in outdoor play, with Forest Explorers serving as a demonstration site where ECE and BELCD students routinely complete assignments, research, practicums, and internships. Algonquin College also offers the Play, Learn & Teach Outdoors certificate, giving practitioners a way to extend their learning while they continue working in the sector. HALO and the University of Ottawa lead the research arm of the collaboration, conducting community-engaged research that examines the role of outdoor play in promoting the health and well-being of children, caregivers, and educators. In addition to generating evidence, the research arm supports the development of undergraduate and graduate trainees through independent research projects, thesis-based research, and hands-on research experiences. OPC works with this intersectoral team to advance outdoor play and learning policy and share the findings from this collaboration widely. Funding for this collaboration has been provided by the Waltons Trust.
Find the CCOP 2024-2025 Annual Report here. (French version)
National Outdoor and Land-based ECE Panel
This National Panel aims to advance efforts towards changing ECE licensing regulations across provinces in Canada.
View panelSPROUT Study
The 3-year SPROUT study seeks to explore the benefit of outdoor play and learning for young children's health and wellbeing.
Learn moreSPROUT-able Project
The SPROUT-able project is a research-practice-policy project that explores how children with disabilities engage in outdoor play and learning.
Learn moreCCOP Champions!
Meet our CCOP Champions - educators across Canada who champion outdoor play and learning through active engagement, holistic development, and meaningful connections.
Meet the CCOP Champions here!Outdoor ECE Community of Practice
The Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play collaborative invites those interested in outdoor early childhood education to come join our community of practice!
Read MoreOutdoor ECE Framework
This nationally agreed-upon outdoor ECE continuous professional learning framework serves as a pedagogical document that aims to promote consistency in training and supporting outdoor ECE practitioners in their work, across Canada.
Access the Framework here - now available in EN and FR!CCOP Resource Library
All items within this library are related to outdoor early childhood education, produced by those within the sector. This library is intended to be a living resource, where we plan to continually add items as we learn about them. We invite you to share new items with us to keep this library up to date and continue our effort to serve as a central portal of information on outdoor play and learning in Canada, avoid duplication of efforts, and help connect groups with similar interests.
Read MoreQuestions, comments, suggestions regarding the CCOP initiative?
Support for the CCOP
The Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play has been funded by:
