This practicum study sought to increase child care staff's ability to transfer what they learned from training to the classroom and thereby to increase developmentally appropriate educational practice. Specifically, the project sought to increase positive interactions in the child care setting, increase the use of the outdoors as a learning environment, and help educators adapt better to student needs. Parents, staff, and classroom volunteers participated in a 15-hour course on child development; the course took place over 6 weeks. A support group for teachers was also formed. Seven additional weeks of instruction on advanced topics was offered. Following this instruction, staff engaged in developmentally appropriate educational practices. However, some staff found it difficult to transfer into practice what they had learned about the potential of outdoor education. Overall, staff were better able to adapt their management of child behavior to changing situations. (Five appendices include a checklist of developmentally appropriate practices and an outdoor learning survey. Contains 22 references.) (JW)