NLI – ADA Title II – Staging Site

The Green Desk

The Green Desk

Outdoor play area with bench, trees, and pathway, promoting nature-based learning.

Planning and Planting

Children explore apples on a tree, engaging in outdoor play and learning in a natural setting.

Edible Plants for Play and Learning

Lush garden with diverse plants, stepping stones, and vibrant flowers, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Landscape Plant List

Landscape diagram showing deciduous, evergreen canopies, understory trees, and small plants, with a full shade zone, for outdoor play and learning.

Landscape Plants for Play and Learning

A child explores nature, climbing on rocks in a grassy outdoor area with a wooden fence and plants.

Climbing Stones and Boulders

Starting Seeds in the Spring: Tiny sprouts emerge from soil, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Starting Seeds in the Spring

Children explore sunflower field, engaging in outdoor play and learning in a natural environment.

Sunflower Houses

Log seats arranged in a circle, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Log Seats

Two children install a rain barrel on a cinder block base, promoting outdoor learning and sustainability.

Installing a Rain Barrel

Child explores sittable stones and boulders in a natural outdoor setting.

Sittable Stones and Boulders

Summer play area with slides, swings, and natural elements, promoting outdoor learning and accessibility.

Summer Play: Beat the Heat

Outdoor pathway with stepping stones, wooden pergola, and colorful play materials, promoting accessible nature-based learning for infants and toddlers.

Infant and Toddler Pathway Materials

Embankment slide with wooden play structure, mulch, and stepping stones, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Embankment Slides

Tree stumps and mint plant for outdoor play and learning, promoting nature-based education.

Tree Cookies for Play and Learning

Stacked logs near a tree stump, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Natural Building

Children play in a natural playhouse made of branches, surrounded by greenery, promoting outdoor learning and exploration.

Natural Playhouse

Raised planters with timber construction, outdoor learning environment, accessible for children's activities.

Raised Planters: Timber Construction

Green planter with herbs and flowers, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Safely Installing Planters on Asphalt

Green shrubs and chain-link fence in sunny outdoor setting, promoting natural play and learning.

Naturalizing Chain link Fences

Dragonfly on cucumber plant near fence, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Reducing Mosquitoes

Wasp on leaf, "The Green Desk" by NLI, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Reducing bothersome stinging insects

Passionflower with bee, symbolizing pollination and outdoor learning.

Bees, Wasps, and Other Pollinators

A bee collects pollen from a plant, highlighting nature's role in outdoor play and learning.

Preventing stings

Children play on a gravel path with a tricycle, surrounded by greenery and a bench, promoting outdoor learning and accessibility.

Primary Pathways

Sunflower seeds spilled on a green surface, part of a nature-based outdoor play activity.

Harvesting and Eating Sunflower Seeds

Wildflower Patch: Colorful blooms in a natural setting, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Wildflower Patch

Natural materials for outdoor play, including leaves, acorns, and wood chips, promoting nature-based learning and sensory exploration.

Natural Materials for Play and Learning

Hands sketching outdoor play layout on paper, emphasizing nature-based design for children.

Primary Pathway Layout

Stepping stones path in lush garden, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Installing Stepping Stones

Autumn leaves in vibrant red and yellow hues, ideal for outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Autumn Leaves for Play and Learning

Concept plan for Earth Angels Preschool in Brunswick County, NC, showcasing outdoor play and nature-based design.

Raising Funds and Resources for Outdoor Learning Environments

Two wooden wagons filled with autumn leaves, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Autumn Children’s Books and Outdoor Play

diane craft outdoor presentaiton
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More on Physical Activity with Diane Craft

Hands planting a young plant in soil, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Selecting, Installing, and Managing Plants

Child plays with toy construction vehicles in snowy outdoor setting, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Winter Play and Learning Outdoors

sand play area with benched seating borders

Sand Play Areas: Design

The Green Desk: Nature-based outdoor play area with wooden bridge, log seating, and lush greenery.

