The purpose of this study, which occurred during COVID-19, was to integrate outdoor learning in an early childhood undergraduate literacy course at a midwestern university. Over a twelve-week semester, eight early childhood preservice teachers participated in thirty-five outdoor activities covering all content areas. The goals of this study were…

Nature-based preschool programs continue to grow in popularity across the world. These programs provide children with critically important experiences and help them gain skills that contribute to early school success and accomplishments later in life. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and mandatory lockdowns resulted in reduced opportunities for…

Farm- and nature-based early childhood education programs have a unique potential to provide young children with skills and experiences that build a strong foundation for future learning and environmental stewardship, but can also to extend positive impacts to families. In this paper, we work to bridge the gap between research and practice by…

This study examined the benefits and risks associated with tree climbing on child development and resiliency. A mixed method survey instrument was administered to parents of children aged 3-13 years who climbed trees. The survey examined demographics, details of tree climbing activities, and the type of injuries that have resulted from this type…