OCTOBER 06, 2021 Across Canada during the pandemic, children and youth have spent less time playing outdoors — and simply being outside — adding onto our country’s already failing grade for active play. Today’s release of Outdoor Play in Canada: 2021 State of the Sector Report puts forward nine priorities for the outdoor play sector to...
Thank you to Louise Zimanyi, Professor of Early Childhood Education at Humber College, for providing this post. As we mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2021, we honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. In reflection, Professor Shirantha Beddage spoke to Louise Zimanyi and Lynn Short about Humber's...
The Breath of Fresh Air Outdoor Play Summit is a two-day Outdoor Play Canada-led Summit where thought leaders, practitioners, researchers, and policy makers can connect and share best practices. This innovative national forum on outdoor play historically took place in an open air environment. This year the Summit will be held virtually and will be streamed from the Ottawa Forest...
Thank you to Dr. Renee Umstattd Meyer (Baylor University) and Dr. J. Aaron Hipp (North Carolina State University) for providing this post. This article was originally published in The Conversation. Outdoor play is critical for child development – it decreases stress, increases communication and social skills, attention and physical activity, and enhances physical development. During COVID-19, opportunities for children...
July 29, 2021 A new report from the Lawson Foundation and Outdoor Play Canada, 'Funding for Outdoor Play in Canada' - released today - identifies funding trends as well as current and potential funders of outdoor play. Based on an environmental scan, a grant seeker survey, and interviews with funders, this report outlines the drivers of...
In 2020 the Lawson Foundation published a report and position on increasing outdoor play in early learning child care environments in the context of COVID-19. With input from OPC Leadership Group member Frank Welsh, the Lawson Foundation recently revisited the guidelines and published an update through First Policy Response. Read the updated report, 'Outdoor early learning helps kids....
On July 12, 2021, ParticipACTION is celebrating 50 years of inspiring and supporting Canadians to get active! As part of the celebration, ParticipACTION invited Canadians to take a trip down memory lane and remember some of their most iconic commercials (BodyBreak anyone?). Check out these commercials and more on the ParticipACTION website....
Outdoor Play Canada (OPC) and Sask in motion are thrilled to announce the transfer of Sask in motion’s Active Toy Guide and Adventure Calendar to OPC. OPC hopes to uphold the creativity and playfulness of these legacy projects and expand both projects to be national in scope and reach, to help OPC in its mission...
On Friday, June 18th, OPC's Dr. Louise de Lannoy presented at the 2021 Virtual Play Conference, an annual educational conference held by the US Play Coalition. This year, due to pandemic restrictions, the conference was held online from April 1st to June 30th, 2021 with weekly networking events and presentations, recorded and available for viewing...
The Outdoor Play Canada 2021 Awards will be presented at this year’s Breath of Fresh Air Summit (date and format TBD). 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: 2021 OPC Honour Award Dr....