Draining Wet, Muddy Areas

Toddler explores sensory garden on stone path, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Sensory Gardens

Community members planting trees outdoors, promoting nature-based learning and accessibility.

Engaging Community Resources

Grass mazes in a natural setting, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Grass Mazes

Skid steer loader spreads mulch on pathway, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Pathway Installation: Alternatives to concrete

Outdoor play structure with misting system for cooling, labeled spray nozzles and tubing, promoting accessible nature-based learning.

Summer Play: Affordable Misting Station

Green beans in a bowl, promoting healthy eating and nature-based learning.

Farm to Preschool

Theme Garden with educational plant markers and birdhouse, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Theme Gardens

Children explore grapevines under a wooden pergola, engaging in outdoor learning.

Affordable Shade Options

Monarch butterfly on pink flowers, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Creating a Butterfly Garden

Concrete imprinted with leaves and twigs, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Imprinting Concrete with Natural Objects

Children's vegetable garden with lettuce and flowers, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Children’s Vegetable Gardens: Introduction

Rustic hook on wire, surrounded by greenery and wildflowers, symbolizing nature-based outdoor play and educational playground design.

Protecting New Plants

Excavator at playground, dirt being moved, tree nearby, children's play area in background.

Tools & Equipment for Outdoor Learning Environment Installation

Concrete toadstools in a natural setting, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Concrete Toadstools

Early Spring garden with carrot plants and child's drawing sign, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Early Spring in the Garden

Pressure Treated Wood Arbor with lush greenery, inviting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Pressure Treated Wood

Starflowers in a lush green setting, ideal for outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Plant of the Month: March – Spring Starflower

Gourd Birdhouses on a wooden trellis, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Growing Gourds for Birdhouses

Child's hand holds a bowl of flowers, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Spring Outdoor Play: Making the Most of the Season

Children play outdoors on a picnic blanket, surrounded by nature, promoting natural learning and accessible play.

Having a Picnic

Growing tomatoes on a plant, vibrant red and green, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Growing Tomatoes in Preschool Gardens

Children play outdoors on wooden stumps, engaging in nature-based activities.

Seating & Spaces Outdoors to Observe and Just Be

Birdhouses on tree trunk, colorful and nature-inspired, promoting outdoor play and environmental education.

Learning About Birds, Bugs, and other Critters

Children explore natural elements in a forested play yard, promoting outdoor learning and sensory engagement.

Inclusion of Natural Elements in the Play Yard

Child plays with dirt and toys in a natural outdoor setting, promoting hands-on learning and exploration.

Questions About Digging in the Dirt

Two children in outdoor play, exploring a pumpkin on grass.

Beyond the Jack O’ Lanterns: Using Pumpkins to Support Learning

Hands hold fresh rabbiteye blueberries, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Plant of the Month: July – Rabbiteye Blueberry

Boy balances on fallen log in lush garden, promoting outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Child Care OLE Regulation FAQ in North Carolina

Child plays with water in a wooden sandbox surrounded by greenery, promoting outdoor learning and nature-based play.

Plant of the Month: August – Passionflower

A child explores a garden bed, engaging in outdoor play and learning about nature.

Resources from Toxic Free NC

Autumn Sweetgum leaves in vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows, symbolizing nature-based outdoor play and educational playground design.

Plant of the Month: September – American Sweetgum

Children play with cardboard boxes in a grassy park, promoting outdoor learning and nature-based play.

PlayDaze for Engaging Outdoor Activity

Purple redbud tree blooms in lush green garden, ideal for outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Plant of the Month: April – Redbud

Winter Jasmine blooms on a natural branch, symbolizing outdoor play and nature-based learning.

Plant of the Month: March – Winter Jasmine

Indian Grass: Natural Learning Initiative's outdoor play and nature-based environment.

Plant of the Month: November – Indian Grass

Trail mix with dried fruits, nuts, and seeds spills from a floral-patterned cup onto a white plate, promoting healthy snacking.

Trail Mix Activity Leaflet