In support of the Lawson Foundation’s Policy Brief: Regulating Outdoor and Land-Based Learning as Early Learning and Child Care
The Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play (CCOP) and the National Panel on Regulating Outdoor and Land-Based Early Childhood Education (‘the National Panel’), a collective within the CCOP, are pleased to endorse the Lawson
Foundation’s October 2025 Policy Brief, “Regulating Outdoor and Land-Based Learning as Early Learning and Child Care.” Given the wealth of knowledge on the benefits of outdoor play and learning for children’s health and
wellbeing, concomitant with the growth of outdoor and land-based early learning programs in Canada, we strongly encourage all provincial and territorial jurisdictions to review their regulatory frameworks for Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) and to establish a distinct category for Outdoor and Land-Based Programs, ensuring equitable access and safe, high-quality programming.
The National Panel is part of a 5-year initiative of the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play (CCOP), a centre of excellence where practice, policy and research come together to inspire commitment to advancing outdoor play.
The CCOP is a collaboration between Outdoor Play Canada (OPC), the Healthy Active Living and Obesity (HALO) Research Group at the CHEO Research Institute, Algonquin College (AC), and Andrew Fleck Children’s Services (AFCS). The CCOP leads demonstration projects, informs policy and practice, provides professional development opportunities, conducts applied research, and leads nationwide knowledge translation and mobilization efforts to promote and support children, their care providers, their families, and the environments in which they play, learn and live. As part of the CCOP, the National Panel aims to promote changes in ELCC regulations, to help mainstream outdoor and land-based ECE in Canada.
Outdoor and Land-Based Early Childhood Programs across Canada are encouraged to share the Lawson Foundation’s October 2025 Policy Brief, “Regulating Outdoor and Land-Based Learning as Early Learning and
Child Care” with advocacy groups, Provincial Early Learning departments, families. The National Panel believes licensing Outdoor and Land-Based Learning Programs provides a viable early learning program for many children.
For more information, contact: info@outdoorplaycanada.ca
Sincerely,
The National Panel on Regulation Outdoor and Land-based Early Childhood Education
Louise de Lannoy (co-chair), Lisa Lalonde (co-chair), Danielle Alphonse, Jane Cawley, Diane Daley, Lori Dalton, Enid Elliott, Kim Hiscott, Mavis Lewis-Webber, Alyson McMullen, Sylvie Melsbach, Belva Stone, Kelly Stone, Beverlie Dietze, Joe Doiron
Download this letter of support here: Support Letter from CCOP National Panel