This guidebook provides an empirically-based set of planning and design guidelines for the construction of winter play facilities for Canadian youth residing in locations where outdoor play in winter is curtailed for approximately 4 months of the year. Information used in developing the guidelines was derived from field observations, a literature review, and a field experiment. Contents of the first six parts of the volume briefly describe and discuss the field experiment, romantic responses to and realistic aspects of winter, the nature of play and children's need for play, the response of children to winter on the Canadian prairie, and a preliminary test of design guidelines. The seventh part presents guidelines for developing winter play areas. Guidelines are provided for site planning, design, and activities, and for play structures, mounds, plant material and playground surfaces. Substantially more than half of the guidebook consists of four workbooks: Workbook One describes physical aspects of winter; Workbook Two reports observations of children's responses to winter; Workbook Three provides design notes for a school winter playground; and Workbook Four provides basic information about seasonal plants that could be used in environmental education activities. In conclusion, a brief review of related literature is provided. (RH)